Coaching

Well it is that time of year again and the Nationals are approaching fast. For the past few months most of us have been in preparation so that we can hopefully perform at our best level. We have tried to manage our training with family commitments over the Christmas and New Year period and most of us are now back at work whilst trying to balance family and shooting commitments. Despite this we will all go to the Nationals with the ultimate aim of winning, shooting a personal best score or perhaps just enjoying the competitive camaraderie of our sport. On completion of the Nationals most of us will go home and with the competition fresh in our minds we will start planning on how to improve on these scores.

However, before commencing on this plan I would like to suggest that you speak to a qualified coach as it is very difficult to analyse ones performance objectively. So the question is; have you got a coach? If the answer is yes, then by all means consult them and start planning. If the answer to this question is no, then ask yourself why not? A coach can look at your past preparation and without being subjective can analyse your past training program providing valuable information and insight into past performances. For some reason however, many shooters believe that a coach is not necessary. What I would like to do with this article is to discuss some typical arguments for and against of utilising the skills of a coach.

For NOT having a coach:

“I’m only a social shooter”

This implies that they don’t need a coach as they are really interested only in the social aspects of shooting and are not interested in increasing their performances. This is an argument put forward by shooters who often complaining or give excuses when they don’t perform to expectations. In fact, many of these shooters would enjoy shooting more, if they actually received some lessons and consequently knew what and how to practice!

“I have been shooting ‘C’ Grade scores for years”

This is saying that they believe that they do not have the natural abilities to move up the grades.

Many of these shooters often lack the discipline in training effectively on the range. In most cases these shooters have received little if any coaching for many years. These types of shooters desperately require coaches. In fact, if you are a club coach reading this please become proactive with these types of shooters! Because at some stage many of these shooters will leave our sport because of lack of motivation and progress within our sport.

“I have all the available information”

With the proliferation of information this is hard to argue. However, being able to select the appropriate information and being able to apply the information in a practical setting requires a different range of skill set. Otherwise, you could for example, download all the relevant information for playing tennis and then within a few years, you would be off to Wimbledon! My advice, seek out your qualified club coach as they are skilled in taking the theory and placing it into the practical setting.

“I am already Master grade shooter”

These shooters have often gotten there alone purely with talent! I wish them well. However, to make this type of statement is not facing reality. Perhaps, they could have improved on current performances had they actually received some coaching? I have personally witnessed athletes reach a certain level of performance due to talent but never achieve or sustain what they were really capable of. I have, come across this type of attitude amongst our more elite shooters. If these athletes actually looked outside of their sport they would see that almost every athlete in world sport has in fact, a coach. All they need to do is ask athletes such as Ian Thorpe, Jana Pittman, LLeyton Hewitt., Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi etc etc.

“I am better then the coach!”

In fact, that is the whole idea! Otherwise, the coach will be replacing the shooter on the team! I have heard this statement several times and it demonstrates some level of ignorance by the shooter.

“The coach has never experienced my level of success and competitive pressure”

This has some merit at face value. However, it totally ignores the skill set of coaches. It’s stating that if a coach has never felt the pressures such as an Olympic Final the coach then would be unable to understand these pressures. This argument totally overlooks the fact that the pressure experience is relative and foremost an individual experience. It also ignores that the experience of success can be drawn from other areas. For example, how many times did Lawrie Lawrence face an Olympic final in swimming? Answer, as a competitor never. Yet, few would argue that he understands competitive pressures and success more the most.

FOR having a coach

A Coach brings a wide range of skills

This is often the key. They understand the planning process and all the relevant technical detail that is required to improve performances.

A Coach brings observation skills

Coaches are skilled observers and are able to pick up things that the athlete and or their friends are unable to detect.

A Coach is objective

Coaches bring an objective view to the performance.

A Coach brings additional knowledge

Most coaches have studied the sport carefully and factor in a range of additional considerations into the shooters training program that the shooter themselves may not have thought of.

A Coach can individualise the trainings program

A coach can observe and use his analytical skills to individualise the information that the performer needs to process so that the shooter can maximise their performances.

Finding the right Coach

So what criteria should you set in finding a coach that is right for you? Look for a coach that is compatible with your needs and who is able to communicate with you in a meaningful way. Look for their relevant knowledge in your particular shooting discipline. Ultimately, not all qualified coaches are suitable for you. This can be due to their experience base (some may be better with beginner then advanced shooters) or their individual coaching style. Professional coaches know that they are not compatible with everyone and will assist in finding the right coach for you.

Conclusion

We all need coaches! They are highly skilled people and most are able to assist shooters at all levels. I have personally coached at elite levels in a range of sports and have often been amazed that many of our shooters continue to go on with their shooting involvement without ever consulting a coach. They feel that by accessing the right information they are able to achieve competitive success. This totally negates what a coach actually does: they observe. Unfortunately, many of our more elite shooters seem to feel the same way. I have been involved as a full-time coach in several sports at elite levels for over 25 years. One of these sports not only had a professional coach for each of their athletes but also has an executive coach appointed to them. They displayed a level of professionalism, a hunger for knowledge and a level of interest that was beyond approach. It ultimately reflected in their world cup performance.

Good shooting

Dieter Wilhelmi