Where did you learn about coaching?

Over the summer, a Twitter correspondent asked me how I learnt about coaching.

Fair question.

I do (probably too often) post quite definitive statements to Twitter of what I believe to be the reality of coaching. I am happy to express an opinion on subjects “way above my pay grade”. Even when those “opinions” are dressed up as questions, it’s easy enough to spot what I think the answer should be.

So what are my coaching qualifications?

I have an old level 2 coaching badge (2011) and quite a lot of hours actually coaching.

And I have so much CPD on my CV that I need to prepare an edited version, or it looks as if I spend my life on courses…

But I’m not sure how much of what I believe about coaching has been learnt from gaining badges or formal (and informal) CPD, and how much has been shaped by prior experience at “the University of Life”.

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Watching the bowlers. Lawn & Para Lawn bowlers at the Commonwealth Games, that is.

I have just returned from a stint in the Commonwealth Collective, volunteering to support the Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls & Para Lawn Bowls.

My role was in “athlete services”, so, as a coach, I had the chance to observe how top-class sportsmen and women and their coaches prepared before matches.

Continue reading “Watching the bowlers. Lawn & Para Lawn bowlers at the Commonwealth Games, that is.”

A question for coaches who also play — does coaching improve your own play?

I have had an odd experience, recently.

Coaching a very competent cricketer, finessing his bat path for an on-drive. And somehow, the work with my client seems to have transferred (positively) to my own batting technique.

Can coaching someone else improve the coach’s own playing technique? Is “subliminal skill acquisition” a thing?

Continue reading “A question for coaches who also play — does coaching improve your own play?”