The effects of Reflective Practice on Batsmen’s performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the use of reflective practice within a training programme and its effect on athlete performance, in similar fashion to (Faull & Cropley, 2009; Hanrahan, Pedro & Cerin, 2010). In the study, five cricketers and more specifically batsman undertook reflective practice in their training programmes for three weeks. They filled out a guided reflection proforma, based on Gibbs (1988) model; this took them through a structured version of reflective practice, enabling the participants to reflect effectively and accurately, on their performance. They were then independently interviewed, in a semi-structured fashion on their experiences with reflective practice, allowing them to talk about how they felt about using reflection and the impacts they perceived it had on them. Following this, an inductive approach was adopted to analyse the data, which arose from and was presented within the interviews. The results showed that reflective practice had beneficial effects on performance, enhancing confidence in a number of participants, through raising awareness that they were performing well. Along with raising motivation because they could clearly see the weaknesses that they needed to work on improving. All of the participants reported that it was very beneficial as a learning tool and that it aided them in player development. However, other participant’s also reported that it had a negative impact on performance, through a lowering of self-confidence caused by reflecting on the weaknesses of their performance; as a result reflecting on negative experiences should be treated with caution, if not disregarded. The main implication of the study is that coaches and athletes should implement a form of guided reflection into their training programmes. This is down to the benefits the participants experienced due to using reflective practice, as it raised motivation, confidence and learning within the performer’s, ultimately improving their performance.