13/12/2022
An archer may contain all the ingredients necessary for success such as natural talent, work ethic, mental strength, hunger but if they don’t have the right coach to bring it all together, it is quite likely they will fall short of their goals.
Similarly, a team may be made up of the most talented individuals, but if they aren’t moulded into an effective group that can perform as a collective, then they will more often then not find themselves failing to reach their targets.
The importance of a good coach is the reason archers and teams spend a lot of time and money hunting down the best coaches. One of the problems is that it is not an exact science, as we have seen many times where a successful coach can’t adapt his approach to a new set of archers or different types of individuals.
What makes an effective coach is a question that is often asked, but like so many things in sport there is no simple answer. It’s a bit like asking what makes an effective parent as there are so many variables involved.
For example do you grade a coach simply in terms of success?
If their archer or teams wins, then they must be an effective coach, right?
Perhaps, but other factors must be considered. For example, being able to improve an archer must be considered to be effective coaching, but it may not lead to success in terms of medals.
Also, an effective coach may be someone who encourages people to stay involved in archery and live a healthier lifestyle, and also one who ensures participants have fun.
All of these coaches could be considered to be effective so it would appear that when we are looking at what makes a good coach the emphasis should be on their approach, rather than the outcome. While it is impossible to come up with a precise definition for a good coach, it is accepted that there are certain characteristics that effective coaches have in common, not matter what level they are operating at.
What are most important things you look for in a coach?