Introduction to Training Beginning Athletes Version 17 March 2018 Athletics Australia 2018 Training Principles for Beginning Athletes Remember: That as a Coach you are responsible for creating a welcoming, friendly and fun atmosphere that encourages beginning athletes to participate in your sessions and for providing a supportive environment that will enable your athletes to achieve their goals Fun Ensure that activities are exciting, enticing, accessible and engaging Fun will be different for everyone an effective coach tailors programs to meet the needs of the individual athlete Inclusive Cater for the differing social and physical capabilities of all involved. Consider modifying the activity and/or equipment to ensure maximum participation Safe Assess and manage the risks of each activity prior to the session and reassess risks throughout the session Always ensure that an adequate level of direct supervision is provided High Involvement Provide Create activities that ensure maximum participation and that are easy to organise simple, brief instructions Focus on getting participants quickly engaged in being active. for Beginning Athletes Why should you care? movement skills provide the foundation of all athletic maturity and are seen as the building blocks from which all movement skills are developed. Training Progressions Remember: Developing a sense of increasing competence is important for maintaining the motivation of your athletes. The abilities of Agility, Balance and Coordination underpin both generic and sport specific movement skills Move from simple to complex Practice and perfect basic patterns to build the mind/body connection Simple movements are inherently safer while developing new skills Gradually increase complexity to add variety and increase the challenge to avoid stagnation A well-rounded movement vocabulary provides the best preparation for the acquisition of more complex skills. Future success in Track and Field is based on strong fundamental movement skills developed in junior years. Why Modified Sport? A Holistic Approach to Coaching Provides an attractive introduction to the sport Physical Allows beginning athletes to experience an interesting and fun sporting environment Social Takes into account developmental level and attributes of beginning athletes Emotional Consider modifying equipment, facilities and rules. Spiritual 1
Purpose of the Warm Up Increase body temperature Increase blood flow to muscles Prepare body and mind Introduction to Warm Ups The warm up is also a good opportunity to actively engage with your participants. What are the sort of questions you might want to ask? Help to prevent injury. Increase heart rate Version 10 March 2018 Athletics Australia 2018 Warm Up Progressions Remember: Slow to Fast. Simple to Complex. Increase the intensity throughout the warm up Walking to skipping to running Activities in a forward motion before undertaking backward or lateral movements Prepare the body for the training session to follow. Warm Up Objectives Include a variety of fun, engaging and games based activities to commence the session on a positive and engaging note and to motivate your beginning athletes for the upcoming session Agility Prepares beginning athlete to be able to quickly change body position or direction of the body Tagging Games Ladder and cone drills Balance Prepares beginning athletes to be able to stay upright or stay in control of body movement Jumping forwards, backwards and laterally hold the landing Progress to hopping Coordination Prepares beginning athletes to move two or more body parts under control, smoothly and efficiently Run over obstacles. Example Warm Up Example Warm Up Engage Engage Cone Grab Get Moving Get Moving Form a Group Increase body temperature and heart rate Increase body temperature and heart rate Partner Tag with changing modes of locomotion Build agility, balance and coordination Build agility, balance and coordination Circuit including agility ladder, medicine balls, mini-hurdles and cones 2
Cool Down Easy Running Low intensity game aiming to lower heart rate gradually closer to resting rate Rationale: An effective cool down has been demonstrated to reduce heartrate at a faster rate and attenuate muscle soreness. Dynamic and/or Static Stretching Low intensity stretches Debrief and Preview of Next Session Good opportunity to recap what has been achieved and to encourage participation at the next session. Long Term Athlete Participation Version 26 April 18 Athletics Australia 2018 There are really only two requirements when it comes to exercise. One is that you do it. The other is that you continue to do it. Athletes have many personal reasons for getting involved and continuing to participate Write down what you believe to be the factors that motivate the athletes whom you coach. Motivation for Participation Children Under 10 What were your own factors to participate in regular in sport as a young person? Did this result in your long term participation in the sport? Crandall, E. (2007), Martin, N. (2014), Allen, J. (2003), Weiss, M. & Smith, A. (2002). Drivers considered Very Important by largest number of students To have fun and for the enjoyment of the sport and training To learn new skills To hang out with friends and/or to feel like part of a team The feeling of personal improvement Mostly derived from coach and/or parent feedback Other factors studied include winning, to go to a high level of competition and for a challenging competition. These were considered less important to most young athletes. Motivation for Participation Teenagers and Adults What are your own factors to participate in regular activity now? If you re not, what would motivate you to participate? Crandall, E. (2007), Martin, N. (2014), Allen, J. (2003), Weiss, M. & Smith, A. (2002). Drivers considered Very Important by largest number of adults To have fun and for the enjoyment of the sport and training To hang out with friends and/or to feel like part of a team To stay in shape and improve general health and physical appearance The feeling of personal improvement Mostly derived from peer feedback and intrinsic feelings To learn new skills In this age group, gender differences are noted by Sirard, Pfeiffer and Pate (2006) Males motivated more by competition and personal performance, females motivated more by social interaction and personal competence. 3
