Sports Jargon

My little boy is sport mad and has recently started playing hockey for a local team.

He absolutely loves it and I in turn love watching him play.

He gets to play in a mini-tournament every month which is run by the local clubs. Parents of the children involved have to manage their child’s team for the morning which involves a bit of umpiring, managing substitutions and coaching the children as they play.

Now, there is a range of experience of the sport within the parenting collective and this means there is variety in the ‘management’ styles!

All parents are very enthusiastic and helpful but the communication styles used to coach the children varies massively.

I particularly noticed this in the last tournament.

There was a group of parent-coaches encouraging the children – ‘well done’, ‘keep going’ etc.

There were also parent-coaches giving instructions like ‘run forwards’, ‘pass to Jack’ etc. which were clear, simple and easy for the children to understand.

This method seemed a little more effective.

Then, the last batch of parent-coaches who would call out instructions like ‘push up’, ‘carry strong’, ‘drive forward’ and ‘make the pitch bigger’…

Now, if you’re experienced in the game, you’d know what these mean, but to a 6-year-old new to the game, I’m not so sure.

It occurred to me that when we work in an industry, play a sport or hobby, we learn the jargon – we understand the language of that world.

But, if you’re aren’t from that world – the language can seem strange and the meaning, well… alien.

It can be unhelpful, and confusing. Communication can break down and instructions can be misinterpreted.

Are there any times you can think of when you’ve seen jargon or tech-speak and just got confused, or seen it misinterpreted? Or even, used it yourself?

There are certainly phrases we use at Bowak that are industry specific, but we work hard on how we communicate and want you to do the same.

If you’d like any training, support, encouragement, or want to introduce specific tasks and would like our help – get in touch!

We aim to deliver straightforward advice and training in a way everyone will understand.

Even if it’s how to simplify instructions with the use of wall charts, product user guides and training videos.

Just get in touch and we’ll be there for you.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mel