What would you make of this?

[geoffretired]

During a discussion about the rapid improvement in a high level sportsman's performance,it was mentioned that he had changed coach recently. One person's response was along these lines."See what happens when a good coach is brought in."
I wish I had been with some fellow archers at the time so I could have found out their reactions. I wasn't; so I would like to ask for your reactions. Do you feel like I did or am I in a minority? I will know the answer to that one when I have read your responses. Either way, I will let you know later.); for now.

[LineCutter]

I'll bite....
Too little information.

(If all other factors are unchanged then the only factor changed is likely to be the one responsible. If that's the case apart from the coach then you can attribute the change in the archer to the change in coach - now whether that is because of something the coach brought to the relationship or something that they didn't...)

[pyroarch57]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

During a discussion about the rapid improvement in a high level sportsman's performance,it was mentioned that he had changed coach recently. One person's response was along these lines."See what happens when a good coach is brought in."
I wish I had been with some fellow archers at the time so I could have found out their reactions. I wasn't; so I would like to ask for your reactions. Do you feel like I did or am I in a minority? I will know the answer to that one when I have read your responses. Either way, I will let you know later.); for now.

I think you`re on a pointless exercise there Geoff, people will always have varying opinions. It would be quicker if you told us your opinion and ask if we agree with it. If it was me i`d forget it, sit down with a beer, and stroke my bow

[JohnK]

Depends on the sport.

Let's take tennis as an example. A tennis player doesn't get out there and play one identical shot over and over again. They have to learn a range of shots, and moreover, the tactics of shot selection. This is something that a new coach could very definitely have an immediate impact on, by advising the player on the best game plan to adopt for each match.

For archers, it's very different. We just have to take one shot, regardless of circumstance. For us in practice the difficulty comes in how to build that shot, and how to maintain it in even the most stressful of circumstances. Perhaps a good coach can have a very rapid effect on the later, but changes to the former almost always take time to bed in.

Just my 2p.

[Macbow]

There's a story on Kisik Lee's website from an obviously good American archer who got a lot better after being coached by Mr Lee. The archer in question cites the progress that Australia has made under Lee's coaching and goes on to say that now Mr Lee is coaching the US team he is expecting great things for the future.

[geoffretired]

Originally Posted by pyroarch57

I think you`re on a pointless exercise there Geoff, people will always have varying opinions. It would be quicker if you told us your opinion and ask if we agree with it. If it was me i`d forget it, sit down with a beer, and stroke my bow

Thanks for the inputs.
I know people have different opinions,pyroarch57. I was curious to find out what others thought of the comment. The more the merrier really as I was trying to find out where my thoughts fitted into the range of opinions. I've been sitting stroking my bow waiting and still no genie has popped out.);
OK I'll tell you what I thought.
To my way of looking at the comment, the new coach was described as good, which sort of implied that the earlier one was less good.The good, new coach has improved the sportsman's performance.That seems to ignore what the first coach may have done.What if the first coach had improved the sportsman from county level to international level? Is that not good?

[Marcus26]

Just because someone changes coaches and sees an improvement doesn't mean the previous coach was a bad coach or doing it wrong.
Sometimes it is simply a change which is good, or just a change in emphasis. Sometimes it's actually the student's fault. And sometimes it is bad coaching.

[PaulT]

I believe good coach CAN make a difference to a sportsperson, and sometimes just a change of coach. A new coach can sometimes spot something a previous one had not. Also coaches, like athletes have strong and weak point to their technique that can suit different people.
To refer to the case in point- if I'm not mistaken I think I saw the comment being made - The athlete in question was a British sprinter (can't recall her name) who had always done ok in major championships but often faded at the end and failed to make finals. On this occasion she won her semi final with a strong mental performance after a change in coach. In this case it looks like the coach helped her with the mental side of the sport and therefore (for me) clearly did help.

[Witchie Poo Cat]

Although I dont feel qualified to answer the point of what a good coach is in terms of their actual knowledge of the sport, I just wanted to make a point on a more simple level.

I think a lot of it comes down to whether or not you just click with your coach. All other things being equal in terms of knowledge it can simply be the difference in the way things are explained that can make things simply fall into place.

For example, albeit a bit off topic, I used to be a voluntary maths tutor for a charity that allowed people to just walk in off the street either on a one off basis or for regular sessions and help teach them about anything to do with numbers, from reading bus timetables to algebra and everything in between. When I joined I used to think that my way of explaining things would be understandable to everyone (yes I know, but I was only 21 at the time! ). However, if there was one thing I learned it was that you need to adapt your approach to the individual every time no matter how simple or complex the idea that you are trying to teach. Some people pick things up easily and are on your wavelength. For those on a different wavelength simply changing the way you teach, whether its introducing analogies or simply getting back to basics etc, can be all that is needed to help everything just slide into place.

I therefore think one of the differences between a good coach and a great coach is the ability to adapt your technique to your student and not get stuck in a "my way is the only way" mentality.

Thats just my opinion though

[PaulT]

I agree with you there to a point WPC - as a driving instructor I am constantly having to adapt things to 'get through' to different people, and I consider this essential. However there will always be something of yourself in your style of teaching/coaching which will suit some more than others.
We are all individuals!




"I'm not!"