Coaching is for anyone who enjoys hockey and genuinely cares about the overall development of the athletes in their care. Coaching is not just about improving an athlete’s physical performance, it is about the development of them as a ‘whole’ person. The physical skills athletes learn may only be used for a few years, but the attitudes and values they develop towards themselves and others will last for a lifetime. New Zealand CoachApproach
The New Zealand CoachApproach is a term used to describe a philosophical approach to coaching in New Zealand, focusing on who and how, as well as what to coach. Its aim is to create independent confident athletes able to ‘coach’ themselves.
Athlete-centred Learning
The CoachApproach encourages an athlete-centred learning approach where athletes take greater ownership for their learning through increased awareness, responsibility and self belief. It promotes a process where the coach observes, questions, listens and probes further using the athletes’ responses.
Range of coaching approaches
An athlete-centred approach is empowering.
A coach-centred approach is directive.
There are other ways to coach in between these approaches.
All approaches can be valid and a coach should vary their approach to suit the circumstance.