Coaching

[StinkyPete]

What are you thoughts and opinions of archery coaching? This poll is specifically designed to find out where you think coaching is going, and where you think it should go. Vote on......

[Barry C]

I'd rather pay for a good coach than have the Local expert instruct me in whatever useless#guff they invented.

[Shirt]

Number of qualified coaches in this country = lots.
Number of people that know what they're doing with respect to archery = a handful.

Number of qualified coaches with a clue = about a dozen?

Let's decertify EVERYONE and make them start again and actually make the qualification worth something.

[Dave]

Shirt - 25/7/2005 9:04 AM
Number of qualified coaches in this country = lots.
Number of people that know what they're doing with respect to archery = a handful.
Number of qualified coaches with a clue = about a dozen?

</p>

Number of people who have a lot of fun shooting based on techniques taught by 'clueless' coaches = Lots.</p>

Not everyone's that competitive - some of us just enjoy shooting; yes it's nice when you come first but#it shouldn't be#that important - unless you're a pro shooter.</p>

[joetapley]

Being practical, for most archers coaching will be done by amateurs, either GNAS coaches or club archers. (amateur in the financial sense). In terms of having 'good' coaching this requires knowledgeable/experienced coaches (again either GNAS coaches or club archers). At the moment I think you a fair number of reasonably capable GNAS coaches/club archers coaching and possibly an equal number of clueless GNAS coaches/club archers coaching. Unfortunately at present a GNAS coaching qualification is meaningless (not the coaches' fault the product of a pathetic coaching training system). GNAS is currrently attempting to do something about it's coaching system and hopefully in the future you will have qualified coaches who at least, at Level 1, know which end of a bow is up.

If the revised coaching system starts producing competent coaches (maybe a big if with GNAS' record), then if all the existing so called coaches requalify and (because having a coaching qualification is for the first time worth having) you get a large influx of new coaches then you may end up with sufficient coaches at club level long term to make a qualification a requirement for club level coaching.

If this Utopia is ever achieved and you have competent coaches at all levels then there really would be no market for (financially) professional coaches. Coaches with an established track record at top level may charge for there services but this would just reflect that there are not sufficient top level coaches within the GNAS system.

**Number of people who have a lot of fun shooting based on techniques taught by 'clueless' coaches = Lots.**
Dave very true. I would replace 'Lots' with 'Most' that's the reason GNAS have never historically bothered to act like a professional sporting body - not what the membership wanted. However it would be nice if the opportunity was there for archers' to develop with something akin to the US JOAD system. Personally my 'coaching' involved a 10 minute group session when I began archers - and that's about it. I shoot for 'fun', don't give a #### about medals etc., but really I shoot because it's a challenge to shoot well so always looking to improve (as long as its doesn't involve things like physical training and endless practice

[English Bowman]

Shirt - 25/7/2005 9:04 AM

Number of qualified coaches in this country = lots.
Number of people that know what they're doing with respect to archery = a handful.

Number of qualified coaches with a clue = about a dozen?

I think that you are being a little harsh there. If that's true then I know at least half the good coaches in the country, and 3 of them are at my club!

Let's decertify EVERYONE and make them start again and actually make the qualification worth something.

Have you any idea of the investment in time and money required to become a coach?

I qualified 4 years ago, and was lucky that the club subsidised me, otherwise I couldn't have done the course. I would have to think seriously about starting again if decertified and forced to start again.

One thing that is important with coaching that isn't mentioned is the coach and archer have to be able to communicate. This is a two-way thing, which is why we have 3 coaches at our club. All of us work in slightly different ways, and if for instance I can't get someone to improve their shooting I will pass that archer to one of the other coaches, and vice versa.

I would not be upset if there was re-assessment, but who is going to pay for this?
The coaches? Why should they pay to help people, many good coaches would just give up, due to the extra expense.
GNAS? Where is the money going to come from?
The Archers? Do we want to make the sport inaccessible to those on low incomes?

I think that coaching should stay amateur. There is probably an even mix of good and bad coaches out there, you just have to find a coach that suits your style.



Daniel

[JohnM]

I agree with Dave in that the vast majority of us are in this for the fun, not winning competitions - we basically compete against ourselves. If it's your desire to become recognized on a state (U.S.) or national/international level, then obviously you'll need a coach to help you keep your form and focus. For me, personally, it's something I do as a diversion/hobby, a way to unwind after work, or to spend more time outdoors.

A year ago I took a 1-day "Level 1" coaching course so that I could participate in Scouting with my two sons, as a summer-camp archery instructor. This, for $80, included range safety, proper form, and how to coach a kid who is new to the sport. Actual shooting was approx 1.5 hours - that's all I've ever gotten in terms of "formal" instruction.

Since then, I have practiced in my back yard, read some books, and watched maybe a short video here and there, and read/reviewed some more when I feel that I'm forgetting to do something correctly.

Basically, the way I look at it - the instructors who taught me did their job - they "grew" the sport (no small achievement in the U.S., where target archery is a niche within the niche of bow-hunting) - 2 years ago this was never even a consideration for me, now it's something that I actively participate in.

[joetapley]

Tend to agree (sadly) with Shirt. Don't think requalification of existing coaches is an option, it's a necessity if UK archery coaching is to gain any credibility (which again assumes the coaching courses themselves gain some credibility).

I think what you find here regarding opinions on the current status of UK archery coaching is a large divide between those who think things are fairly reasonable (mainly coaches) and those who think thinks are a mess (mainly archers).

Cost of an individual doing a Level 1 should be covered by the club, they (or rather their members ) are the beneficiary. Higher levels should be funded by County or Region as appropriate.

[English Bowman]

What do you consider a "good coach"?

Is it someone who is a guru on technique and equipment or someone who can get the best out of an archer at their level of shooting, and knows their limitations?
If I was a beginner I would rather be coached by someone who understands fully the level that I am at, and the equipment needed at that level, and most importantly recognises their own limitations, and knows when to pass me to someone who coaches at the next level up than start off with a top coach straight away.

Is the level of coaching available far worse than I believe?
Am I just in a privalleged area when it comes to coaching?
Or have I just been lucky in joining a club with 2 good coaches 20 years ago, and I hope been unusual in carrying that on?

(If you want an independant view on what the coaching is like in our club ask Gwynn or Pete, both of whom I taught.)

Daniel

[Barry C]

A good coach should be able to build a good basic form that can be fine tuned into championship level form given time and guidance.</p>

What I see is coaches who hardly understand how the human body works. They say, do whatever suites you... Rarely does a coach say No, thats all wrong, good form should look like this.</p>

Most coaches also don't understand the finer points of archery. Expansion, clicker control, correct back muscle usage - this is most common, aiming techniqe, exercises, body position, shared by an equal lack of understanding of archery equipment.</p>

The (few)#people I most respect are not usually#qualified coaches but I consider them to#be highly competant and understand archery. Shirt is one of them, though I dont know if he is qualified or not. </p>

I have never met a coach who understood archery.</p>