Good players need talent but they also need good coaches.
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Individual sport coaching
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The most important quality you need to coach is enthusiasm. People respond brilliantly to an eager, hard working leader.
It will take a number of years to build up coaching skills and experience and a good reputation, but help is at hand.
It is the job of Sports Coach UK to look after the development of coaching and coaches at every level in the UK.
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in sports coaching often on a part-time voluntary basis.
To become a qualified coach in a particular sport, you will need to take the appropriate coaching qualifications offered by the national governing body of that sport.
In the meantime here are a few tips for coaching success.
Know yourself
Why do you want to coach and what do you want to achieve?
A question of sport
The better your understanding of the techniques and skills of a sport the better equipped you are to pass these on.
Be Positive
Patience and praise work a lot better than criticism and shouting.
Variety is the key
Avoid games where kids have to sit out and don't make all your sessions competitive
Teach skills and demonstrate
Demonstrating a skill works much better than talking about it. If you can't do it, find someone who can.
Involve everybody
Always make sure there's enough equipment or kit for all. Create small groups of children rather than one big group.
Communicate well
Actions speak louder than words. Body language is important. Smiles and positive gestures work wonders.
Mind and body
A grasp of how the body responds to exercise and training and an ability to adopt safe practices and prevent injury are important. So too is confidence building, goal setting, emotional control, concentration skills - coaches work on the mindset as well as the body.
Sense and sensitivity
Some children take longer than others to learn so adopt your style accordingly. To keep children motivated it helps to be consistent, set achievable goals and give frequent feedback.
MMIX
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