SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COACH

1. SKILLS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COACH Week 11

2. Skills Required by the Coach • Observation skills • Knowledge of sport sciences • Knowledge of the sport • Communication skills • Organisational skills • Understanding and empathy • Ability to improve performance

3. Observation Skills • Analysis of the athlete • Strengths • Weaknesses • Areas to improve

4. Knowledge of the Sport Sciences • The respected coach will have a knowledge of: • Training methods, training principles, training periodisation, skill acquisition, biomechanics, physiology, sports psychology • This knowledge occurs through the coaches own experiences and observations as well as study, research and attending coaching courses • The coach may also draw upon the expertise of other people • Give some examples

5. Knowledge of the Sport • Thorough and up-to-date • Rules • Skills • Techniques • Strategies • Analyse and interpret statistical data

6. Communication Skills • Extremely important skill for a coach to possess • Provide and receive information • Verbal and non-verbal • Dealing with ___________, ___________, ___________

7. Organisational Skills • Planning ___________ and ___________ • Goal setting • Plan strategies to achieve

8. Understanding & Empathy • Ability to understand the athlete’s personal motivation and goals • Ability to be able to interpret the athlete’s ___________

9. Ability to Improve Performance • Must use a variety of resources • Their own knowledge and experience • Other specialist personnel (eg: assistant coaches, sports scientists, nutritionists) • Technology (eg: video and computer analysis)

10. Characteristics of a Respected Coach • Knowledge and intelligence • Enthusiasm and high expectations • Character and integrity • Effective communication skills • Patience and persistence • Organisation and preparation • Model of appropriate behaviour

11. Knowledge and Intelligence • Thorough knowledge • Physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, injury management, tactics, rules, stages of learning, skill acquisition • Curious and creative • Pass on knowledge through drills and game simulations • Continues to ___________ his/her coaching

12. Patience and Persistence • Learning can be very slow therefore the coach must be patient • Coaches must be persistent with the athlete that is resistant to change

13. Enthusiasm and High Expectations • Display a positive attitude to all aspects of the sport • This enthusiasm can be infectious and rub-off on athletes • High expectations for his/her coaching and also the performance of the athlete • Hard work is required to achieve high expectations

14. Organisation and Preparation • ___________ must take place in advance • Athletes gain confidence from a well planned coach • Preparation involves setting ___________ • Organisation and preparation displays commitment towards the athlete

15. Character and Integrity • Acceptance and practice of the Coaching Code of Ethics • Level headed and focused • Confidence in coaching ability • The athlete requires the security of knowing that the coach can handle all situations and is always in ___________

16. Model Appropriate Behaviour • The coach is a ___________ • The coach should display the positive attributes of a sportsperson • Motivation • Determination • Sense of fair play

17. Effective Communication • Two-way communication • Ability to communicate and ___________ • Clear and concise • Simple explanations with a ___________ • Feedback • Positive • Immediate • Specific • Knowing the athlete’s personality • Body language • Understanding and reading • Athlete and also yourself as the coach • Sense of humour

18. Coaching Accreditation and Code of Ethics • To assist coaches in acquiring and developing skills • National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) • Aims: see page 126 • http://www.ausport.gov.au/coach/ncas.asp • Code of Ethics • Behaviour that is expected of coaches • See table 3.1, page 127