Page 22 - Summer 2017

Coaching:Layout 1 13-Jul-17 8:45 PM Page 1

22 Hello and welcome to
Hello and welcome to
“Coaches Corner”
“Coaches Corner”

a new feature in the magazine
a new feature in the magazine
where I would like to generate discussion with you, the
readers, regarding any aspect of coaching, so please write
in to me* here at the magazine. Send your comments,
your questions and your views
In this edition, to set the scene for Coaches Corner,
and also to lay the foundations for the topic that I plan to cover in the next edition (see below),
I am going to ask, `what is coaching`?
`what is coaching`?
That should be quite an easy question to answer, but, of course, it isn`t. Go on line and
try. You will find that there is no standard definition, and those that can be found often refer
more to business than to sport. However, there are some common threads, which I have as-
sembled into 4 categories. You can `dip into` these to produce a variety of definitions. The
`elements` are;

What the coach does; directs; motivates; instructs; guides; trains; supports; advises; uses
a personalised approach; and/or collaborates with the coachee. The context in which coaching
takes place; this is a one-to-one process (where – strangely - `one` can be an individual or a
team); within a standardised, systematic framework; solution focused; result orientated; having
specific objectives and goals; usually taking place over a short time period; and/or almost al-
ways based in the present moment. The people involved; a (team of) qualified coach(es), and/or
an individual, team or group of coachees
The results being sought; learning and/or development; improved, enhanced and/or more
effective knowledge, skills and/or performance Alternatively, you could consider 1 of the 3 fol-
lowing `off the shelf` options;
“The art of facilitating the performance, learning and development of another”
“The art of facilitating the performance, learning and development of another”
“Coaching is directly concerned with the immediate improvement of perform-
“Coaching is directly concerned with the immediate improvement of perform-
ance and development of skills by a form of tutoring or instruction”
ance and development of skills by a form of tutoring or instruction”
“In sport a coach is a person involved in the direction, instruction and training
“In sport a coach is a person involved in the direction, instruction and training
of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople. A coach may
of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople. A coach may
also be a teacher”.
also be a teacher”.
Note that in the sport of bowls, coaching is presented in a programme called `Coach Bowls`
which is “the comprehensive coaching system being developed by the Bowls Development Al-
liance on behalf of Bowls England and the English Indoor Bowling Association Ltd to meet the
needs of players and coaches at all levels. Coach Bowls is the only bowls coaching system
supported and funded by Bowls England. Coach Bowls uses the UK Coaching Framework as
a guideline, for development, and its stated aim is to provide `a world class bowls coaching
system for all`”. (Bowls Development Alliance).
In the next edition I will be asking; “Does the Sport of Short Mat Bowls need Qualified
Coaches?”(unless you know any different! . . . . . . because you could). Send me your sug-
gestions of coaching topics for us to consider together *You can write to me at Short Mat Inter-
national by letter or e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you
Malcolm Bailey

ED - This is someone who is getting off their backside and trying to highlight the topic of coaching.
It is a very important subject indeed. Over the last 30 odd years I have watched thousands of
people bowling, a large number of whom need coaching, provided they take it on board and put
it into practice. Bad habits are the easiest to learn and the most difficult to get rid of.