Something all new coaches are taught to consider is how they communicate to their new pupils, what tone of voice to use, what volume, intonation, clarity, speed, body language, gestures, position and so on and so forth. It's one of the first things we look at on the courses I tutor and it can be a potential minefield!
Never was this more accurately brought home to me that in a lesson I taught yesterday afternoon. We were attempting a very simple exercise with a group of mini red players (more on mini tennis structure in a future post for those uninitiated, but suffice to say for now they were all about 5 years old) that involved throwing and catching. Little Jimmy is throwing to his partner and is playing Darts (throwing from in front of his nose), "Jimmy, can you throw underarm for me?" says coach, at which point Jimmy puts his left arm across his body and literately throws the ball from under it.
Now, technically it's my fault! I knew what I wanted to see (and what Jimmy did wasn't it!), but to a 5 year old, with a very literal view (and ear apparently) of things, he did exactly what I had asked, he threw the ball "underarm"
This got me really thinking about the things we say as coaches and educators and how often we actually get across the point we mean to make. If a pupil misunderstands our words, do we really take the time to make sure they are performing the task as we want or need them to, or do we just settle for them being approximately right? I like to think, with my obsession to detail, I will always seek to clarify and confirm understanding and that I make this clear to my trainee coaches too and it is certainly something I am becoming more aware of.
The next time you take a lesson, or are on court next to a coach. have a listen to what they say and how they say it. If (when) they say something like "hit over the ball" (my pet hate :-( ), see if the pupil really understands what they mean - if they follow it literally they'll either miss the ball completely or hit it into the bottom of the net. What the coach probably means is hit up and across the back of the ball or similar, but that might not be what they say!
You've got to love the English language!
Cheers
Now from a pupil point of view.. :)
ReplyDeleteThat a nery good point! Sometimes I get so frustrated with my coach because of communication!
He's a very good coach but he has no formal trainning in coaching and he can't express himself well. He is that kind of a coach who gives very litle instructions and I really feel that I need a more "technical" trainning. He puts together a very physical tennis lesson - and that as advantages as well.
He's lessons are more based on drills, and thats fine, but I feel I need someone telling me what I did wrong or right, not just executing drills.
What do u think bw the balance of a more technical versus a more physical tennis lesson?
Thanks.
Keep up the good work.
Luis - http://online-tennis-blog.blogspot.com/
Hi Luis
ReplyDeleteYou make a very interesting point about types of coaches. Personally, I'm a very technically orientated coach, I tend not to rally with my players, unless they need it for the technique or level we are practicing at, but spend a lot of time refining the racquet head or physical technique.
For me a drills session is not a lesson unless the coach is teaching footwork and body patterns, and that also requires good communication. Without that, you're just having a cardio tennis session - which is fine if that's what you want.
Some players at my club like to just hit, so they go to one my coaches who kind of specialises in that type of lesson! I tend not to get those players as I will change their technique and that's not really what they're after!
I would have a chat with your coach, if you feel you need more technical instruction then you need to speak to him about your thoughts.
cheers and thanks for the comments.