WELCOME TO THE COACHING PAGES COACHING RESOURCES I am often asked where one can find information on various aspects of croquet play and coaching, to which the answer usually is: there is lots of information on the CqE website! (croquet.org.uk, click on the ‘Coaching’ button). Here you can find a list of general coaching resources, as well as specific AC and GC resources. The information includes not only the current Coaching Manuals, but also a plethora of other useful stuff: The Croquet Skills Challenge exercises can usefully be incorporated into coaching sessions, and the booklet can then be used by the players for individual practice. There are articles on the psychology of playing, and the different educational aspects of coaching sessions. Specific aspects of playing are covered, such as coaching the AC half roll and the AC half bisque, and GC extra strokes and using AC strokes for GC players. You can look up terms and jargon, learn about the Laws and the Rules, and much, much more. There is even a handy table top lawn diagram for printing, useful for coach demonstrations. Obviously I cannot list everything here, so do go have a look. I am sure you will find something of interest, and something useful. COACHING FOR WOMEN Last year, the Coaching Committee was asked to arrange coaching specifically for women. It was felt that women would appreciate being coached in an all-female environment. The first such Women’s Coaching Day was held at Wrest Park on 12th May. The sessions were led by Jason Carley, an experienced Grade 1 AC and Grade 2 GC Coach, supported by Tim Brewer, a Grade 1 AC and Grade 1 GC Coach, and Ross Bagni, a Club-Level Coach. 14 players attended, with handicaps ranging from 4 to 7. The day started off with recapping all the basics, and then proceeded with tackling an array of shot requests with a variety of novel exercises. Different shots, routines, skills, tactics and solutions were covered in great detail. Many of the participants commented that they had learned new ways of playing difficult shots, as well as other ways to think about tactical options. The day finished with a short coached game, which many would have liked to be longer. Everyone seemed to enjoy the women-only learning environment, being able to encourage one another, and positive feedback was in abundance. Having three coaches present meant that individual attention could be given as required. A week later at the same venue one of the course participants, Nicola Mack (handicap GC 7), played in her first ever C-Level Tournament - and won it! A follow up day is being arranged for the same group in August, this time to be held at Leighton Linslade, while similar events, also in AC, are being explored at other venues. It is, of course, open to any coach to arrange such women-only sessions, if there is local demand.
By Ruth Raunkiaer ruth.raunkiaer@croquetengland.org.uk Chair of Coaching Committee NEWLY QUALIFIED COACHES NEW CLUB-LEVEL COACHES The following have passed all stages of the Club-Level Coach qualification process and have been listed as Club-Level Coaches on the
register of Croquet England Coaches. Congratulations! Alan Crossland, Nottingham John Daniels, Dulwich Rick Davies, Chester Neil George, Caversham Ian Hammond, Southwell Rick Lilley, Phyllis Court
To comply with CqE insurance requirements, all coaching must be within the coach’s qualification and must be approved by and in the interests of a club, Federation, Academy or CqE. Coaches may not be paid, but may be reimbursed reasonable travel/subsistence expenses. .
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