Tutoring, or training the trainer is something that I've been involved in since 2008. For those that haven't come across the phrase before, all I'm talking about is delivering courses to new and existing coaches in order to help them to progress in their coaching journey and gain recognised qualifications. Over the weekend I delivered the Taekwon-Do Advisory Board Introduction to Coaching ITF Taekwon-Do Course for the 7th time. This is a 2 day applied course in basic coaching principles which includes a practical workshop with the help of a class of 6 to 8 year olds. The participants on this course had not been coaching (except perhaps as a class assistant) when the current coach education programme was launched in 2009, and yet so many of the lessons that were new and unfamiliar to the first participants are now normal practices for these novice coaches. The difference in the experiences I had on my first few deliveries to this most recent one are profound and speak volumes about the progress and growth of our association (Irish Taekwon-Do Association) in such a short period of time. What was new and unfamiliar to coaches 5 years ago has been incorporated and made normal practice to the point where new coaches can't imagine the alternative.
Each course is an opportunity to bring together a group of people with a shared passion who would otherwise rarely get to discuss the very thing they have in common. My aim as a tutor is to facilitate open discussion, sharing of ideas, broadening of horizons, pushing of envelopes and a host of other catchphrases that all mean... get people talking about what they love to do and sharing great ideas with one another. This simple process is changing how we teach Taekwon-Do. It's no longer just about teaching, the imparting of knowledge and information, but rather a holistic approach to the development of people through the medium of a martial art and sport. The tutor must stand up, speak up and then (and most importantly) shut up to let the genius that's in the room flow. I'd like to share here one of the games created for the development of agility in 6-8 year olds, created with 7 minutes of planning by Mrs. Fiona Gallagher Payet and Mr. Gerry Mooney. It's just one example of what people can come up with when the level of challenge is appropriate and the enthusiasm for the task is just right!
Each course is an opportunity to bring together a group of people with a shared passion who would otherwise rarely get to discuss the very thing they have in common. My aim as a tutor is to facilitate open discussion, sharing of ideas, broadening of horizons, pushing of envelopes and a host of other catchphrases that all mean... get people talking about what they love to do and sharing great ideas with one another. This simple process is changing how we teach Taekwon-Do. It's no longer just about teaching, the imparting of knowledge and information, but rather a holistic approach to the development of people through the medium of a martial art and sport. The tutor must stand up, speak up and then (and most importantly) shut up to let the genius that's in the room flow. I'd like to share here one of the games created for the development of agility in 6-8 year olds, created with 7 minutes of planning by Mrs. Fiona Gallagher Payet and Mr. Gerry Mooney. It's just one example of what people can come up with when the level of challenge is appropriate and the enthusiasm for the task is just right!
I would wholeheartedly encourage any of our students (you must be blue belt or higher and 16 years or older) who think they might have any interest in coaching at any level to take this course when it next becomes available. Keep an eye on our calendar of events!
Well done to all participants and to Master Wheatley (who was the other TAB Tutor on this course) on your work this past weekend!
Well done to all participants and to Master Wheatley (who was the other TAB Tutor on this course) on your work this past weekend!
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