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My first ever 'Robin Hood'

Grahame Cotterill Post 1

• 20 January 2016, 4:11 PM • Edited by the author on 20 January 2016, 4:12 PM

Insights into Experiences:Reflections of an Expert and Novice Coach

Reading this article so many memories came flooding back. Working with students on initial teacher training, training myself to become a level 1 coach. The two contrasting characters. The one confident in their own skin and prepared to ask questions and seek advice. The other insecure and afraid of appearing a failure.

I can relate to both, in my teacher probationary year I must have driven other staff crazy always asking for advice and help. Then that nagging doubt as a new coach that there were so many others round me that had done more and knew more. Fortunately they were prepared to share and I was prepared to listen.

I think this article should be compulsory reading for all new coach candidates if nothing else it will show them how useful an appropriate mentor can be.

Christine Nash

Christine Nash Post 2 in reply to 1

• 21 January 2016, 10:39 AM

Hi Grahame

Glad this article resonated with you. I think this translates across other areas in that when you are newly qualified or start a career there can be a reluctance to ask questions or show that you do not know it all. Hopefully the environment in which you are situated allows/encourages this development but that is not always the case unfortunately.

FO

Fran Ortega Post 3 in reply to 1

• 21 January 2016, 12:36 PM

Insights into experiences; reflections of an expert and novice coach

I also find this article extremely interesting in the sense that somehow it brings me back to my beginnings as coach, with all my strengths and weaknesses. 

Throughout my careers I have taken many courses, some of them from official bodies and other from private ones. I think that some of them had the particularity that were focusing much on techniques, drills and specific contents but not that much on methodology and, broadly speaking "how to transmit" the knowledge to the trainee depending on the situation. Obviously, that is something that you learn on the track and this is the aim of the apprenticeship but this is something that might be considered into account when structuring this sort courses 

Christine Nash

Christine Nash Post 4 in reply to 3

• 21 January 2016, 3:40 PM

Completely agree with you Fran - the 'how of coaching' rather than the what