Benifits of Individual And Team Sports-Group 7.pptx
What Makes an Excellent Coach?
1. Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching
Task 1 –
What Makes An
Excellent Coach
SPO001-2 Coaching for Development
Carl Page (1008889)
University of Bedfordshire
Mr. D Burns
2. Carl Page (1008889) Page 1 Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1
Personal Opinion........................................................................................................................ 1
Academic Opinion ...................................................................................................................... 2
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 4
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction
In this task I will be answering the following question “What makes an excellent coach?” This will be
done by researching and demonstrating my understanding of by firstly saying my view on the
particular topic. Next is through gaining academic ideas from various resources, subsequently
detailed conclusions shall be drawn from the question in matter. “Coaching is helping to develop a
person through the improvement of their athletic performance. It involves the physical and
psychological development of the person to take them beyond their present level.” Stafford-Brown,
Rea and Chance (2003).
Personal Opinion
Firstly I believe that a coach has gained experience from gaining the appropriate qualifications and
relevant training needed to be excellent at their job. Since through learning to communicate
effectively with the participants they are with by using various verbal and non-verbal methods to get
the message across efficiently when conducting a session.
Verbal Non-Verbal
Explain what to do Demonstration
Guidance Manual guidance
Tips on techniques White boards
Feedback Whistles
Reinforcements Video evidence – perfect model for feedback
Vicarious experience Reinforcements
Depth of explanation depends on ability and age
Vicarious experience
of group or individual.
Q&A Sign language
3. Voice projection Body language
Instructions Eye contact
Tone of voice Pictures
One to One
Volume, clear, clarity, language and terms used.
Plus when coaches are working with children it is important that they need to make the sporting
activities fun and pleasant as possible. This is achievable by being a good example valuing participant
as a person and regarding them as an individual. Furthermore the coach should wear appropriate
clothing and footwear. Along with the responsibility to abide health and safety regulations as
through use of risk assessments safeguarding the location and all equipment used is not faulty and
stored safely away.
Likewise possessing a great attitude/behaviour so those involved must not feel uncomfortable.
Moreover should never over train the participants as not place success before their safety. The
coach’s duty is to correctly teach the correct Technique/Skill so i f taught wrongly the way the action
or movement is done wrong; it could cause an injury to the participant. Similarly when explaining
how to get the body warmed up and ready for the main activity and cooling down properly so lactic
acid will not build up and cause painful cramp as stiffness of the muscle(s).
Academic Opinion
Although through researching the opinions of others through various resources initially Lombardi
(1967) states “A coach is somebody who helps with the learning process, using everything at his
disposal, helping the athlete to achieve, using a whole approach. This includes fitness, skills,
performance and whole body techniques (Psychological and mental factors)”. Whereas more
recently Walton (1992) testifies that “A coach is scientist who is curious, he is able to recognise the
problem he is confused about, and often his confusion is what keeps him in search of the truth. In
athletics the intelligent coach and athlete are constantly searching for new approaches and improved
methods. These people who advance our sport”.
However Eastley (1992) proposes that there are certain traits about the excellent coach which are
personal qualities some are regarded as desirable, less of the style employed, such as understanding
of the players, enthusiasm, self-discipline, determination, ability to motivate, tolerance and a sense
of humour. Also for instance the particular characteristics towards a coach are explained by Eastley
Carl Page (1008889) Page 2 Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching
4. (1992) of which are the responsibilities towards the players. These come under numerous categories
such as;
Mosston and Ashworth's Spectrum of
Teaching Styles (1986)
Teacher
Leader
Counsellor
Organiser
Trainer
Exemplar
Adjudicator
Administrator
Carl Page (1008889) Page 3 Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching
(Eastley 1992)
Yet research from Sean Horton and Janice M. Deakin
supports that coaches spend a great deal of time in
the training sessions instructing the players. Also
one of Canada’s national team coaches who says “I
think that good coaching is really just good teaching.
Everything I am doing is designed to teach, teach,
teach”. Thus coaches blend across various teaching
styles implemented in the spectrum of teaching
Styles by Mosston and Ashworth's (1986).
Firstly the planning stage is when a coach is affected by
many items in which they contemplate whenever
Planning a
session
planning their session(s). Since this might take account
of the aims, objects of each session, resources used and
the health and safety involved. Next is the conducting
stage when a coach keeps to their planning method of
the coaching activity(s). Final phase is when evaluating
Evaluating a
Conducting
session
a session
as take into consideration how they went, what
experiences were discovered, how it would influence
the planning of the upcoming session(s).
Gibson, McIntyre et al. coaching is a
three stage process.
Finally with Sports Coach UK (2001) they are the
leading coaching network organisation in UK suggesting coaches have a similar role to mentoring. As
5. they present the core skills of mentoring consist of observation, giving feedback, active listening and
questioning. Observation is mentioned the careful watching and recording of noting developments.
Mentoring is done by giving feedback, individually through positive criticism, praise, advice and
guided self-discovery which intends to provide useful information for future decisions and
developments. Similarly for example Martens (1997) states that there are three important parts to
be an excellent coach;
Knowledge of sport
Motivation
Empathy
Conclusion
Consequently I believe that a coach has to have experience in different roles, responsibilities,
qualities and skills to become an excellent coach. As the coaches experience comes from being
actively involved from training sessions to competitive activities with groups of people or individuals
varying ages and abilities. So in moments of time this guides the coach into an enhanced knowledge
or skills. Therefore coaches will then have a better broad-spectrum of understanding by having
acquired range of principles, facts, ideas and information through line of work either paid or
voluntary. This skill will in turn develop the coach which is absolutely necessary and is worth having
to be at the top of their game.
