Funny how you get used to focussing your attention on your own game when you are not coaching, so going back to focussing on the person the other side of the net was the first challenge!! I had already done this in a previous life from young player to coach, now I need to do it again!
We covered a little bit on communication on court today, with a view of encouraging competence and autonomy from the player. After spending quite some time in primarily off court roles, it was certainly nice to get back on the court and start coaching again. Whilst the terminology has changed, the basic coaching principles have remained the same and if anything, what I have learned off the court from managing coaches, committee members and volunteers has helped me to develop my people skills and communication skills in a variety of ways.
On reflection, I am now a lot more competent at reading people, understanding their motivations and getting the best out of them; something that I can take back on the court in a coaching capacity. So...time to put the hours in and put my newly learned theories into practice - anyone for tennis?
To further support our learning, part of our course involves some external placements; some within a performance tennis environment and others within other sporting bodies and even non sporting businesses related to our own interests and learning areas. Tennis Australia in the New Year sounds appealing, but may need to read more about what expenses I can and can’t claim before booking the flights!!!
Friday, 16 September 2011
We are sailing...
Today we looked at skill acquisition and received a very interesting talk form the National Sailing Coach, Harvey Hillary. Everyone took a clear interest in the presentation, which talked about segmenting the process of learning into four key stages; components, shaping, diversion and automatic.
It was fascinating to know about how they implement this coaching methodology with their performance sailors and whilst it was not wholly relevant to me in my role, it did make me consider how people learn and take on information in a broader sense. He went on to talk about planning and the importance of reviewing plans; plan, do, review!
I am certainly guilty of spending much of my time planning and doing but little on reviewing progress. It always feels a little bit of a luxury to look back on a project and assess the outcome, especially when the next project has already started, but from what we learnt today, invaluable in terms of understanding what you did well and what could be done better.
'...the more that's measured, the less that is left to chance!'
It was fascinating to know about how they implement this coaching methodology with their performance sailors and whilst it was not wholly relevant to me in my role, it did make me consider how people learn and take on information in a broader sense. He went on to talk about planning and the importance of reviewing plans; plan, do, review!
I am certainly guilty of spending much of my time planning and doing but little on reviewing progress. It always feels a little bit of a luxury to look back on a project and assess the outcome, especially when the next project has already started, but from what we learnt today, invaluable in terms of understanding what you did well and what could be done better.
'...the more that's measured, the less that is left to chance!'
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Knowing me, knowing you...
At the end of each day we spend some time learning more about each other, through a simple yet demanding exercise called ‘PechaKucha’. Each person is asked to assemble a range of 20 images and then talk about each image for 20 seconds; the PowerPoint slide show is set up to work through each image every 20 seconds. It is quite a difficult exercise as those of us who presented on the first night soon found out!
It has been an excellent way to find out more about each person and certainly thrown everyone in at the deep end in terms of being open, honest and to an extent 'themselves' from the start. That is not to say that people are intentionally guarded in the early stages of new courses, but human nature kicks in when you are outside your comfort zone.
So after a pretty introductory first day and a bit of ice breaking, we all went into day two wondering what sort of shape the course would take. Now we have been through the course criteria and have a better understanding of the modules, we have all started to consider how we best learn from the content and the experience. It is typical course framework, with fundamental parts, but how we utilise the skills we learn from each module and apply that learning is very much an individual choice.
It has been an excellent way to find out more about each person and certainly thrown everyone in at the deep end in terms of being open, honest and to an extent 'themselves' from the start. That is not to say that people are intentionally guarded in the early stages of new courses, but human nature kicks in when you are outside your comfort zone.
So after a pretty introductory first day and a bit of ice breaking, we all went into day two wondering what sort of shape the course would take. Now we have been through the course criteria and have a better understanding of the modules, we have all started to consider how we best learn from the content and the experience. It is typical course framework, with fundamental parts, but how we utilise the skills we learn from each module and apply that learning is very much an individual choice.
So, tell us more...
The first four day module is very much a 'foundation module', which covers some key basics:
- communication and leadership
- tennis coaching management
- world class coaching
- goal setting and planning
- self awareness and development
So far we have looked across all of these areas and related them to coaches and coaching businesses who are operating at this Master Coach level; useful as sometimes courses are all theory and no practical application. It is great to listen to the experiences of those coaches already operating a succesful business, which has helped us draw parallels to our existing roles and aspirations moving forwards.
- communication and leadership
- tennis coaching management
- world class coaching
- goal setting and planning
- self awareness and development
So far we have looked across all of these areas and related them to coaches and coaching businesses who are operating at this Master Coach level; useful as sometimes courses are all theory and no practical application. It is great to listen to the experiences of those coaches already operating a succesful business, which has helped us draw parallels to our existing roles and aspirations moving forwards.
Sign your life away (for the next 12 months at least!)...
My initial attitude to doing this course was one of apprehension and uncertainty given that I have had very much an off court management role for over 6 years now. However, I still get on court and run Cardio tennis each week and cover groups sessions at my own club when they need some help, so getting back on court again should not be as alien as I had first imagined.
Part of me was also feeling a little bit of a fake in that respect, as when asked where I coach and in what capacity, I was limited with my response. That said, I am really glad that I have embarked on this one year journey, as not only do I feel that it will be a fantastic learning experience, it will also keep me up to date with coaches wants and needs, so help with my role as LTA Programmes Manager.
I also feel that I can offer valuable input from a different perspective and the experience I have gained through the roles I have had off the court; managing a team of coaches, managing a facility and more recently working more on an top level, broader participation strategy rather than the day to day delivery.
Mixing with the coaches taking the Master Performance Course was also of real benefit as regardless of who coaches work with, the same issues around managing people and relationships are fundamental to the role; head coach, club manager or performance coach.
Part of me was also feeling a little bit of a fake in that respect, as when asked where I coach and in what capacity, I was limited with my response. That said, I am really glad that I have embarked on this one year journey, as not only do I feel that it will be a fantastic learning experience, it will also keep me up to date with coaches wants and needs, so help with my role as LTA Programmes Manager.
I also feel that I can offer valuable input from a different perspective and the experience I have gained through the roles I have had off the court; managing a team of coaches, managing a facility and more recently working more on an top level, broader participation strategy rather than the day to day delivery.
Mixing with the coaches taking the Master Performance Course was also of real benefit as regardless of who coaches work with, the same issues around managing people and relationships are fundamental to the role; head coach, club manager or performance coach.
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