Contents The “Softer Skills” of Coaching for Club Coaches In-Service Presentation for clubs and their coaches

Essentials of coaching 1. A safe environment 2. Planning 3. Group management These are considered to be essential components for all coaches and are often referred to as the “Softer Skills”.

What makes a good coach? Good communication skills Good communication skills Confidence Confidence Enthusiasm for your sport and your athletes Enthusiasm for your sport and your athletes Knowledge of your sport and your athletes Knowledge of your sport and your athletes Patience Patience

A Safe Environment Key responsibility of the coach Key responsibility of the coach Do all athletes have appropriate equipment (i.e. shinpads & mouthguard)? Do all athletes have appropriate equipment (i.e. shinpads & 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 coaches for the number of athletes (especially with younger children)? Is there an appropriate number of coaches for the number of athletes (especially with younger children)?

A Safe Environment Have you done a risk analysis, including the following: Have you done a risk analysis, including the following: Potential environmental risks Potential environmental risks Discovered any potentially important medical information relating to your athletes e.g. asthma Discovered any potentially important medical information relating to your athletes e.g. asthma Determined the nearest telephone and hospital in case of an emergency Determined the nearest telephone and hospital in case of an emergency Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit with you at all times while coaching? Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit with you at all times while coaching?

Planning “Failing to plan is planning to fail”

Benefits of planning Your athletes are kept actively involved, resulting in more learning and greater enjoyment Your athletes are kept actively involved, resulting in more learning and greater enjoyment Teach skills with appropriate skill progression (maximises learning & safety) Teach skills with appropriate skill progression (maximises learning & safety) Make the best use of available time, space and equipment Make the best use of available time, space and equipment Minimise discipline problems Minimise discipline problems Increases your confidence as a coach Increases your confidence as a coach

Six steps of instructional planning 1. Identify the skills your athletes need 2. Know your athletes 3. Analyse your situation 4. Establish priorities 5. Select the methods for teaching 6. Plan training

Step 1: Identify the skills your athletes need Technical skills Technical skills Tactical skills Tactical skills Communication skills Communication skills Physical skills Physical skills Mental skills Mental skills Character Character

Step 2: Know your athletes How old are they – what is their level of physical, psychological & social maturity? How old are they – what is their level of 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 do? Or Are they accustomed to being told what to do? Or Have they been encouraged to problem solve? Have they been encouraged to problem solve?

Step 3: Analyse your situation How many training sessions do you have each week? How many training sessions do you have each week? How many games are there in the season? How many games are there in the season? How many athletes will you be coaching? How many athletes will you be coaching? What facilities and equipment will you have available? What facilities and equipment will you have available? What instructional resources will you need? What instructional resources will you need?

Step 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. The centrality of the skill to playing hockey 2. Your athletes’ readiness to learn the skill

Step 5: Select the method for teaching Traditional approach Traditional approach Games Sense approach Games Sense approach

Step 6: Plan training Basic elements of a training plan are: Date, time of training & length of training session Date, time of training & length of training session Objective of the training Objective of the training Equipment needed Equipment needed Warm-up Warm-up Practice of previously taught skills Practice of previously taught skills Teach and practice new skills Teach and practice new skills Cool down Cool down Coach’s comments Coach’s comments Evaluation of training Evaluation of training

Group Management Communication skills Communication skills Organisational skills Organisational skills

Communication Six steps in communicating: 1. You have thoughts that you wish to convey 2. You translate these thoughts into a message 3. You transmit your message (verbal or non-verbal) 4. The athlete receives your message 5. The athlete interprets the message’s meaning 6. The athlete responds internally to his/her interpretation of the message

Key communication skills Developing credibility when you communicate Developing credibility when you communicate Communicating with a positive approach Communicating with a positive approach Sending messages high in information Sending messages high in information Communicating with consistency Communicating with consistency Learning how to listen Learning how to listen Improving your nonverbal communication Improving your nonverbal communication

Organisational skills Important characteristic of the club coach Important characteristic of the club coach Management responsibilities include: Management responsibilities include: Policy management Policy management Information management Information management Personnel management Personnel management Instructional management Instructional management Logistics management Logistics management Financial management Financial management

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