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| Children competing to catch the Handball |
How do you help children in your Sports Session or even PE Lesson to cope with the demands? For an experienced coach this may be less of a challenge. For other coaches still learning their trade it can become confusing or even seem like a lost cause. It is never a lost cause. We work hard in our sessions and constructing coaching plans. So when a participant, particularly a child is struggling to cope with the demands we are disappointed because we want them to learn as much as possible from the session. If a child walks away without taking any learning point. You have not done your job.
As coaches we must anticipate the need to adapt sessions to the needs of children and young people. It is almost impossible to deliver a session that is progressive without 'tweaking' the session a little bit. Therefore when a child is struggling to cope chances are that the coach is to blame due to poor planning or lack of anticipation/experience. But lets not dwell on that. We will tell you the very fundamentals that are working for Run Fun Starz Coaches;
1. Manipulating Objects
By manipulating objects I am referring to changing the way equipment is used or even not used. For example in a Hurdle Sprint drill the hurdle itself may be slightly to high for a child in the session. You can make it easier by using a smaller hurdle or even replace the hurdle completely and use a Traffic Cone instead.
2. Take advantage of Space Available
More often than not there is lots of space available. So use it. This is one of the most common and basic adaptations coaches apply. Depending on the sport of course changing the area of activity/space just a little can make the biggest difference to the child. For instance if a child cannot dribble through a restricted space in a Basketball drill, make the area bigger for them to manoeuvre around.
3. Give Hints & Ask Questions
Sometimes the best thing to do is to let the child figure it out for themselves. But guide them through it. Coaching a child to demonstrate a Short Pass in Football may require you to name the steps as they kick or question what the next step is to complete the short pass.
4. Imitation
This similar to demonstration. The difference is you as a coach perform the drill with the child as they copy your moves, technique, strategy and whatever you aiming to coach. It will allow you to check for understanding. More importantly it will place you in the shoes of the child to experience as well as observe first hand what they are doing incorrectly. Allow the child to imitate you step by step. It's like learning to tie your shoe laces, it helps to do it slowly and in stages that can be remembered.
5. Involve other Children
This is also about making the session easier for you as a coach. If you delegate a little responsibility to other children to help their peers it can work wonders. For example when practicing a balancing movement in Gymnastics ask children to support each other from the back/side if it is too hard to balance without stability.
6. Allow adequate Practice
Unfortunately allowing children to practice is something coaches still underestimate. The best coaches allow 'play to go on' sometimes because often it is only by trial and error children learn. It is important not to rush children. They might be able to do a perfect Forearm one week and the next they cannot even hold the racket properly and vice versa. This part of development; which brings me to the next point.
7. Implement a Transitional Stage
This is a sub-transitional stage for children and young people who are lacking competence in a skill. It is comparable to a 'safety net' given to talented late developing athletes to compensate for their slower progress. The sub-transitional stage has no specific time frame in which the child should grasp the skill/technique. It is a way to monitor progress according to the ability of the child concerned only and manipulating their strengths.
This list is not exhaustive of course.
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