Tag Archive: Coaching

1. Coach Development- Thoughts on continual learning.

   2nd May 2011 11:20 am Leave a Comment

   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.

2. 10 Commandments of Great Coaching: Wayne Goldsmith

   22nd February 2010 9:01 am 4 Comments

   The 10 Commandments of Great Coaching

   

   Sports Coaching Brain

   Wayne Goldsmith is a Coach Educator based in Australia known as the Sports Coaching Brain. Here are some key points on how to be a great coach.

   1. Creativity and innovation are the core skills of great coaches in this century.
   2. Continuous improvement is everything – success is a moving target.
   3. Engagement is the driving force of success: athletes, coaches, management, staff, families, supporters…everyone engaged completely and comprehensively in your program.
   4.  Never compromise on your values, virtues or beliefs for the sake avoiding conflict or to gain political advantage…it will come back to bit you sometime in the future.
   5. 

      Coach with passion

       Coach with passion, energy and enthusiasm – your athletes deserve it.

   6.  Never, ever give up: persevere no matter what the obstacles are in your way – no matter how difficult it seems – never give up.
   7. Be an agent of change and ignore people who use the worst eight words in sport “that’s not the way we do it here“ – people who win are unique, are different, make changes, take risks and then the rest of the world has to finds ways of catching up with them.
   8. Be yourself – believe in yourself: you have to do this. No one wins by copying or by trying to be someone else or by trying to be something they are not. Be yourself.
   9. Avoid anyone who talks in absolutes: there are no “nevers”, no “always”, no “musts” – there is only learning, growth, creativity, innovation, change and passion. There is no one way of doing anything.
   10. Regularly take an honest look at yourself and your program and identify ways of enhancing the performance of both.

   In the end, coaching is a personal decision to be the best you can be – now and in the future and to pass on what you learn on to others so they might in turn realise their potential as athletes and as human beings. 

   WAYNE GOLDSMITH FEBRUARY 2010

   Further Reading:

   Review of Wayne Goldsmith’s “Making Sport Better Workshop” held as part of our ongoing Coach CPD Programme