The perception of you as a coach can either help or hinder the success of your sessions.
As such, within an informal setting, it is important to consider your coaching style (or, if you represent an organisation, your deliverer's coaching style) and how your behaviours and actions can influence the success of the session.
A coach does not always need to coach, but they do always need to create a supportive and motivating environment for their participants. Sometimes, a coach will take on a leadership, facilitator or organiser role and should be led by the participants’ needs and requests for coaching advice and hints.
Qualified coaches are important, but what is more important to the participants is that the coaches are passionate and enthusiastic about the sport, and have the experience to guide an informal coaching session and know when to coach and when to stand back.
Before we look at some top tips for attracting and retaining new female participants to your sessions, first let us examine what it is participants want from their coaches by highlighting some important dos and don'ts.
Coaches should:
- take an individual approach
- listen
- understand a person’s ability
- demonstrate
- participate
- give advice (with appropriate tone)
- be passionate about (and skilled in) the sport
- be motivational and enthusiastic
- plan sessions in advance
- be on time.
Coaches should not:
- single people out
- be badly organised
- be inexperienced in the sport
- patronise
- push people too hard beyond their level
- be judgemental or impatient
- be too strict or intimidating.