Welcome to the SCLA Faculty, Pelle!
Pelle is a happy spouse and father of two active boys in a family that spans three continents. He has a deep love for people, culture, food, and of sport, play and physical activity. As a former high-performance athlete in Norway, he learned how the connection between coaches and athletes impacts the players sport experience and performance. This was fundamental in his passion to pursue a career in coach development. In 2016, he was awarded an opportunity to receive specialized training as a coach developer as part of the Nippon Sport Science University Coach Developer Academy and the International Council for Coaching Excellency, as part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Legacy Program. And in 2017, Pelle was asked to return as an advanced participant to facilitate training for a new cohort of international coach developers. This learning experience not only provided him with advanced knowledge and new skillsets, but a network of the best coach developers throughout the world.
Although, I am a trained physical education teacher and coach educator, I primarily identify myself as a hungry learner constantly chasing improvement. This mindset that has allowed me to gain understanding and perspectives on coach development, through my work as a facilitator and coach developer in different continents and cultures for over two decades.
What drew you to Michigan State University?
My wife is from Michigan and worked for many years as a faculty member at MSU’s Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology. That was certainly a big contributor. MSU is also globally recognized for the research on- and contribution to youth sport. This work is promoted and referenced in coach literature worldwide, so, when I was introduced to Dr. Dan Gould during a conference by the International Council for Coaching Excellency in South Africa in 2013 and learned even more about the work of the ISYS, I felt a natural connection on several fronts.
A few years later, I had the privilege of getting to know Dr. Andy Driska during a global conference where he presented the SCLA study in addition to some brilliant new research from the ISYS. So, after working for decades in the field, Dr. Driska helped convincing me to connect the missing link in my work through further studies at MSU. He couldn’t have been more correct.
What do you hope to bring to the Sport Coaching, Leadership, and Administration program?
A brave learning environment where students have (and feel that they have) the permission to openly contribute, try, fail, and share ideas, feedback, and unconditional support to each other’s development. My two decades of coach development work around the globe has provided me with insights, ways and views that are different from my own, but allowed me to understand the critical importance in working to understand and respect people, culture and context. I aim to search for good questions that motivate reflective coaches and their quest for contextually sound solutions to real practical problems. Finally, I hope that I will be able to stimulate some of the excitement and curiosity that the program provided me with.
What is your favorite class to teach?
Practicum, without a doubt. Practicum provides a rare and unique opportunity for students to identify personal strengths and areas to become even better as coaches through a supportive feedback process. Recording, seeing, and hearing yourself stretches coaches to a 360 reflection. Also, the process of setting personal and professional coaching goals, and getting peer feedback on performance does not happen very often. I love being part of this process and feel fortunate to learn with the students.
What are your research interests?
I am not a researcher, but I hold a firm belief that science and practical coaching must have a symbiotic relationship. Some research is lost in translation to the coach, and I see myself as a type of translator that facilitates practical interpretation of research rather than a researcher. In terms of research topics, I would say anything youth sport related, but with special interest in coach learning and reflection.
Fun fact
I started learning to skateboard at the age of 50 with my kids, to my Neurologist wife’s announced dissatisfaction. Shortly after I injured my shoulder in an ugly and super embarrassing faceplant of a ramp at the Frandor skatepark in East Lansing in front of some cool young skaters. I’m still learning, but a bit more careful and with less confidence.