Abstract
The purpose of the chapter is two-fold: (i) to provide coaches working with children an insight into the history and debates that have informed our understanding of ability, ability grouping, mixed ability grouping and coaching, and; (ii) to provide opportunities for coaches to reflect upon current coaching practices, and consider the implications of ignoring these debates, specifically what it could mean for young people and their involvement in youth sport. When there is limited literature on a topic, as is the case with ability in children's sport, it is necessary to draw on literature from the outside field to move the discussion forward. In this chapter literature from education and psychology will be drawn upon to explore the concepts of ability, ability grouping as well as mixed ability grouping and mixed ability teaching, all the while making links to, and providing examples of, the concepts in the context of sports coaching.