Adaptable planning: a study of in-action adaptation in adventure sports coaches

Adaptive expertise is central to effective coaching. This paper examines how adaptability and flexibility are enacted during coaching sessions using Applied Cognitive Task Analysis with six expert coaches and coach developers. Findings indicate that adaptability operates within a macro framework, while micro planning remains responsive to situational demands. Coaches draw on knowledge of anticipated situations, continually comparing unfolding events with an updated mental model of athlete development and the likely outcomes of different pedagogical approaches. Adaptation therefore reflects a metacognitive process in which plans are both conditional and responsive. Experts also identified challenges novice coaches face in adapting during sessions. These findings have important implications for coach development, supporting earlier evidence that detailed planning constrains adaptability, particularly in adventure sports. Consequently, the emphasis on detailed plans in accreditation programmes may hinder agile coaching. Instead, coaches should plan for adaptability at the micro level within a macro framework, fostering adaptive expertise from the outset.