American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Issue: March 2009

Using Learning Preferences to Improve Coaching and Athletic Performance
Julia L. Dunn

Abstract: Each individual learns in a different manner, depending on his or her perceptual or learning preferences (visual, auditory, read/write, or kinesthetic). In sport, coaches and athletes must speak a common language of instructions, verbal cues, and appropriate motor responses. Thus, developing a clear understanding of how to use students' learning preferences to enhance teaching and coaching methods is essential for any physical education teacher or coach. This article describes how to use the VARK Inventory to determine students' learning preferences and how to implement the results of the inventory in order to develop coaching and teaching methods that take into account individual learning preferences.

Article category: Coaching