Coaches Comment Part 4 of 5 Evaluating your Coaching (Part 1)
Posted by Jeanette Garrett, 16 Feb, 2010
Riding Tutorials, Performance Horses, Ponies
Coaches Comment' with Jeanette Garrett B.H.S.I. ESNZ Registered Performance Coach and Coach Educator'.
National Assessor for NZ Equine ITO.
Jeanette holds the Advanced Diploma in Adult Learning and Teaching. One of her current roles is training, mentoring and assessing equestrian coaches for Equestrian Sport NZ and the NZ Pony Club Association - creating a step by step pathway to achieving coaching skills, recognition and qualifications
Jeanette's articles are aimed at promoting thought and reflection on your performance as a rider and as a coach.
Part 4 of 5 Evaluating your coaching (Part 1)
Whatever your coaching role teaching your own children, a volunteer coach at pony club or riding for the disabled, a competition rider who coaches, or perhaps you no longer ride but have much to offer other riders. Perhaps you are a coach who holds a coaching qualification and coaches on a regular basis. Your coaching role may also be in other sports outside of equestrian.
Anyone who coaches sports needs recognition and thanks for the time energy and knowledge they are wiling to share with others.
This article asks the question, How do you keep your coaching skills current, fresh and appropriate to be able to offer the very best to those you coach and most of all to keep the joy and buzz of coaching there for you, the coach?
Compare a teacher in our educational system to an equestrian coach. The teacher works in a school or college as part of a teaching team, has continuing education opportunities, and is involved in staff development. On the other hand most equestrian coaches tend to work mainly alone and isolated by comparison. We may, from time to time, observe other top coaches and the effect they have on riders, but I think we need to also focus on their coaching styles and how they get positive results, - the how' of coaching rather than the what'.
Ask yourself what, how often, and how much coach updating' do you do in order to enable you to offer even more to those you coach. You may have a niche area or discipline that you specialize in i.e. jumping, dressage, showing etc. and therefore tend to attract riders from with in them, whatever the scenario, we are not focusing on the what' that is being taught but the how'.
I have asked a number of coaches, volunteers, those new to coaching and those that have been coaching for many years about the continuing self development they do. Some are very forward thinking with a positive approach. Other more negative responses with comments like I don't need to do anything like that a horse is a horse and a rider is a rider. Nothing changes or I've been coaching for years, I don't need to bother with all that. Coaches with this viewpoint are very much the ones who need updating and supported mentoring. I think it might make a coach feel challenged but I am not talking about judging' a coach just encouraging them to meet with others, be open to think outside of their normal square and develop themselves. What would be the right environment to do this I wonder?
Those who have been drawn into coaching on a causal basis - for a range of different reasons - may not think it necessary or important. Personally I think personal development important to every coach, seeing it as a responsibility in improving the coaching standards for our riders, particularly at the lower levels where the sound foundations need to be laid.
What's available for coaches?
SPARC has a strong emphasis on coach training, and it is a great resource for fresh ideas. There website has coach profiles, coaches tools' www.sparc.org.nz It is not equestrian coach specific but there is much to learn from coaches from other sports that can be applied to equestrian activities.
There are seventeen regional sports trusts areas in New Zealand that are listed in the SPARC website contact your local one and join in with their coaching programs.
The NZ Pony Club Association (NZPCA) has a structured coach's training program. Even if you are not involved with pony club, contact your NZPCA area delegate and ask if it would be possible to take part in one of their 10 hour courses. This is a good way to network with other coaches and get new ideas. You do not have to enroll in the training program, just go along and see how it goes. These courses are facilitated by NZPCA's national coaches or approved and experienced coaches.
Equine eLearning Ltd. has online training for NZQA unit standards coaching qualifications suitable for those new to coaching ( Community Coach) and those already coaching (Grade One Coach). More about training in article 5.
For more information about Jeanette check out her website www.equinepositivelearning.co.nz
Copyright J A Garrett
Contact the seller
Contact: Jeanette Garrett
Website: www.equinepositivelearning.co.nz
Address: 'Alderney', 205 Lord Rutherford Road South, RD1, Brightwater, Nelson 7091
Phone: 03 542 3382
Equine Positive Learning (EPL) is an equine based company providing multiple services and products to equestrians and coaches nationwide in New Zealand and overseas. Jeanette Garrett BHSI and Equestrain Sport New Zealand Perfomance Coach and 'Coach Educator' is the principal of the company, is an internationally qualified coach and assessor, with vast competitive riding and training experience in Europe and the UK. Her accolades include qualifying... More Info
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