Dr. Bianca Joseph
31 Jan 2023
Coaches carry a large responsibility in the sporting world. They are not merely coaches, but play the role of cheerleaders, doctors, counsellors, mother-, and father figures. Their teams look to them for guidance, leadership, and motivation.
Coaches carry a large responsibility in the sporting world. They are not merely coaches, but play the role of cheerleaders, doctors, counsellors, mother-, and father figures. Their teams look to them for guidance, leadership, and motivation. The support they offer to their teams and athletes is something that they themselves often seek. WECSA responded to the need raised by their coaches, through the provision of a series of coaches’ support workshops. BeeConectar was fortunate enough to develop and present this programme.
Coaches are not immune to the stressors and anxieties of daily life; at their core, they are human beings. This program aimed to help them unpack what it means to be a human before they are a coach, to ensure that they are positioned to give the best to their athletes. Coaches from various sporting codes took part in this programme. The Coaches' Support Programme was presented over three day-long workshops. The first workshop unpacked what it means to have a healthy mindset and also how to cultivate such a mindset. Topics included aspects of disappointment, failure, perfectionism, and the need for social approval. These are all relevant in the sporting world as athletes, as well as their coaches, are expected to deliver top performances in fast-paced and high-pressure environments.
The second workshop focused on increasing self-awareness to better understand oneself and others. Coaches engage with many different personalities and temperaments, which can be a daunting task. Coaches completed a basic personality assessment and were able to recognise where they, and their athletes might be placed, and how to respond to their athletes’ particular personalities. For the final workshop, coaches explored team dynamics and team culture. A healthy environment is necessary for healthy and top-performing athletes and teams. Coaches enjoyed unpacking their team visions and values, which they could share and work on with their athletes and teams.
The BeeConectar team is grateful for this opportunity to have engaged with the coaches of WECSA. Many experiences and exchanges of wisdom were shared amongst coaches who are passionate about their athletes and their sport. This was evident in the level of openness and curiosity that was brought to each session. Coaches were able to take time to engage with themselves and each other; committed to returning to their athletes with greater self-insight and self-awareness which in turn makes for healthier, more well-rounded coaches who can continue to successfully lead their teams.