Bibliography
Books
Cross Neville., Lyle J., (1999) The Coaching Process: Principles and Practice for Sport. Butterworth -
Heinemann Ltd.
Eastley, S. (1992) “Chapter 5 The Role Of The Sports Coach” ed. Crouch, H. Netball Coaching 2nd edn.
London A&C Black Publishers.
Gervis, M., Brierley J. (2000) Effective Coaching for Children: Understanding the Sports Process.
Crowood Pr.
Horton, S. And Janice, M. Deakin (2008) “Chapter 6 Expert Coaches In Action” eds. Farrow, D. Baker,
J. MacMahon, C. Developing Sport Expertise: Researchers And Coaches Put Theory Into Practise
London Routledge.
Carl Page (1008889) Page 4 Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching
6. Jones, R.L., Hughes, M. & Kingston, K. (2008) An introduction to sports coaching: from science and
theory to practice. London: Routledge.
Martens, R. (1997) Successful Coaching. Leeds: Human Kinetics
Morgan, K. (2008) “Chapter 1 Pedagogy For Coaches” eds. Jones, L. R, Hughes, M. and Kingston, K.
An Introduction To Sports Coaching: From Science And Theory To Practise London Routledge.
Pyke, F.S. (2001) Better coaching: advanced coach’s Manual. Leeds: Human Kinetics.
Sports Coach UK (1998) “Chapter 3 Mentoring Skills” ed. Gavin, B. A Guide To Mentoring Sports
Coaches Leeds Coachwise.
Stafford, I. (2005) Coaching for LTAD. Leeds: Coachwise.
Electronic Books
A. and C. Black, (07/2006), Dictionary of Sport and Exercise Science, A & C Black Publishers, 1-225.
MyAthens ebrary [Online]. Available at:
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/treshamins/docDetail.action?docID=10196632 (Accessed: 28/12/2010)
Living Sport Sports Coaches/leaders Guidelines 1 & Sports Coaches/leaders Guidelines 2. Available at:
http://www.livingsport.co.uk/safe-sport/test-2/9161/for-sports-coachesleaders (Accessed:
05/10/2011)
Northamptonshire Sport. Available at:
http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/files/coaches_code_of_conduct_leaflet_09.pdf (Accessed:
05/10/2011)
Western Australia Department of Sport and Recreation Codes of conduct and/or behaviour. Available
at: http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/codesofconduct (Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Websites
Brian Mac Coaching Philosophy. Available at: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/coachphil.htm (Accessed:
10/10/2011)
Brian Mac Coaching Principles. Available at: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/coaching.htm (Accessed:
10/10/2011)
Brian Mac Coaching Skills and Roles. Available at: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/coachsr.htm
(Accessed: 10/10/2011)
Brian Mac Code of Ethics and Conduct for Sports Coaches. Available at:
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/ethics.htm (Accessed: 10/10/2011)
Brian Mac Planning the Training. Available at: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/plan.htm (Accessed:
10/10/2011)
Carl Page (1008889) Page 5 Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching
7. Brian Mac Responsibilities. Available at: http://www.brianmac.co.uk/legal.htm (Accessed:
10/10/2011)
Daily Mail Vaughan: Duncan's an excellent coach. Last updated at 18:23 16 April 2007. Available at:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-448965/Vaughan-Duncans-excellent-coach.html
(Accessed: 05/10/2011)
http://www.sportscoachingbrain.com/great-coaching-great-coaches-how-to-be-the-best-of-the-best/
(Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Mental Game Coach The Top 15 Characteristics Of Excellent Coaches, Winning The Mental Game Of
Coaching. By Bill Cole, MS, MA Founder and CEO, William B. Cole Consultants, Silicon Valley,
California. Available at: http://www.mentalgamecoach.com/articles/CoachingQualities.html
(Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Northamptonshire Sport Coaches. Available at: http://www.northamptonshiresport.org/coaches
(Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Proactive Wellness How To Be An Excellent Coaching Client! Written by Melanie A Forde on August
24th 2011. Available at: http://www.proactivewellness.org.uk/how-to-be-an-excellent-coaching-client/
(Accessed: 10/10/2011)
Sport Wales about coaching. Available at: http://www.sportwales.org.uk/coaches--
clubs/coaching/about-coaching.aspx (Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Sports Coaching Brain good to great ten qualities of excellence in coaching and life. By Wayne
Goldsmith on February 18th 2011. Available at: http://www.sportscoachingbrain.com/good-to-great-ten-
qualities-of-excellence-in-coaching-and-life/ (Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Sports Coaching Brain great coaching great-coaches how to be the best of the best. By Wayne
Goldsmith on July 25th 2010. Available at:
Teach PE Teaching Styles. Available at: http://www.teachpe.com/images/psychology/styles.jpg
(Accessed: 10/10/2011)
Topend Sports Coaching Skills. Available at: http://www.topendsports.com/coaching/skills.htm
(Accessed: 05/10/2011)
Carl Page (1008889) Page 6 Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching