Equestrian Coach Network (ECN) Christmas Meeting
9th December 2011 Richmond Nelson
For those that made the time to come along at such a hectic time of year – Thank You!
The plan to have a few coaches to share some recent coaching experiences worked very well. Kirsten Crabtree – The Giggling Pony gave us an overview of her recent NZ Pony Club Ass. coaches’ course in Christchurch. The theme this year was C+, B, and H certificate Horsemastership levels. Here is an example of one of the coaching ideas she come home with.
Best Practice
Balance – ensure delivery to your audience has the correct balance of show-ask-tell
Equal attention- all students are worthy of your attention
Speed of delivery- set the pace at one that suits your audience
Train- only
perfect practice = perfect!
Practice/ props/ prior-preparation are all essential elements
Real/ relevant- the more your students can relate the quicker their learning will be
Ask questions to prove that students understand your lesson content
Change = learning… yes, even we as coaches need to be constantly changing!!!
Teaching games for understanding
Integrate theory into practice, not all students can relate to the spoken/read word alone
Catering for all learning styles (Visual, Auditory, Reading, Kinesthetic/doing)
Educate!! If they’re not learning maybe
we need to take responsibility and change something!
Jeanette Garrett – Equine Positive Learning gave a run down on a recent trip to coach in Vanuatu for 10 days. This was followed by a general discussion on the following topics:-
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Progress report on development Equestrian Coaches Network (ECN) (Top of the South Island)- The strategic plan has now been completed click here to read the strategic plan. Thank you to those of you that helped with editing, proof reading and Jeanette’s mentor for this project Bruce Blaire – international sports coach mentor. This strategic plan will be used to apply for funding/sponsorship
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Funding / Sponsorship Equine Positive learning is now researching ‘how to’ and ‘who to’ apply to. It has become apparent that all applications want bank details – therefore an ANZ not for profit account has been opened for ECN. If you have any ideas and advice in this area click here – contact us from my website here
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Sport Tasman and Equine Positive Learning (EPL) are making good progress to develop a new low cost equestrian coaches course based on Sport Tasman’s ‘Coach Assist ‘ courses in fact it is almost ready for delivery. It is planed to have the first course in Nelson/ Richmond area during the winter months. The key purpose of this course is to be appropriate for all levels of coach – any discipline, code or activity in equestrian. Cost will be around $20 and when funding is available even lower! NZRDA has agreed to accept this course as 15 points towards their coach annual accreditation (100point required). This should provide all RDA centers in the Top of the South Island to gain some accreditation points with out high cost and travel expenses. We await acceptance from NZ Pony Club Ass. as to this course being acceptable as part of the 10 hours of updating required by all coaches in pony club. Click here to view NZPCA Coach job description
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Drawing in coaches - Some time was spent discussing ways to ‘draw in’ coaches to the network. Word of mouth - coach to coach (so…spread the word !!).EPL’s Coaches’ Comment newsletter and website for communication. However it was felt that there is an apathy – “why should we bother to do this – we never have in the past?”. Some felt that until the appropriate equestrian bodies/organizations / government law followed the NZ RDA’s lead and made it compulsory for coaches to be currently updated /trained they whould not be any change. On a more positive theme others felt it was not so much about ‘training/updating’ at this point more a ‘what sort of environment would encourage those that coach to come along. Jeanette’s thoughts on this was a ‘WIFM - ‘What’s In it For Me?’ What would make it feel worth while to come along and network? A free course low cost course may not be the answer FREE might indicate to some that it was not worth anything where a chance to come along and network with others might be more attractive
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Ideas for the future – to promote ‘our’ coaches to the equestrian and general public Idea one – the next Nelson A & P show to give coaching demonstrations throughout the day with horses and riders example a coach demonstrating a coaching session for show jump, or dressage etc etc with a leaflet /handout about selecting a coach. The reason for doing this at the A & P show is to take the coaches to the horses people and public easier than trying to get them to come to us!
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Funding and the future –The visions talked about – that there was plenty we could do for ourselves with the fast amount of knowledge we had between us – coaches willing to share with each other rather like we had done this evening at our next meeting or should it be a seminar/expo type set up? What subjects would coaches be interested in ? Here are a few examples but please feel free to suggest more:-
Marketing for your equestrian business
Internet and social media and your coaching
1 coaches views on how to teach ground skills
1 coaches views on how to coach classical dressage
1 coaches views on how to coach jumping etc. etc..
What ever the subject it needs to ‘pull people in’
As funding/sponsorship becomes available guest speakers – particularly when international coaches are in our area. Funding applications could be made by coaches to ECN for the funding of coach courses, travel expenses – always with the focus on developing coach’s skills.
Conclusion – of the meeting was very positive and it was felt that from a small base of motivated people much could be done.
