COACHING COACHING APPROACH

COACHING COACHING APPROACH

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 02 WHY HAVE WE DEVELOPED A COACH APPROACH? 02 WHERE DO THE IDEAS COME FROM? 03 PLAYER-CENTRED COACHING 05 CHANGING PLAYER BEHAVIOURS 06 PLAYER CENTRED APPROACH 07 COACH AND PLAYER SELF-AWARENESS NETBALL AUSTRALIA COACHING COMMUNITY MANTRA 08 THE G.R.O.W MODEL 10 FORMULA FOR SUCCESS 11

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION The Netball Australia Coach Approach is a philosophical approach to coaching, promoting player learning and ownership of that learning through creating awareness, responsibility and self-belief. Many of the ideas embedded in the Coach Approach are not new, but simply a reinforcement of contemporary best practice in coaching and how players can learn most effectively. The Netball Australia Coach Approach aims to create resilient and competent players, motivated to enjoy their participation in our sport and be able to positively influence their own development, regardless of their level of participation. WHY HAVE WE DEVELOPED THE NETBALL AUSTRALIA COACH APPROACH? Netball Australia and Member Organisations want to ensure that we support our coaches to be the best they can be, in the coaching environments they wish to operate in. Before continual improvements can be made to coach development programs, products and/or resources, as a sport, netball needs to be very clear about our philosophy of coaching (i.e. how we would like our coaches to operate). The Netball Australia Coach Approach gives us this clarity. How many times have you seen or heard the following? Coaches mostly telling players what to do, rather than asking players what they think they should do? A coach saying to a player don t do that, do this? Players trying harder and harder but performances not improving? Players who can do it in practice, but can t transfer these skills into competition? Two (or more) very different players with different needs being treated the same way? A coach-centred approach, which until recently was seen in Australia and throughout many countries, as the best approach to coaching, is limited to the imagination, knowledge and delivery skills of the coach. This approach also places the coach at the centre of the player development process, when the player themselves should be the central focus. The Netball Australia Coach Approach encourages a far greater use of a player-centred approach to coaching. Some key reasons for this shift include: Different groups of players and different individuals have different needs. Simply telling is not effective. Research shows that player enjoyment, development and performances increase when coaches tell less and ask more. Players learn best when they have input into what they do in practice/ training and during competition; and therefore have ownership of the learning process. A player-centred approach develops players awareness, ownership and self-belief. WHERE DO THE IDEAS COME FROM? Netball Australia has undertaken an evidence based approach, utilising research from around the globe into current world leading coaching practice in netball and many other sports refer to the Netball Australia website (insert a web-link to the Coach Approach reference list) for more information. We have also ensured a large number of netball coaching experts throughout Australia have had input into the development of the Netball Australia Coach Approach and all aspects of the Coaching Blueprint. The evidence collected via this process has been used to develop a simple and contemporary approach to coaching, which we know will have a very positive impact on our coaches (at all levels) and therefore, on the players they coach (at all levels), well into the future. Players being bored at training and/or during competition? Coaches constantly talking at players? 02

PLAYERS PLAYER-CENTRED COACHING What do we mean by the term player? One of the great strengths of netball in Australia, is that it offers people the option of playing our great game recreationally, competitively and/or at a high performance level. Throughout this Coach Approach document, the term player refers to anyone participating in netball programs, competitions, or activities (i.e. at any age, at any level and in any place). AUSTRALIAN NETBALL DIAMONDS NETSETGO (5-10 YEARS) COMPETITIVE AND RECREATION CLUB COMPETITIONS DEVELOP A DIAMOND (11-13 YEARS) ANZ CHAMPIONSHIP NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE DEVELOP A DIAMOND (14-16 YEARS) DEVELOP A DIAMOND ACADEMY AUSTRALIAN NETBALL LEAGUE UNDERAGE NATIONAL (17/19/21) 04 SIS/SAS DEVELOP A DIAMOND UNDERAGE

