Designing and Deploying Coaching for Optimum Development – An Exemplar of Integrated Support and the “It Depends” Approach to Development in Motorsport

Sport psychologists are increasingly supporting motorsport athletes. Similarly with other sports, work contributes toward skill development. Notably in this regard, recent study of expertise suggests that a pragmatic approach offers an appropriately evidence-grounded way to support athletes when different options are available—as in the case of different skill development perspectives. Consequently, this paper focuses on the professional judgment and decision-making approach to using knowledge conditionally. Using a motorsport skill example, we describe the stages (with switches between literature perspectives) which practitioners can use. We also highlight how the psychologist can interact with the coach to effectively support these processes.