The First Coach

Having finished at Bath University on Friday I had a 2 hour trip home a change of bags and a 700 mile drive to Oban in Scotland. During this time I reflected on the awesome time I had at Bath. I suppose one of the enduring memories will be chatting with four world champions and them reflecting on what made their Judo.

Some of this is available a pod cast of an interview session with three of them. But what was surprising was the common ground, the supportive nature of their parents and EVERY one of them and several of the Olympians who where there as well all noted that their first instructors where instrumental in their development.

So if they say this was important why is it that beginner’s class in the west are not taught by the most experienced coaches? Why is there no specialised training and coach education courses aimed at coaching beginners? I teach beginners and always have, my first coaching jobs were helping with a “Try Judo” Course. I was helping a 5th Dan and learnt a lot. Even now my 14 week beginner’s course with the Army has 3 experienced coaches, a 5th 4th and 2nd Dan, running it with every lesson review and improved.
Our National Governing Bodies talk about retention and increasing the number of Judoka who move from school to club judo, we talk about increasing the number of lesson for beginners and getting people to try but we never talk about raising the standards of coaches for beginners’.

This week I have had lectures on Pedagogy, now I have had these as a teacher and through CPD at some of the private schools I teach at , but I have NEVER had such in depth discussion in an academic way about different stages of physical, emotional and psychological development. I will need to develop this into my coaching ensuring a level commensurate with the pupils being taught but surely an NGB should be doing this not leaving it to university courses?

Next time your club runs a beginners’ class put the most experienced coach in charge, see if it makes a difference,. Try and think like a new comer to the sport would these classes encourage you to carry on and is the coach inspirational, will they encourage kids or adults to be the best Judoka they can be?

I will expand these ideas next time and hope to look at the environment within your club – and your classes and how this may help or hinder some players and what we can do about it.
Speak soon.

Marc