Every coach can probably tell stories of failure or success in a high-stakes game, what sets them apart from others is how they improved because of those lessons.
Sometimes a coach becomes more than just an instructor, he or she becomes a teacher, a guide and mentor to young athletes with lessons that may shape the rest of their life.
Doug Swanson, a coach and teacher with a wealth of experience developing young athletes, will be instructing a six-hour class May 4 in Ponoka on techniques to hone a coach’s mental ability.
A desire to win changes the coach. “That often times creates a very different human being and yet if we change the focus we’d probably win more games,” explained Swanson.
His coaching class, called “Getting to FIRST, a Coaches Guide to Developing Mental Skills” sounds technical, but Swanson wants to show coaches the importance of what he calls “activating” a player.
“I think that you’re (coaches) the crucial element in this puzzle of helping athletes be performers,” said Swanson.
He feels every coach has a story where they have tried to activate a player but used deactivating strategies. “I have made some of those mistakes, too.”
Swanson suggests a coach needs to find a way to get each player involved using activating methods. This focus, rather than on scores and statistics, will provide a better opportunity for young athletes to grow.
The class will help coaches understand important facets of teaching, which he feels will determine a player’s overall experience.
“If they shut down, then we have killed the relationship and now we can’t grow,” he stated.
In a sense, the coach creates a team’s culture and Swanson says teachers need to consider what they want their legacy to be.
“I don’t care if you were a losing coach. Were you an activator and generator for the players? Because that’s the end of the story,” stated Swanson.
He says there are four questions that coaches will look at during the class:
• Are you focused on the task at hand?
• Can you see the execution of the task?
• Are you using activating words?
• Are you relaxed enough to deal with the stress that’s going to come with that activity?
The class works on coaches teaching athletes of all ages and Swanson uses the Canadian Sport 4 Life model in the program.
It starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex and costs $10, lunch included. To register call Tamara at the Aquaplex at 403-783-0131. Swanson will provide a list of useful reading materials to coaches.
The course is hosted by the Alberta Sport Development Centre, which provides development for young athletes. Athletes can apply to the centre for support in developing their skills. Call 403-342-3231 for more information.