I have posted previously on how enthused I was by joining the team of tutors for new National Programmes Activators, and how the National Programmes were really getting a lot of things right.
When I wrote the original articles, the National Programmes were indeed an inspiration for anyone interested in seeing coaching move beyond its basic coach-as-instructor model.
But a couple of small changes to Activator training might just have taken the heart out of the programme.
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I have just received a training script for a tutoring assignment, training new Activators, who will be working with 5-8 yr olds, completely new to the sport.
And it includes the following statement.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT: “The basic starting point for being player centred is understanding the skill and technical needs of that player…
Which seems some way removed from my own understanding of player-centred coaching, and distanced from the child-first approach advocated by Play Their Way.
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Create an environment where everyone you #coach falls in love with the experience of playing – and the rest is up to them.
Wayne Goldsmith, on X (formerly — and still — known as Twitter)
Just make the players love the game.
It’s a great quote, and a wonderful aspiration.
But try putting “I just want to make the players love the game” at the top of your CV and see how many interviews you get!
With the current understanding of coaching (within English cricket, certainly), “fun” & “love for the game” will get you a gig running National Programmes and “community” sessions.
Which is where I am!
But why?
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The Teesra 