The Value of Coaching

By 2002 I had played soccer, at a reasonably high level, for 30 years. So imagine my surprise when I received a phone call from the Durham Region Soccer Association telling me that in order to coach my 6 year old daughter I needed to complete a coaching certification course.

I politely pointed out to the association that on my application to coach I had outlined my extensive experience and that surely an exception could be made.

"Mr. Poulton I'm sorry, if you don't complete the training you cannot coach."

So it was with a great deal of consternation and a very large chip on my shoulder that I ventured into the gym that day to 'waste my time.' Imagine my shock, when in the first 90 seconds I'm learning something. By days end I was a coaching development fanatic.

So, I wasn't surprised when I signed up to coach at my lawn bowling club that I was told it was a requirement to complete the Club Coach certification course. Is it odd to say that I actually was looking forward to it? The course, taught by Davie Mathie (former Canadian national team coach), demonstrated once again to me that coaching has value, even in lawn bowling. Coaching is about building perspective and broadening knowledge to enable you to bring the best of out of players. A good coach can make the world of difference to your game, no matter the game you're playing. A separate set of eyes helps you see what you can't.

I left the Club Coach session full of ideas and wanting to try out a few of the new techniques and suggestions I learned. As has been the case in every coaching session I've taken over my lifetime, some of the ideas worked for me - Davie's practice routine I love - and some of them didn't - the proper shooters stance delivery required tweaking for me. But having attended the session ensured that at least I would be encouraged to TRY something new, and for that I'm already a better bowler and by extension I hope that will make me a better coach.

I encourage you to seek out a coach at your club and allow them the opportunity to broaden your skillset, it does not mean that you need to change everything about your game or that everything suggested will be right for you, but I bet you'll be very surprised at benefits.