To have fun and for the enjoyment of the sport and training Keep sessions active by minimising time spent waiting around. Include variety. Avoid spending too long on one activity. Include games that teach skills in a fun way. Set realistic expectations for each individual. To learn new skills Your Role as the Coach How do you ensure that your session meets the drivers of youth participation? To hang out with friends and/or to feel like part of a team Positive self image by mastering skills Experience at managing both success and disappointment Social skills Skills to work as part of a team Respect for others Use a range of instructional techniques e.g. demonstrations, physical manipulation, peer teaching etc. Allow plenty of time for individual practice. Use modified activities or equipment appropriate to skill level. Build in socialising time to allow opportunities to make new friends Use group activities e.g. relays, team games Switch groups throughout a session Have team objectives e.g. combined group jump/throw distances, team runs What Can be Gained from Sport? Appreciation for an active lifestyle Focus on the Process When your sense of worth is attached to the effort you make and putting forth your very best, then the process itself becomes exciting and rewarding, regardless of the outcome Encourage the beginning athletes to set goals, but also to remain focused and engaged with the present and to devote themselves to effort and personal excellence. Beginning athletes need to understand that mistakes are a valuable learning tool Working Together https://www.parentsinsport.co.uk/2018/01/24/new zealand sporting legends message to parents letkids be kids/ Version 13 March 2018 Athletics Australia 2018 4
Coach Skills Open and clear communication Encourage questions Working with your group, choose a scenario and detail how you would deal with this issue in your role as a Community Coach. A 13 year old boy has been training with your group for the past 2 years. He is a late developer and physically very small compared to other boys his age. Consequently he has little success in competition. How can you keep him engaged with the sport and your training group? You have been coaching an Under 9 boys relay team who have qualified to compete at State Relays. The fastest member of the team did not participate in the region competition due to illness, but has received permission to compete in State Relays. His parents are requesting that the slowest team member is now replaced by their son. The parents of a 6 year old boy are requesting that their son receive one on one shot put coaching from you, rather than attending the general coaching sessions that you deliver that focus on fundamental skills. They argue that they want their son to become an elite thrower, so all round fundamental skills are unnecessary. Coaches are role models and are responsible for creating a welcoming and supportive environment. What practical steps can a Community Coach take to make this a reality? Know and understand each athlete. Be mindful of your behaviour and language Coach the athlete, not athletics Learning Task Movement skills are important in the physical development of a child. s of Run, Jump and Throw When a child is confident and competent with these skills, they can develop sport-specific and complex movement skills that allow them to enjoy sport and physical activity. Most importantly, having a firm grasp of the fundamental movement skills and being physically literate leads a child to enjoy a long life of physical activity. Version 13 April 2018 Athletics Australia 2018 Why are the Movement skills so important to develop for junior athletes? What do you think would happen if an athlete wanted to high jump before they had mastered the fundamental movement skills of running or jumping? What chances of success would they have in the event later on? Without basic physical literacy, what chances do athletes have of developing more complex skills required for competition? Head relaxed and eyes looking ahead Arms 90 degrees and elbows punching back Chest open and body tall Hands in a relaxed position Thighs parallel to the ground Toes up dorsiflex Running Arms not crossing centre line of body Planted leg fully extended Mid foot landing underneath the body 5
Jumping Eyes looking forward Active use of arms Tall and upright posture Hips up and forward Drive the knee of the free leg Planted leg fully extended Landing Eyes looking forward Trunk should be in a straight and stable position Look for a soft landing with bent ankles, knees and hips Land with two feet together simultaneously Throwing Start low, finish high Push off the back leg to drive hips up and forward Tall delivery position Hips facing the direction of the throw Open chest Eyes forward toward the direction of the throw Extend arm fully through the throw and finish with a long arm Introduction to Leading a Session Version 12 March 2018 Athletics Australia 2018 6
The session plan needs to be appropriate for the abilities and motivations of your athletes Coaches need a plan and should be organised to deliver the plan The session needs to be planned to include training elements that will meet the needs of the athletes Coaches should have a plan to ensure athlete s c safety and a plan for if things go wrong Required equipment needs to be prepared and c a suitable training location identified Training Sessions Planning: All session plans should develop from two or three identified objectives. Ensure that your objectives are relevant to the long-term objectives of your athletes. Session Structure Warm Up Skill and/or Fitness Activities Cool Down and Review Variety Avoid activities that require inactivity or eliminate participants Plan Each activity should flow smoothly from one to the next. Ensure there is sufficient time for participants to practice and experiment What do you see in this photo? Have a plan prepared for simplifying or cincreasing the challenge of a session. Have a plan for ensuring the c safety of your athletes c Have a plan for including athletes with an injury or disability 7