Coaching Co-Ordinator
The Coaching Coordinator coordinates all the coaching.
He/She is responsible for allocating coaches to each team, including finding a first team coach (who is usually an external coach). The CC also makes sure each club training and shooting practice has a coach, and that these sessions are fun and useful.The CC’s most important job is Coach development, making sure new coaches are progressing and gaining experience of trainings, match days and coaching at tournaments, while offering feedback on coaching technique etc. Finally, the CC is responsible for the Coaching section of the website – encouraging coaches to make use of it, and keep updating it with their own drills and experiences.
Allocating Coaches
Ideally one experienced coach takes charge of coaching the 3rd/4th teams, assisted by the two, newly-qualified coaches. Second team coaches are usually more experienced players. Player-coaches (i.e. those that play for the team they also coach) are to be avoided, if possible, as conflict of interests may arise. Having more experienced players coaching the second team goes some way to avoid this. However, should a second team coach not make the first team, it is advisable that they occupy an ‘assistant coach’ role (thereby avoiding conflict of interests during squad selection).
When looking for first team coaches important selection criteria are:
⁃ Lots of experience with coaching.
⁃ Ability to coach to a high standard, including more advanced tactics.
⁃ Availability during scheduled training sessions.
It is also beneficial for the possible coach(/es) to have experience playing at university level.
Club Training/Shooting Practice
These sessions can be taken by any coach, a rotating format ensures equal distribution of coaching time. They usually involve practicing basic skills, with fun competitions thrown in, and are beneficial to any level of korfer. Club sessions traditionally involve multiple coaches being present; as well as participating in drills, coaches who aren’t leading the session should also be on the lookout to give help/advice – a single coach can’t look at everyone! The last club session of each month has traditionally been a mini-tournament! Orchestrate these.
For shooting sessions, an idea is to ask if there is anything people particularly want to work on at the beginning of the week (e.g. on Facebook) and structure sessions around that. One important aspect of shooting training is that it provides an opportunity to repeatedly practice the same movements (e.g. veers, runners…); these basic movements should be incorporated in every shooting practice. Historically, a record of shooting statistics for each person has been kept, allowing people to view their progress. First team coaches should emphasise the importance of first teamers attending these sessions as regularly as possible.
Coaching Development
The CC does not necessarily lead 3rd/4th team training. If they do, they can advise the new coaches directly, if not, the lead coach should regularly liaise with the CC, and the CC should attend some sessions to help give advice to the new coaches during the session.
As the year progresses, the lead 3rd/4th team coach should gradually increase the amount of coaching they ask the new coaches to do, until all 3 coaches are contributing equally to each session. It is also a good idea to have a timetable for the first few weeks of training, detailing what you want to coach to the freshers. Some tips for developing new coaches:
⁃ Give them a problem(s) to address, have them plan a session, and then critique it with them.
⁃ Have them coach a session entirely unassisted (a good time to do this is ~8 weeks into term).
⁃ Remind them that when allocating people to drills, try to keep as many people busy as possible at once (i.e. if practicing runners with 12 people, 4 groups of 3 is more efficient than 3 groups of 4). This goes for coaches of all levels.
⁃ Have them be ‘lead coach’ for matches (e.g. discuss what they’re going to say at half time, then let them say it. Have them make substitutions, ask them what could be done differently tactically).
⁃ Have meetings with the new coaches and both with/without the 3rd/4th lead coach – ask them how they’re feeling!
Coaching feedback is invaluable. A short quiz on survey monkey can help you find what people want more/less of from sessions, as well as getting direct feedback for each coach. Try to ensure any feedback is construed positively – this goes for any advice you ever give! Two quizzes, one prior to the end of the first term, and one part way through the second is a good time frame.
Selecting New Coaches
Who to select to go to Avon Tyrell is the CC’s decision. However, it is important that the decision is not based solely on what the CC has seen. As such, the CC should approach other coaches/captain’s who have had experience with applicants and may be able to provide useful info. It is courteous for the CC to have their decision ratified by the committee before announcing it officially. Should any of the committee be an applicant, ratification of the decision should be made without their knowledge (e.g. a Facebook message).
Criteria for selecting new coaches:
⁃ Attendance
⁃ Behaviour (do they listen or are they always chatting?)
⁃ Previous coaching experience (which can be asked for on their application)
⁃ Improvement (how good they are as players is not as important as how fast they can take new information on board and improve on it).
⁃ Approachability (are they friendly?).
Finally, make yourself available and contactable. It is your job to make sure the club members are happy with all the coaches. If anyone has a coaching complaint, you should be their point of contact.
Whoever runs for CC should have experience of coaching within the club, and be aware that it is a tough and time consuming job, when done right. It is, however, also one of the most rewarding.
See the EUKC Korfball Coaching Catalogue for more information – Log in to the website as a coach and it should appear before you in all its glory!