Added: 12/02/2005 |
The pros and cons of becoming a coachCoaching philosophy in sports has for many years been based on the domination of a reductionist approach - the persistence on analyzing things down to their fundamental components - and lines of influence between knowledgeable coaches and those evidently without knowledge. This approach walks hand in hand with the rejection of the natural, the intuitive and the instinctual, and has held back coaching sports in sports in US and elsewhere by approximately 20 years.
The assumptions and beliefs that some coaches grow up with are the very ones that undercut learning, enjoyment and performance. They can be demonstrated by the following declarations:
• If one tries to learn something without professional's help, he will build up bad habits.
• An average person can't learn a new ability without being shown and/or told by a professional.
• There is a proper technique for the majority of activities, and that is one that must be taught.
• Bad habits and errors can only be identified and improved by an expert.
• Intellectual comprehension is a prerequisite of learning a good technique.
Coaches have to be specialists in the specific activity or sport that they coach.
Coaching tennis players at all levels requires a diversity of skills; dependent on the support structure, everyone who is thinking of becoming a coach must first consider weather he has enough enthusiasm to embody technical expert, motivator, psychologist, administrator and manager, to mention but a few of the evident roles.
It appears that the longing to becoming a coach involves a much more coordinated process than just the do-as-I-say tactics which may be used for novices. High-level players necessitate having much more contribution into goal setting and the organization of training process. They also necessitate being more responsible for controlling themselves.
Sensitivity and effectual managing of stress is also an essential aspect that is of a great importance on the way to becoming a coach with the world's name. High stress surrounding leads to the burnout of a player. A good tennis coacher is the one who can recognize this as well as appreciate the other commitments placed on his players, whether they are full-time professional players or first-rate novices who have to balance sport career with employment or study.
In this light, professional coach education is highly recommended to everybody who is serious about becoming a coach. Every year, more than 60 countries from all around the world take part in the coach education program devised by International Tennis Federation (ITF) by arranging the course for national tennis coachers. It is ITF who can assist with coaches' training in a wide range of formats as well as with coach licensing.
The main goal of ITF coach education program is to assist National Associations with creating their own coach education programs and to develop the better level of tennis coaching all through the world. To achieve this goal, the ITF has abundant resources which can be accessed by coaches and Nation Associations.
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