Voice is critical across much of sports coaching. From yelling to athletes on a training arena, to talking in board meetings, coaches use their voices. Given coaches rely so heavily on effective vocal communication, healthy voice is essential. However, if voice is not performing at its best, a coach may not be either.
I'm Katie Buckley, an academic researcher, speech pathologist and consultant specialising in voice use and vocal health for sports coaches. I am based out of La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. My previous research with elite Australian Rules Football (AFL) and elite Rugby Union coaches found that coaches have heavy vocal demands across workplace environments. This puts coaches at risk of vocal health problems and impaired voice performance. The research also found that experiencing voice symptoms is a typical part of coaching, but voice use is often not addressed. In 2011, this research was presented at the International Olympic Committee’s Conference on Injury Prevention and Treatment in Sports (Monaco) and the Occupational Voice Symposium (London).
In February 2013, I was attaché to an Australia sports team at their World Qualification tournament in South Korea, as a voice researcher. I am currently completing her PhD with high performance sports coaches at domestic, national and international levels. Specifically, my current research considers the voice use and vocal health of high performance basketball coaches.
I have conducted voice and vocal health education sessions with coaches and referees within the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, along with four national sporting organisations. I have also guest lectured on the topic within the coaching sciences program at the National Institute of Sports Studies, University of Canberra and the Discipline of Speech-Language Pathology, National University Ireland (Galway).
Learn more about the work by listening to the podcast CSSI conducted with me:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/sport-unpacked/id603835491?mt=10
I currently work as an academic at La Trobe University and am a member of the Centre for Sports and Social Impact. I also work in private practise as a Speech Pathologist (specialising in voice disorders), and consult in ‘occupational voice use’ and ‘vocal ergonomics’.
I am also passionate about the performing arts, exercise, watching sport and have recently discovered a love for snow!
