Coaching Insight Series1st November 2012

Nottingham

Dr. Hamish Telfer

Some thoughts & premises• Purpose?• Level of functioning?• Training age and level?• Altruism and/or self gratification?• Personal circumstances (family, income, friends)• The performers• Coach’s personal history• Level of personal investment – defining ‘the self’

Some reflections• You will coach the way that you yourself have been coached• ‘Ambition’ has to be present• Intensity of involvement is essential with the performance end• Emotional investment is required• Constant learning – success and those ‘other’ moments ... • Other sports contribute•Personal qualities are at the heart of things•

The ‘personal-ness’ of the moment determines the nature of the

coaching relationship.You cannot stand over an athlete

prostrate on the track and demand another rep and get it, without there being a deep seated understanding,

trust and personal relationship present. But it takes time to build

and both have to operate as one unit over a number of years.

Its a marriage!

• Rona Livingstone (Woodward)• 400m flat specialist (Scotland)• We started in 1978/79 (objective – Scottish Team, Brisbane Commonwealth Games, 1982)• Steve Watson• Endurance (10,000m/5,000/Marathon/X-C)• We started 1987 (objective - British Universities 10,000m title and GB Team, Sheffield Universiade 1991)

For the students of coaching practice and the coaching process– some

thoughts• The two key factors linking everything were FUN and ACHIEVING – rewarding effort not always outcomes• Nature of the experiences as shaping, not just the experiences in themselves• Attachment patterns key• Self affirming experiences essential (self efficacy)• Nature of communication –always ‘we’. The coach and athlete as part of a shared experience

• Strong liking• High emotional involvement• Empathetic approach• Positive emotional experiences

• Exchange theory – reciprocity•Coaching as transactional• Unwitting symbolic codes enhances self effective state• Affirming approach• Personal control• Success inducing practice but also practice at the limits – coping with performance at the extremes•Contageous effectiveness

• Task v socio-emotional?• Building cultures• Always ‘we’ and ‘us’• One to ones• Direct ‘in the moment’• Eye contact/proximity – spatial awareness• High emotional impact•Coach as the factor in the output greater than the input

• Football and athletics• Athletics – National Squad (John Anderson)• Trained as a Teacher of Physical Education• Commenced coaching with Maryhill Ladies AC (now City of Glasgow AC)• All Coaching Awards – youngest Senior Coach in Scotland at 23 (Team Coach with Scottish Junior Women’s team)• Appointed National Coach with RLSS, 1976• University Lecturer – resumed Track & Field coaching (NW based)

• Own squad developed (range – abilities and events!)• Active in athletics coach education• Appointed North of England Event Coach• Appointed Athletics Team Coach Auckland Commonwealth Games 1990 – Isle of Man• Post 1991 only retained 1-2 athletes• Continued coach education work• Appointed GB Team Coach for GB Team, World Student Cross Country Championships (7 World Champs – 5 titles)• Appointed in role of coaching support for GB Junior Team, Wild Water Canoeing/Welsh U-21 Hockey• Retired from coaching 2004• Written/writing ‘stuff’ about coaching!•Trying to retire from coach education!• Currently dug up out of retirement from coaching to resurrect an underperforming athlete