B. Woods Coaching Styles
B. Woods (1998)[1] identified 4 styles of coaching:
• Command style - direct instruction, coach dictates
• Reciprocal style - athlete takes some responsibility for their own development - monitored by the coach
• Problem solving style - athlete solves problems set by the coach
• Guided discovery - athlete has freedom to explore various options
British Athletics Coaching Styles
British Athletics identify the following coaching styles:
• Telling - primarily the coach use instruction and explaining
• Showing - primarily the coach use demonstration
• Involving - primarily the coach allows self discovery and questioning to raise the athlete's awareness
Coaching Roles and Skills
The United Kingdom Coaching Strategy describes the role of the sports coach as one that "enables the athlete to achieve levels of performance to a degree that may not have been possible if left to his/her own endeavours".
Dyson speaking to the 19th session of the International Olympic Academy, Greece 1979, widened the horizon when he said that "the wise coach develops not only the fullest physical potential in his charges, but also those capacities and habits of mind and body which will enrich and ennoble their later years".
I also believe the role of the sports coach is to create the right conditions for learning to happen and to find ways of motivating the athletes. Most athletes are highly motivated and therefore the task is to maintain that motivation and to generate excitement and enthusiasm.
The role of the coach could be quite daunting since the above implies what could be construed as quite awesome responsibility, especially for the part-time non-professional.