Recognising Effective Coaching
Perhaps one of the most important, though most difficult, parts of your job will be to
monitor whether the coaches you are managing are coaching effectively and providing
good-quality sessions.
Though there are no easy quick-fix solutions to this problem, the following advice should
steer you in the right direction.
Coaching varies according to the age of the participant (eg between young and old),
what participants want from sport (eg to have fun, to socialise, to get fit, to win), and
between different types of sport (eg swimming, football).
Therefore, there is not one view on effective coaching, but many depending on the
participants, the coach, the environment and the coaching task.
For example, children should be provided with fun sessions which enthuse them in sport,
whereas talented and high-performance athletes may require sessions that are harder
work to gain performance improvements.
You, as a coach manager, and the coaches you are monitoring will have to make an
assessment about what constitutes effective coaching according to the environment.
The following may be useful.
Goal Setting
Sessions should be planned in advance as part of an overall plan (ie not stand-alone)
Children, athletes and players should be involved in goal setting
Coaching goals should be relevant to what children, athletes and players want/need
from sport.
The Coaching Session
Coaching session activities must be appropriate to coaching goals (eg use of drills v
games; appropriate use of competition)
Children, athletes and players will be busy and on the task most of the time
Sessions must be interesting, stimulating and show variety
Recognising Effective Coaching
Coach should be positive, display appropriate values, communicate well and
provide feedback
Coach should ensure progression in activities in the context of longer-term
improvement and make changes to the session as necessary.
Session Organisation
The environment should be safe, up to date and have appropriate facilities, equipment
and personnel
Sessions should start and finish on time
Session goals should be stated at the start of the session.
Review
Coach should seek feedback and reflect on the session
Coach should encourage children, athletes and players to reflect and learn
from the session.
© The National Coaching Foundation, 2010