What does it take to become a sports instructor or outdoor activity leader? The desire to learn a new sport, become more proficient at a familiar sport, expand your expertise and share it with others! Here is your coaching code of ethics:
A reputable coach or sports instructor:
* Is diversified in his/her teaching skills.
* Is certified to ensure members are provided the best, consistent, quality instruction.
* Is personable, patient and provides eye contact.
* Creates an environment that makes participants feel excited instead of intimidated.
* Helps participants set realistic goals for a positive, successful experience. This builds confidence to tackle more difficult skills, more challenging terrain, etc., without fearing failure.
* Always listens attentively.
* Uses “transfer of learning” to find out what other activities members participate in and relate as much as possible to those past, positive experiences. For example, if a member has experience playing racquetball and is taking tennis lessons, you’ll draw on those experiences to enhance the lesson.
* Teaches logical and safe movement progressions, ensuring the mastery of one skill to make the next easy to learn, and explains directions with demonstrations, checking for understanding, giving time to practice, offering immediate feedback, checking again for understanding, demonstrating again, practicing again, and reviewing what was learned.
* Gives lots of positive reinforcement.
* Gives handouts, “homework” and resources to reinforce what members have learned.
* Always has participants sign a release of liability or waiver; members are educated to question the professionalism and background of an instructor who doesn’t.
Tags: homework, physically, professionalism