A COACH’ S COACH
A key evolution in the sporting landscape over the past decade has been the importance placed on coach developers. Talking us through those changes are andy bradshaw and, below, Karen Roberts.
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I think there’ s a general feeling in the UK sporting landscape that the need for coach developers has only recently been identified, which seems strange because it’ s the same principle that is at the heart of the coachparticipant relationship: that we’ re all human beings and we all need help and support at times.
The idea of coach developers, and mentors, has been around for a while but we’ re now beginning to see a framework around it and understand it a bit better. The important point is that we’ re not saying coaches aren’ t good enough, we’ re just asking how we can be better, which is a really powerful message.
We also need to be clear that their importance isn’ t limited to the elite area – across all levels and walks of life we’ re all wanting to improve. It is being driven at the top end, in performance sport, where it has been clearly identified as being important, but we’ re seeing that cascade down to the grass-roots level – where we are now being proactive rather than reactive with it.
In the same way that you’ d sometimes like to take an angler out of a situation and work through a process with them, then take them back in to that situation, a coach developer allows that reflection – structured and supportive – required for best performance. It’ s so easy for us all to be caught up in the moment, so having time taken away from task to actually focus on yourself is really important.
This idea of a coach developer has always been there, because that’ s exactly what sport is: about giving people the opportunity to find out how good they can be. Funding has changed the landscape over the last 20 years and so have the core mechanisms in place and the understanding of them. Before that we were talking about a large volunteer sector – which we still have – but funding has given us more full-time staff through which we can say:“ It’ s actually important we do this with your coaches.” We are more confident now about saying“ we want to get better,” which empowers people further down the chain.
The understanding that coaching is actually a profession which is stronger now than even a decade ago. That has allowed us to put proper structures around the job, which has hugely positive implications.
The first few years of improved funding for sport have been athlete-centred, but without the right coaches around them, the quality of the participation experience can be reduced.
Now we’ re seeing a shift to saying“ yes, the athletes and participants are the core, but because they are so vital the coaches around them must get the support they need as well.” In a decade or so I’ d like to think that this won’ t even be a topic, it’ ll just be part of the system.
Over the past few years, sports have stepped through and realised the significance of coaching, and the reason sport has been so important in society is because of those really great coaches out there, that can get to the many. We need to make sure they’ ve got the support they need to do the wonderful job that they do.
Nothing stops you from seeking out a mentor or someone to help with your development. Angling has loads of helpful, experienced coaches who would be happy to be asked about buddying up and what support they can give you. I do hope that we get to a stage where it’ s not reactionary, where as a coach comes through there is a natural buddying-up system in place. I’ d also like to see a marrying up of coach education and coach development – so when you’ re going through your education there are coach developers sat beside them for reflection and to help the coach get the most out of that programme.