Is Coaching (or Teaching Sport) too Inclusive?


The idea that coaches are too inclusive is dependent on which level they are working in. According to Duffy’s (2007) diagram of The UK Framework: A 3-7-11 the role of Children’s and Participant Coaches is to be as inclusive as possible. See an example of this on a Run Fun Starz Sports Session Plan. But the danger is the standards of development at this level are minimized to accommodate participants with less ability. This is not necessarily the fault of the coach. If your duty is to 'coach to the middle' do you ignore the top? The answer should be no but it is difficult and sometimes even impossible to reach out to both.  If you are ignoring the top then you are not being inclusive if we go by the definition?. When coaches have been set rigid criteria may it be by an organisation they work for, a club or a contract that must be followed it has a huge influence on how they coach, what they coach and whom they focus on.

Even so the standards of the developmental or participation stage should always seek to improve to get the best out of each individual including those with an advanced ability. If the aims and objectives are to coach to the middle those setting the agendas must also be aware that this risks excluding others. If coaches can be given the freedom of being inclusive without the expense of others who have the potential to develop beyond achieving basics then there is nothing wrong with being too inclusive.

What are your thoughts?

Run Fun Starz Group ®

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Free 1 hour Sport Session Trial

Free 1 hour Sport Session Trial 

Request a FREE Trial for your School or Community group fill in the small contact form Contact Form or email info@runfunstarz.co.uk. The Run Fun Starz Group is offering a series of FREE Session trials to London Schools and Community Group with youngsters aged 6-16 years for the month of October 2010. This is an opportunity for you to observe the quality of delivery and great enjoyment to the children and young people. In the 1 hour session trial the children and young people involved will get a taste of learning the core social, technical, psychological, physical and experience elements of the Flexy Sports Programme. It will give the chance for the children and young people to experience a sport they may have never even heard of. This offer is only available for October so Enquire NOW!

Run Fun Starz Group ®

Link with Your Local Organisations

Did you know that only 18% of East London pupils participate in activities run by clubs linked to their school, compared with a UK average of 27% (Pro Active East London, 2007)? There are various reasons for this. One reason may be that the children or young people are not being engaged correctly by these sports clubs. It may also be due to many clubs specialising in one or very narrow fields of sports. If you have a sporting event like sports day or you want to organise competitions it is a good idea to contact local organisations. The benefits of linking with local organisations include:

• Possibly being offered FREE services
• Having the input and support of professionals with expetise
• The introduction of new, modern and innovative extra curricular activities
• Increase community cohesion
• A helping a hand with staging competitions & tournaments
• Bringing in professionals who are seen as role models to children and young people
• Given extra help from volunteers affiliated with the organisation
• Improve the low sports participation rates

So go beyond the borders. Contact local organisations and see what FREE services they may have to offer.

Run Fun Starz Group ®

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Build a better coaching compatibility

Build a better coaching compatibility

Lets be honest, if you are going to help the people you coach to be a success you need to do it correctly right?



The 6 minute video below encouraged me to write this post because it contains some essential points to building a better coaching compatibility with your athletes or the people you coach for a more productive relationship. In short those being coached will listen when they are open to being coached by YOU? Because at the end of the day who likes to listen to someone they do not have confidence in? Many of us have felt that and it feels frustrating.


Therefore the key tip in this video here is that if you want to build a better coaching compatibility you must firstly ensure your athletes or the people you coach are willing to take your ideas on board, then watch this video and use the clues that are highlighted here.

Video

Now that you have watched the video. Would you agree that by making your athletes feel confident in your ideas and knowing how to execute them it is highly likely to lead to success? Indeed it is. You may not need to attract athletes or people to your coaching if the people getting coached by you have great faith in you as a coach.


If you agree with this then let your followers know by retweeting the message. Looking forward to your responses too. Do you agree with the topic?

Run Fun Starz Group ®

htttp://www.runfunstarz.co.uk 

How To Help Children Struggling to Cope in a Sports Session and PE Lesson

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.

Run Fun Starz Group ®

htttp://www.runfunstarz.co.uk