Coach Development- Thoughts on continual learning.

What are you doing as a Coach to improve your knowledge?

I am looking at three main areas-

1. Technical knowledge– the nuts and bolts of what works and why.
2. Coaching skills– How to apply this knowledge in a fashion that athletes engage and participate.
3. Innovation– how to progress the above two to keep the athletes and myself moving forward.

As I get more experienced as a Coach, I find it is less about the first point, and more about the 2nd two. Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” He seemed to know a thing or two about research and development.

Vern Gambetta has been writing about coach development here. As part of my Development I will be participating in the GAIN programme in Houston next month. This will be an opportunity for a really intense focus on all aspects of Athletic Development with a group of highly experienced coaches.

The other main part of my development currently is the Transformational Coaching programme at Bath University. Here Will Roberts is helping lead a group of Coaches through some self reflection, via small groups, some seminars and reading.

It is interesting how these very experienced coaches talk about learning, reading and development from all different areas. I see a lot of young coaches who come from a purely Academic background and unless it has been published in a lowly journal with a subject n=5, it can’t possibly work!

In response to my review of his book last week, Frank Dick kindly replied:

“Guess my greater focus on detail is now partly some disillusionment in the approach of a new generation of coaches. My perception is that the detail is just not there. It is as John Wooden said. “If you only practice the tricks of the trade, you’ll never learn the trade”

In the age of the Internet and the Workout of the Day being downloaded, young coaches might be confusing information with knowledge. With too much information and no filter, it is easy to make mistakes.  As I become more experienced, and learn with Coaches from different backgrounds, my filter gets refined.

.Many p.e. teachers and coaches have enjoyed our 1 day cpd seminars.