COACHING IN CLUBS A Strategic Approach Peter Tanner

COACHING IN CLUBS A Strategic Approach With thanks to: Curt Högberg Per Jutterström Peter Radcliffe

COACHING IN CLUBS A Strategic Approach 1.Organisation of coaching 2.Organisation of training programmes 3.Appropriate competition models

Age % try in a club 25% use Gym 1% stay 22% jog and run 100% try Athletics at school 100% 0% 75% say athletics is good for training Where do all the athletes go?

Encouraged on the level that suites meNo Is welcomingNo Technically competentNo Training and competition is funNo Suited to my ability No Least important: Less expensive than other activities Yes Most important needs (Swe) Perception of athletics How is athletics for me?

CONCLUSION Perception: Athletics does not meet my personal needs

Do we agree with the following? We are more likely to stay involved for longer if: We learn at a young age to ”love athletics” Coaching and competition suits my ability The club has leaders that encourage me to participate on a level that suits me Coaching and competition is enjoyable

Training for Athletics Why do we train? – what is the aim and purpose? What if don’t we like competition?

Group Work: New club Coaching Organisation Structure? Coach development? Training Programme Who decides? What kind? How Much? Groups consider, present & discuss

Competition Principles Competition should be at appropriate level Consist of both team and individual competition All competition templates should be simple to deliver Competition should be high tempo, without queues and waiting time!

What does your club feel about competition? Have you asked them? Who would you ask? How could you ask them?

Do we have the right competitions? ”Learning to compete is the best training” ”Competition should be fun and on my level” ”Where there is competition there is improvement” Is there enough appropriate competition in existence? What can we do to: Ensure there is enough? Increase community and club passion for competition?

What makes a good club? »Our values? »The number of leaders? »Performance and medals? »The knowledge of the coaches? »The number of coaches? »A good person in charge of coaching activity? »Facilities? »Training programmes? »The amount of activity and competition? »The level of cooperation? »More?

”My Club” VOLUNTEERS? COACHES? LEADERSHIP? MONEY? SUPPORT FROM REGIONS, NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS To make our club successful, what is the single most important focus for us?

Without Leadership… “… there is no change” D. Quinn Mills “… organizations move too slowly, stagnate and lose their way” Philip Atkinson

The 4 Components that contribute to ”club passion” TRAINING COMPETITION OTHER ACTIVITIES COMMON AIMS AND POLICIES

If we increase the number of young athletes remaining in athletics at the age of 20 by just 1% we will DOUBLE the number staying in the sport. Pause for thought …

What are YOU going to do?