Skill Acquisition in Action

Skill Acquisition in Action is a compilation of chapters from the experts who have used Skill Acquisition to enhance the performance of the people they work and collaborate with in a shared pursuit of excellence. Skill Acquisition has experienced exponential growth and impact in global sport and other domains over the last two decades. Coaches, coach educationrs, coach developers, athletes, practitioners, mentors, administrators, and academics are exploring how Skill Acquisition can enhance what they do.Through the lens of practical experience and examples, this new text examines key principle of how Skill Acquisition is applied and how lessons can be learned from across domains through the evidence-based insights from some of the world’s leading practitioners in their respective fields of expertise.Skill Acquisition in Action is an essential, accessible companion for motivated individuals and those whose work is geared towards improving the lives of others and is key reading for coaches, researchers, policy makers and students in the areas of Skill Acquisition, Coaching Science, Performance Analysis and all related disciplines.

Edward K. Coughlan is the Programme Director for the MSc in Skill Acquisition for Sport at Munster Technological University. As a consultant he engages with sporting governing bodies on the development of effective training environments, and he works in professional sport as a practice coach focusing on practice-transfer. Edward is a co-founder and Chair of Movement & Skill Acquisition Ireland and a board member of the Irish Sport & Exercise Sciences Association.Alan Dunton is a lecturer in Skill Acquisition and Coaching Science at Munster Technological University, the academic coordinator on the MSc in Skill Acquisition for Sport and a researcher in skill acquisition within the HEX-SPO research group. Alan is a Skill Acquisition Consultant and co-founder of Movement and Skill Acquisition Ireland.Oliver Logan works with Aquatics GB and the UK Sport Institute as a Senior Research and Innovation Consultant. He worked with organisations such as TeamGB, British Athletics, and AquaticsGB across 4x Olympic Games in roles such as Team Leader and Analysis Lead. He has a part-time consultancy business focused on Skill Acquisition, Mentoring and STEM in Sport School Workshops. Oliver is a co-founder of Movement and Skill Acquisition Ireland.William M. Roberts is Head of the School of Sport and Human Movement at the University of Waikato, Aotearoa New Zealand and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Will works with applied practitioners and organisations including the Premier League, Sport England, UK Coaching, Manchester United Football Club, Sport Waikato, and New Zealand Golf. His is a co-founder of the constraints collective.Philip E. Kearney is the Course Leader for the MSc Applied Sports Coaching at the University of Limerick and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Ireland. Phil is a member of the Gaelic Athletic Association’s Player & Coach Development Advisory Group and is an Associate Editor for Perceptual and Motor Skills. Phil is a co-founder of Movement and Skill Acquisition Ireland.