Coaching Resources

Select specific examples that are relevant to your age and ability group. Be patient  Accept you may have to 'give away' outcomes in the first few attempts for your players to become familiar with the organisation and theme. Be creative! Use the resource, but you know your players so adapt to fit the needs of your group.

A few pointers...

• Be age specifc
• Be encouraging - give players the opportunity to show you and their peers what understanding they've grasped from the activity?
• Be a player - get your coaching colleague to lead a session in which you engage - experience a session from a players view point.
• Be patient - change takes place over an extended period and you will need to revisit concepts continually with brush strokes.
• Use triggers - succinct key words and prompts, and questions...? What does this remind you of from our game...? What can you show me as an option to try here?
• Relate what you are doing to the games the players play.
• Use favourites - the activity you would find most enjoyable - so will your players - use a favourite to help progression.
• Use a visual stimulus - whiteboard, A4 sheet, laptop (if you have the tech.!) players conceptualise in pictures - language is harder to translate/relate to the actions on a field of play. Re-create what is visually recognisable.
• Don't be afraid to demo techniques, or get a player who has mastered a technique to demo for you - break things down to build up correct execution. Work in bite size chunks.
• It's winter - keep things brisk and allow plenty of time for games.
• Remember the best activities are player-centred - it is a privilege to guide young people.