Contents

The The “Softer“Softer Skills”Skills”of Coaching for of Coaching for Club CoachesClub Coaches

In-Service Presentation for In-Service Presentation for clubs and their coachesclubs and their coaches

Essentials of coachingEssentials of coaching

1.1. A safe environmentA safe environment

2.2. PlanningPlanning

3.3. Group managementGroup management

These are considered to be These are considered to be essential components for all essential components for all

coaches and are often referred to coaches and are often referred to as the as the “Softer Skills”.“Softer Skills”.

What makes a good coach?What makes a good coach?

Good communication skillsGood communication skills ConfidenceConfidence Enthusiasm for your sport and your Enthusiasm for your sport and your

athletesathletes Knowledge of your sport and your Knowledge of your sport and your

athletesathletes PatiencePatience

A Safe EnvironmentA Safe Environment

Key responsibility of the coachKey responsibility of the coach Do all athletes have appropriate Do all athletes have appropriate

equipment (i.e. shinpads & equipment (i.e. shinpads & mouthguard)?mouthguard)?

If so, are they wearing it?If so, are they wearing it? Is the training surface safe?Is the training surface safe? Is there an appropriate number of Is there an appropriate number of

coaches for the number of athletes coaches for the number of athletes (especially with younger children)?(especially with younger children)?

A Safe EnvironmentA Safe Environment

Have you done a risk analysis, Have you done a risk analysis, including the following:including the following: Potential environmental risksPotential environmental risks Discovered any potentially important Discovered any potentially important

medical information relating to your medical information relating to your athletes e.g. asthmaathletes e.g. asthma

Determined the nearest telephone and Determined the nearest telephone and hospital in case of an emergencyhospital in case of an emergency

Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit with you at all times while coaching?with you at all times while coaching?

PlanningPlanning

““Failing to plan is Failing to plan is planningplanning to fail”to fail”

Benefits of planningBenefits of planning

Your athletes are kept actively Your athletes are kept actively involved, resulting in more learning involved, resulting in more learning and greater enjoymentand greater enjoyment

Teach skills with appropriate skill Teach skills with appropriate skill progression (maximises learning & progression (maximises learning & safety)safety)

Make the best use of available time, Make the best use of available time, space and equipmentspace and equipment

Minimise discipline problemsMinimise discipline problems Increases your confidence as a coachIncreases your confidence as a coach

Six steps of instructional Six steps of instructional planningplanning

1.1. Identify the skills your athletes needIdentify the skills your athletes need

2.2. Know your athletesKnow your athletes

3.3. Analyse your situationAnalyse your situation

4.4. Establish prioritiesEstablish priorities

5.5. Select the methods for teachingSelect the methods for teaching

6.6. Plan trainingPlan training

Step 1: Identify the skills Step 1: Identify the skills your athletes needyour athletes need

Technical skillsTechnical skills Tactical skills Tactical skills Communication skillsCommunication skills Physical skillsPhysical skills Mental skills Mental skills CharacterCharacter

Step 2: Know your athletesStep 2: Know your athletes

How old are they – what is their level of How old are they – what is their level of physical, psychological & social maturity?physical, psychological & social maturity?

How much playing experience do they have?How much playing experience do they have? How well do the players know each other?How well do the players know each other? How well do they accept responsibilities?How well do they accept responsibilities? Are they accustomed to being told what to Are they accustomed to being told what to

do? Ordo? Or Have they been encouraged to problem Have they been encouraged to problem

solve?solve?

Step 3: Analyse your Step 3: Analyse your situationsituation

How many training sessions do you have How many training sessions do you have each week?each week?

How many games are there in the How many games are there in the season?season?

How many athletes will you be coaching?How many athletes will you be coaching? What facilities and equipment will you What facilities and equipment will you

have available?have available? What instructional resources will you What instructional resources will you

need?need?

Step 4: Establish PrioritiesStep 4: Establish Priorities

Identify the skills the athletes need Identify the skills the athletes need Evaluate each skill on two criteria:Evaluate each skill on two criteria:

1.1. The centrality of the skill to playing The centrality of the skill to playing hockeyhockey

2.2. Your athletes’ readiness to learn the Your athletes’ readiness to learn the skillskill

Step 5: Select the method Step 5: Select the method for teachingfor teaching

Traditional approachTraditional approach Games Sense approachGames Sense approach

Step 6: Plan trainingStep 6: Plan training

Basic elements of a training plan are:Basic elements of a training plan are: Date, time of training & length of training Date, time of training & length of training

sessionsession Objective of the trainingObjective of the training Equipment neededEquipment needed Warm-upWarm-up Practice of previously taught skillsPractice of previously taught skills Teach and practice new skillsTeach and practice new skills Cool downCool down Coach’s commentsCoach’s comments Evaluation of trainingEvaluation of training

Group ManagementGroup Management

Communication skillsCommunication skills Organisational skillsOrganisational skills

CommunicationCommunication

Six steps in communicating:Six steps in communicating:

1.1. You have thoughts that you wish to conveyYou have thoughts that you wish to convey

2.2. You translate these thoughts into a messageYou translate these thoughts into a message

3.3. You transmit your message (verbal or non-You transmit your message (verbal or non-verbal)verbal)

4.4. The athlete receives your messageThe athlete receives your message

5.5. The athlete interprets the message’s meaningThe athlete interprets the message’s meaning

6.6. The athlete responds internally to his/her The athlete responds internally to his/her interpretation of the messageinterpretation of the message

Key communication skillsKey communication skills

Developing credibility when you Developing credibility when you communicatecommunicate

Communicating with a positive Communicating with a positive approachapproach

Sending messages high in informationSending messages high in information Communicating with consistencyCommunicating with consistency Learning how to listenLearning how to listen Improving your nonverbal Improving your nonverbal

communicationcommunication

Organisational skillsOrganisational skills

Important characteristic of the club Important characteristic of the club coachcoach

Management responsibilities include:Management responsibilities include: Policy managementPolicy management Information managementInformation management Personnel managementPersonnel management Instructional managementInstructional management Logistics managementLogistics management Financial managementFinancial management

Consider these Consider these “softer skills”“softer skills” and and you are well on the you are well on the way to becoming a way to becoming a Successful Coach!Successful Coach!