PLAYERS PLAYER CENTRED COACHING PLAYER CENTRED COACHING These days, if you ask a group of accredited netball coaches (or coaches in any sport) if they ve heard of and subscribe to the player-centred or athlete-centred coaching approach, the vast majority will say yes. However, if you ask them why? they support this coaching approach, they often struggle to respond. For coaches who understand the player centred coaching philosophy, a common response will be - because it is the player who decides what happens next, not me, as their coach. Visit the Player-Centred Approach to Coaching link and watch the short animation. Netball coaches don t control what their players think, feel, believe in, or concentrate on. If a coach identifies an area a player or team must address (e.g. develop a physical capacity, improve a skill, improve their tactical awareness, change their attitude to training) they need 2 things as per the following figure. CHANGING PLAYER BEHAVIOURS (AWARENESS + INTENT = CHANGE) A common (and mostly incorrect) assumption coaches can make is outlined below. I KNOW YOU DON T KNOW At the core of the NA Coach Approach, is that coaches: Provide direction and support to players THEREFORE, I WILL TELL YOU Do not control players thoughts, feelings, behaviours, or performances It must be noted that at different times coaches will need to simply direct a player or group with specific instructions. For safety, technical, tactical or personal learning style reasons a direct approach may be beneficial from time to time. The ability to understand when the time is correct to do this is part of being a high performing coach. Sometimes adopting a player centred approach through questioning can be more challenging but stick with it. The rewards are well worth the investment. PLAYER CENTRED APPROACH A SUMMARY STEP 1 Ensure the player is AWARE of the need for them to change something (i.e. the player needs to agree with the need for them to do something different) STEP 2 Allow the player to decide they WANT TO CHANGE something (i.e. the player needs to commit to doing something different) RESULT A CHANGE IN PLAYER BEHAVIOUR AND ACTIONS WHY? WHO? To ensure the needs and participation motivators of players are met. Netball Australia, State and Territory Netball Associations, Clubs and Coaches. HOW? Coaching having the mindset and skills to effectively coach whoever is in front of them. 06

BEHAVIOUR COACH AND PLAYER SELFAWARENESS, RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF BELIEF In order for coaches to change their behaviour they too must be AWARE of the need to change something and also have the INTENT to do what is required to make that change A key to coaches developing their self-awareness and then their intent to get better at what they do is selfbelief. If a coach doesn t believe that they have the ability to continually improve, the likelihood of them doing so is very low. A key aspect of the Netball Australia Coach Approach is about helping coaches become more aware of what they are capable of, what they want to achieve and how they might be able to do so. For various reasons many coaches and players are not aware of what they are capable of, or do not choose to do what is required for them to achieve their potential. The Netball Australia Coach Approach is about coaches having the confidence to try new things and to strive for continual improvement. Netball Australia wants to empower coaches to be confident enough to make bold decisions, even if it may lead to mistakes. Sometimes experience is what we get when we don t get the result we want! NETBALL AUSTRALIA COACHING COMMUNITY MANTRA THE ONLY COACH YOU NEED TO BE BETTER THAN, IS THE ONE YOU WERE YESTERDAY Some core objectives of the Netball Australia Coach Approach: COACHES AND PLAYERS DEFINING THEIR OWN MEANING OF SUCCESS. 08 COACHES AND PLAYERS BEING MORE AWARE OF WHO THEY ARE. COACHES AND PLAYERS TAKING CHARGE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. COACHES AND PLAYERS BEING MORE AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF.

APPROACH THE G.R.O.W MODEL FORMULA FOR SUCCESS The Netball Australia Coach Approach aims to create create resilient and competent players, motivated to enjoy their participation in our sport. The GROW approach can be used by anyone wishing to change their performance in any aspect of their life, but is particularly effective for coaches and players to use when driving their own improvement. The model is designed to be applied within a context of raising a person s awareness, so they may assume responsibility for their own learning and performance. WAY FORWARD This approach involves: G Goal Setting Setting goals that lead toward ideal long term solutions. R Reality Checking Ensuring perceptions of present levels of performance are accurate. O Options Checking alternative courses of action to achieve the goal. W - Way Forward Deciding what will be done, when it will be done and by whom. Our thinking this is all about: The players How to coach the what to coach Allowing coaches to coach Learning, not telling All aspects of coach development, not just accreditation Coaches following the players lead Creating awareness, developing responsibility and self-belief and giving ownership to players Recognising the importance and achievements of coaches at all levels and in all environments Basing our actions on well researched information To make this work we will: Encourage the coaching community to have an inherent thirst for knowledge Encourage the coaching community to have ownership of their own development Look beyond short term results to ensure that tomorrow s performance is better than today s Promote every coaching situation as a learning opportunity Focus on including all segments of the netball coaching community. This inclusive approach will best support the coach recruitment, training, support and retention systems needed by our current and future coaching community. Work with key partners (refer to Glossary) to ensure they understand the importance of their role in achieving the objectives of the Framework. Accept responsibility for owning, creating, maintaining and improving the environment in which coaches work. OPTIONS FOCUS GOAL REALITY 10

NETBALL HQ 191 Johnston Street Fitzroy VIC 3065 PO Box 13285 Law Courts VIC 8010 Phone: +61 3 8621 8600 Fax: +61 3 9614 4308 Email: infonet@netball.asn.au www.netball.com.au