Coaches with a background in education, psychology or other ‘helping’
professions have the advantage of pre-existing skills and knowledge about
child development. Volunteer coaches without this background should be
screened through written applications, personal interviews, reference checks
and criminal record inquiries. Their training should focus on building trust,
child development, ethical issues, teamwork and skill development. Support
networks should be set up for coaches that meet regularly to provide training,
support and debriefing. The background reading, games and reflection sheets
in this book can be used to provide a basic understanding of the psychological
content required for emotional coaching.