Thinking of Coaching
If standing on the sidelines is not enough for you, then coaching kids could be the perfect solution.
Not only is it extremely rewarding, but it's also a great way of learning new skills; both technical and social. We give you a few handy hints on getting involved.
Making a session run smoothly
Organising a group of children taking part in sport is not always easy but these handy hints should help you to make things run as smoothly as possible.
- Minimise the number of times you stop a session and only stop them when you are in a good position where everyone can see and hear you.
- Don't stop focussed activities unless you have something important to contribute. Kids will just get frustrated and annoyed.
- If you're making a point to the whole group then fine, but try and attend to individuals without interrupting the game or practice.
- Be clear but not over the top. How things are said are as important as what is said.
- Ensure everybody can see and hear any demonstration you are about to give.
- Once you've got the group's attention you need to explain things quickly and clearly.
- Isolate one or two points to be explained. And don't use too many words explaining them. Be clear and concise.
- A demonstration can be worth a 1,000 words.
- Keep the demonstration simple - and repeat it. Check everyone knows what can be achieved before they have a go.
- Ask has anyone got a question about what they are about to do? and feedback any tips.
Managing a training session
The golden rule for any training session is always to make it fun for the children. Use game-orientated training - kids love to play. You can camouflage drills by using games, but remember the result is not the focus.
All sessions need to be planned beforehand so think about the following:
- What are you going to do?
- What do the children need/want to do?
- What is the ability of the children you are planning for?
- Have you chosen appropriate activities?
- Check the playing area to ensure it is safe
- Set up equipment beforehand
- Understand the skills you are about to teach
The session
The following will help you to build up a basic plan for an hour's session:
- Always start on time and get things going quickly.
- Go through at least a 5-10 minute warm up.
- Go over a skill that you have previously taught for some positive reinforcement. Give plenty of praise and encouragement.
- Demonstrate new skills - allow around 5-10 minutes for this. Make sure everybody can see. Do it slowly and clearly to start off with.
- Children need to understand where each skill fits with each other so they can relate to using them at the appropriate time. Let everybody have a go at practising the new set of skills.
- Watch what's happening. If you intervene to make corrections try and do it positively. If the skill has proved a bit tricky for the children to grasp, demonstrate it again.
- Leave enough time for some game play - about a quarter-of-an-hour, and keep your instructions to a minimum at this point. Make sure everybody is involved.
- Finish with enough time for a 5-10 minute cool down and include fun games to keep their attention. More on warm downs.
- While kids are warming down keep talking to them. Ask questions about the skill they have learned and give some positive feedback.
After the session
- Take some time to evaluate what happened. Did everybody have fun? If not, why not?
- Did everybody have a go or were some excluded? What could you do to improve the next session?
Useful Downloads
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Dragon Sport Log Book » download (.pdf) |
