“Coaches Comment’

with Jeanette Garrett B.H.S.I. ESNZ Registered Performance Coach and Coach Educator’

Jeanette’s articles are aimed at promoting thought and reflection on your performance as a rider and as a coach.

Part 4 of 5 Evaluating your coaching

Whatever your coaching role – teaching your own children, a volunteer coach at pony club or riding for the disabled, a competition rider who coaches, or perhaps you no longer ride but have much to offer other riders. Perhaps you are a coach who holds a coaching qualification and coaches on a regular basis. Your coaching role may also be in other sports outside of equestrian.

Anyone who coaches sports needs recognition and thanks for the time energy and knowledge they are willing to share with others.

This article asks the question, “How do you keep your coaching skills current, fresh and appropriate to be able to offer the very best to those you coach and most of all to keep the joy and buzz of coaching there for you, the coach?”

Compare a teacher in our educational system to an equestrian coach. The teacher works in a school or college as part of a teaching team, has continuing education opportunities, and is involved in staff development. On the other hand most equestrian coaches tend to work mainly alone and isolated by comparison. We may, from time to time, observe other top coaches and the effect they have on riders, but I think we need to also focus on their coaching styles and how they get positive results, - the ‘how’ of coaching rather than the ‘what’.

Ask yourself what, how often, and how much ‘coach updating’ do you do in order to enable you to offer even more to those you coach. You may have a niche area or discipline that you specialize in i.e. jumping, dressage, showing etc. and therefore tend to attract riders from with in them, whatever the scenario, we are not focusing on the ‘what’ that is being taught but the ‘how’.

Coaching as an individual –rather than as part of a team

I have asked a number of coaches, volunteers, those new to coaching and those that have been coaching for many years about the continuing self development they do. Some are very forward thinking with a positive approach. Other more negative responses with comments like – “ I don’t need to do anything like that a horse is a horse and a rider is a rider. Nothing changes “ or “I’ve been coaching for years, I don’t need to bother with all that”. Coaches with this viewpoint are very much the ones who need updating and supported mentoring. I think it might make a coach feel challenged but I am not talking about ‘judging’ a coach just encouraging them to meet with others, be open to think outside of their normal square and develop themselves. What would be the right environment to do this I wonder?

Those who have been drawn into coaching on a causal basis - for a range of different reasons - may not think it necessary or important. Personally I think personal development important to every coach, seeing it as a responsibility in improving the coaching standards for our riders, particularly at the lower levels where the sound foundations need to be laid.

What’s available for coaches?

SPARC has a strong emphasis on coach training, and it is a great resource for fresh ideas. Their website has coach profiles, ‘coaches tools’ www.sparc.org.nz It is not equestrian coach specific but there is much to learn from coaches from other sports that can be applied to equestrian activities.

There are seventeen regional sports trusts areas in New Zealand that are listed in the SPARC website – contact your local one and join in with their coaching programmes.

The NZ Pony Club Association (NZPCA) has a structured coach’s training programme. Even if you are not involved with pony club, contact your NZPCA area delegate and ask if it would be possible to take part in one of their 10 hour courses. This is a good way to network with other coaches and get new ideas. You do not have to enroll in the training programme, just go along and see how it goes. These courses are facilitated by NZPCA’s national coaches or approved and experienced coaches.

Equine eLearning Ltd. has online training for NZQA unit standards coaching qualifications suitable for those new to coaching ( Community Coach) and those already coaching (Grade One Coach). More about training in article 5.

Local coaching can be very competitive, often vying for the same market of riders, most are trying to increase their client base and this can make many feel threatened at the thought of meeting up with others in the area. I tried it – invited coaches to meet – the idea went down like a lead brick!!! If you have any ideas of how this attitude could be changed please let me know. How can it be seen as a positive thing to do?

Time

Time is the most common reason I am given for not wanting to do any coaching personal development including sharing of ideas. Comments like “ I don’t mind teaching a few riders while I am at pony club. My children are there anyway but I have no time for meetings or learning more” If this person is regularly teaching our riders how do we encourage them so that our riders get better coaching? One idea I have is to have coach training and support at rallies. The philosophy behind this idea - to make further learning a habit and a normal part of a coach’s role.

For the coach that works more on a ‘stand alone’ basis – yes it is hard to find time particularly if they are trying to make a living from it, but so worthwhile with benefits for all involved.

Cost

Yes further learning will cost in time and money although some funding can be made available from charities, and other organizations – funding applications need to be made.

Paying for courses be it full time coaching courses or distance learning with ‘online’ assessments and practical assessments – coach mentored qualifications

( more about these in article 5) The cost would be an investment in you the coach and part of your personal development. You are worth it! If you received payment for your coaching put a little aside each year and see it as your personal coaching development fund to invest in YOU.

Day to day

On a more day to day coaching basis what simple checks and balances can you put in place? Reflection on the sessions you have taught – most of us think back over our sessions as to what the rider did well or not so well. Try viewing the sessions from your performance as a coach ALWAYS start with what you think you handled particularly well, for example - the subject you planned to teach or the situation that arose and the way you dealt with it. Then move on to think of what you could do better when you coach those riders the next time

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Enjoy using this' Coaches Self Evaluation Sheet' This is just for your use – no one is going to see it judge it or God forbid mark it! Use it as often or as little as you like!! Go well!!