Coaching Craft: Elite Athlete to Elite Coach
Coaching Craft: Elite Athlete to Elite Coach
Following an engaging and insightful Curious Coaches’ Club with Joey Barton and Georgia Davenport the Curious Coaches’ Club Community of Practice delved deeper into some hot topics from the conversation. Ultimately the call focused in on the value of an elite athlete transitioning into a coaching role and the key influences we have on us that shape the direction of our coaching journey.
The value of athletes transitioning to coaches
Some points to consider and conversation starters:
· What is the value of an elite or high performing athlete transitioning to becoming a coach?
· If athletes are focusing on coaching during their career as a ‘performer’ does this dilute the quality of their performance?
· What insight would an ex-athlete be able to offer as a coach compared to a coach who hasn’t performed at elite levels?
· Does the approach of a coach who is an architect of learning need to be different to that of an elite performer?
· Do great performers make great coaches?
· Are there sports that actively prepare performers to follow a carer in coaching post-performance?
There is so much to unpack and consider when it comes to understanding the value of why an athlete at the highest level of their sport would transition to becoming a coach. There is a potential loss or change in identity (am I the ex-footballer or the new head coach?), a new direction and journey to travel on, and a new set of skills and knowledge required to get the best out of others.
As coaches, we tend to seek out autonomous, intrinsically motivated and mindful performers who can strategise and re-stratagise their approach & game plan during competition. So, there is significant potential value in supporting the athletes to understand coaching so they can coach themselves and others at being more aware, astute and applied in their performance whilst competing at elite levels.
Coaching in the sport where you performed at a high level can potentially give you the credibility you need to have the respect and attention of the athletes in your care, but does this bring with it associated pressure or a fear of failure? As a new coach in a familiar environment it might be useful to maximise the support of others who have experience at coaching, to seek out a mentor, or to spend time reflecting on the way you were coaches, what you liked and what you didn’t.
The Curious Coaches Club’ Community of Practice created a platform for coaches to discuss and make sense of these topics and also consider the influences we have had on our own coaching journeys.
If you are interested in joining the conversation, you can book your plan on our Thursday Community of Practice (23rd April 18:00 – 19:00) by following this link: https://www.ukcoaching.org/courses/workshops/curious-coaches-community-of-practice/31892