Sport coaching as intra-action: an agential realist diffraction

ABSTRACTCoaching science is a thriving sport science with a history of overlapping topical, methodological, and conceptual shifts drawing from humanist and poststructural lenses. Recently, a deeper engagement with the possibilities of inquiring through a posthumanist lens has been proposed, opening ontological passageways for coaching scholars to think and do coaching science differently. In efforts to expand upon recent posthumanist experiments in coaching science, the purpose of the present paper lies in situating sport coaching as intra-action using Barad's (2007) agential realist ontology and diffractive methodology. Ontological shifts from learning to becoming and reflection to diffraction are proposed, setting the stage for moving inquiry in coaching science from the coach to coaching intra-action. By situating sport coaching in agential realist rhythms, coaching scholars can promote creativity, expand horizons for what coaching science can do, and multiply who/what is included in coaching intra-action.