Become a Coach?

[bkupris]

Due to the discussed shortage of (good?) compound coaches in GNAS, if you are a 1200+ compound archer are you willing to become a GNAS coach and help to achieve the world class coaching promise?

[Dave]

Oops, voted from the front page with seeing the post, sorry Brian, vote removed....

[Murray]

Yep poll not very clear - would be better to make it clear that they should only vote IF they are currently a 1200+ compound archer. Although I thought the general GNAS line was that you don't have to have any skills yourself to be a coach...

[pwiles1968]

I posted Yes, but as I have only been shooting a year I believe I need more experience under my quiver before I try and teach.

[bkupris]

Sorry fellas, tried to fix it but no luck! Dave help!!

[Dave]

Hope you don't mind Brian but I've amended the poll title to the question you ask in the post so it reads better on the front page (well, nearly, you're only allowed so many characters!).

[bkupris]

Originally Posted by Dave

Hope you don't mind Brian but I've amended the poll title to the question you ask in the post so it reads better on the front page (well, nearly, you're only allowed so many characters!).

Thanks Dave

[ThePinkOne]

Originally Posted by bkupris

Due to the discussed shortage of (good?) compound coaches in GNAS, if you are a 1200+ compound archer are you willing to become a GNAS coach and help to achieve the world class coaching promise?

I wasn't aware that being able to regularly shoot 1200+ (FITA I presume?) classed me as a reasonable compound archer.... MB for ladies is 1272, and there is talk of that beign increased... personally I regard 1250 as "showing promise," 1300 as the cut-off for being "good" with 1350 as "very good" and 1400 (or getting close) as "world class"... although the amount of time spent at each stage is also an issue too IMHO.

However....

I voted "no" as I am still on the upward learning curve. I did actually do the taught part of a coach course but pulled out. As for why?

I realised I needed more experience
I realised I wanted to shoot. I had only been in the sport for 12-18 months at the time, not done ANY compound archery and wasn't ready. I had been "encouraged" to accept that I would never be a decent archer (recurve- I have upper spine damage) and so should become a coach instead... ("those who can't, teach" is the oft-quoted maxim of the guy in our area organising the courses at the time) once I realised that actually I wasn't that bad a shot and that it wasn't my choice to be a coach, I walked away and concentrated on the shooting. Will I go back? Probably not for many years, I was put off for a long time.

Ironically, since then I find that I am asked advice far more often than I was a a "coach candidate." So I can probably make far more of a contribution as an archer at present. I will always "help out" if asked- but I'm not allowed to in my club, only coaches can "help."

When I get that 1400 FITA, or get fed up with trying, maybe I'll consider coaching. But not yet... I have neither the experience or credibility and too much ahead. I couldn't coach higher level without thinking "but if I'd had chance could that have been me...?" Once I get as far as I can go- maybe. Just maybe. Just so long as you don't hassle me in the mean time...

[greydog]

I've managed to break 1200 once or twice and I'm about 1/4 of the way through the coaching course.

[greydog]

Originally Posted by ruthmc

Unfortunately being a good sportsman in your field doesn't mean you'll make a good coach.

The ability to shoot good scores yourself is not amongst the criteria I would use to select a coach! The ability to communicate and motivate is far more important, plus the skill to be able to correctly analyse somebody else's performance. Few people have all three

Ruth

I've been helping at have a go's and beginners courses for a few years now and I'm currently helping run a weekend beginners course. I regularly help out with bow tuning, arrow and equipment selection as well. I don't think people come to me because I shoot well, but hopefully because, if I don't have the answer to their problem, I can usually find out.