Sports Coaching

A coaches role is to

• Improve their own skills through practice

• Assist athletes to reach their full potential

• Influence young people to behave and act like they do

• Look after their own needs and not develop younger athletes

When dealing with unhappy parents, coaches should

• Listen to the parents concerns and then try to come to an agreement

• Listen and then abuse the parents

• Tell the parents that they don't know what they're talking about

• Walk away from the parents and not listen

The coach plays a wide variety of roles. The most important role of the coach is

• Disciplining and being like a parent to the participants

• Motivating, counselling, and being a good friend to the participants

• Planning, teaching, communicating, organising and being a good role model to the participants

• Managing the participants' training schedule and being a personal fitness trainer

If you were having problems with a parent who was over-emphasising winning and putting a lot of pressure on their child to perform, which of the following strategies is the best way of dealing with this situation?

• Explain to the child that their parent’s behaviour is inappropriate and ask them the give a copy of the ASC’s code of conduct to their parents

• Speak with the parent one on one to discuss their child’s progress and the problems that may arise from putting too much pressure on a child to perform

• Encourage and praise the child in front of the parent and hope the parent will learn from your example

• Speak with the parent and ask them not to attend training and competitions

Which action should you take if one of the players you were coaching used loud and consistent verbal abuse towards an umpire/referee or other official?

• ‘Bench’ the player to give them the chance to calm down, but encourage them to complain to the umpire/referee after the game

• ‘Bench’ the player to give them the chance to calm down and ask the player to apologise to the umpire/referee after the game

• Let it go if the player had never abused an umpire/referee before

• Let it go if the umpire/referee had made an incorrect decision

An elimination game has been included in the drills and games section of the training session. Which of the following statements best describes the use of elimination games for children?

• Elimination games should be avoided, as they often result in the less skilled participants (who need practice and encouragement) being eliminated first

• Elimination games should not be used as they are often dangerous

• Elimination games assist in the teaching children about winning and losing

• Elimination games are useful for including rest periods during training for children

Why is it important for the coach to find out if the participants are enjoying the program?

• So that the coach knows which participants are likely to drop out next season

• To get the participants and their parents ‘on side’

• To give the participants the chance to change coaches if they are not happy

• To allow the coach to evaluate whether the program is meeting the participant’s needs and make changes if necessary

One of the legal duties of the coach is to provide a safe environment for participants. Which of the following descriptions best summarises providing a safe environment?

• Asking one of the participants parents to bring along first aid supplies

• Ensuring that facilities, equipment and the environment are safe for participants.

• Only conducting sporting activities indoors

• Checking the weather forecast prior to training and competition

Which of the following best describes the phrase ‘duty of care’ in coaching?

• The coach should use a cautious approach to coaching at all times

• The coach must hold a parents evening at the beginning of the season

• The coach must take reasonable care to ensure that participants do not come to any harm.

• The coach should use modified equipment with all participants

What are the most effective attention gaining tools coaches use to stop and start activities?

• Waving and shouting

• Written instructions on a whiteboard

• Verbal and non-verbal body language

• Voice commands, visual signs and a whistle