[<<] [>>] by Bruce Rannie
24th April 2002 (CqE Official News)

The second CA Coach Qualification Course took place at Southport and Birkdale Croquet Club on 13th and 14th April 2002, and as a result, 14 players are now appointed to the new officially recognised CA Coaching Grade of "Club Coach", signified by a Yellow Coach's badge. Bruce Rannie, Chairman of the CA Coaching Committee, who attended all sessions of the course, presented certificates and badges to the students, who represent eight clubs in the North West, Yorkshire and Croquet North areas (see list below). Neil Williams, Chairman of the sponsoring North West Federation, and a coach and mentor for over thirty years, in delivering the Vote of Thanks to Michael Hague, the Course Leader, appreciated the new material and approach the course suggests, and thanked the CA for finally legitimising him after all these years!

Michael Hague, Coaching and Development Officer for the South East Federation, leads the course, which is based on material he has researched and prepared, and is designed to show students HOW to teach, concentrating on the requirements for planning, preparation and communication. A retired Brigadier, Michael's experience throughout his career has been in training, in the field, in sports, and in teaching others how to teach.

The structure of the course is 25% talk and 75% participation, including two syndicate exercises, and preparation and delivery of two half-hour lessons, one teaching a skill, the other teaching some elements of tactics. The method of communication recommended relates all that is being taught to five principles on which successful Association Croquet is based, these being Accuracy, Foresight, Straightforward Shots, Exploiting Rushes, and Exploiting the Rush Line.

Although most examples used to get the teaching methods over to the students are based on Association Croquet, some based on Golf Croquet were included to show that it is the methodology of teaching that is important, not what is being taught. The key points on delivery are to involve the students by using correct questioning techniques, and to ensure that they maximise mental and physical student activity by getting them to work out the next move and play the shot, rather than the coach doing it all.

The students are split into syndicates each of which is led by an experienced coach, rotating over the four half-days between groups. The Directing Staff act as facilitator, role-player and mentor as required - at Southport, these were Bob Burnett, James Hawkins and Keith Roberts.

The prepared lessons are given to other members of the syndicate, who play the roles as required for the level of student for whom that lesson is designed, and each lesson (called to a halt as the messages become clear) is constructively criticised by the others in the group, and the Directing Staff. The lesson on tactics is given twice, first using a magnetic board to Michael and part of the group, and secondly on the courts, in their original syndicates, so that students can learn the differences in technique required for delivering material in these media.

All the participants joined in the role-playing with gusto, ensuring that the players did not assume anything about the skill of their pseudo-beginners, and that the reasons for the lesson being taught were always explained. The reasonable (for April) weather helped, as did the friendly environment at Southport, and the always efficient and satisfying catering for coffee, lunch and afternoon tea. The classroom activities went well too, with Michael, using all the skills he is passing onto his students, maintaining interest, and ensuring all participated equally regardless of previous playing and coaching experience.

This was the second Coach Qualification Course, and lessons learnt from feedback from the one held at Surbiton last year have been incorporated to ensure all Directing Staff understand what is expected from them, and how the timings work. A further edition of this course is to be held at Cheltenham on 18th and 19th May, and the CA Coaching Committee plans to ensure these courses can be held for all aspiring coaches in other parts of the country next year, and therefore add the course to the annual CA programme to improve playing and coaching standards throughout the domain.

The CA appreciates all the effort put into this initiative by Michael Hague, who has developed the course using his own material, together with some originally used by Don Williamson, and some prepared by Don Gaunt, and produced a lively, entertaining and thought-provoking course appreciated by all who attended. The structure of the lessons themselves is taken from the CA Coaching Manual and A Guide to Golf Croquet, also published by the CA. Thanks are due also to Bob Burnett, James Hawkins and Keith Roberts, who led the practical work, and directed the role-playing exercises and syndicate work.

The course would not have the success it was without the catering and other support from the Southport and Birkdale Club, and the sponsorship of the North West Federation. Books were available at a discounted price courtesy of the CA Commercial Agent.

Appointments

The following have been awarded a certificate and the Yellow CA Club Coach badge:

The Directing Staff: Bob Burnett, James Hawkins, Keith Roberts (all Southport and Birkdale).

The students: Anne Belcher (Southport), Ray Belcher (Southport), Nora Burbridge (Tyneside), Janet Davies (Chester), Anna Giraud (Zeneca, Huddersfield), John Kennedy (Beverley), Ailsa Lines (Bowdon), Ian Lines (Bowdon), Ray Lowe (Southport), Mollie McBride (Chester), Tony Thomas (Southport), Peter Wardle (Crake Valley), Neil Williams (Crake Valley / Keswick / Kendal), Geoff Young (Bury).

The CA hopes and expects that, after attending this course, and coaching in their own clubs, keen coaches will be recommended for further qualifications, as Grade I (beginners / improvers, to Bronze level), Grade II (to Silver and Introduction to Advanced Play level), or Grade III (Gold level). Those mainly involved with teaching Golf Croquet may wish to apply for the Golf Croquet Coach's badge in due course.