The Importance of Feedback
by Dougie Macdonald - 08:36 on 08 December 2009
It has been quite some time since I last posted a blog on the Coaching Highland website. Almost certainly this is due to the condition I referred to in Difficult Second Posting Syndrome and my innate ability to find something else to do when there is a deadline to meet, however, for the purposes of this article it is convenient to blame a lack of feedback. In "Difficult Second Posting Syndrome" I spoke of Coaching Highland's remarkable success at the Sports Coach UK 2008 awards and invited readers to " join in congratulating the staff who work for us by adding your comments below ". You've guessed - nothing. Not even a smiley face. Consequently, I think I lost a little of the enthusiasm I had for the task of writing blog entries. Subconsciously, I felt that I was putting in an effort to produce these articles but that the outcome didn't merit any recognition from the intended audience. The inevitable result was a "why should I bother?" attitude.Does this have any parallels for Sports Coaches? I hope that reflective coaches will be able to see the perils of taking effort for granted in the athletes they coach. This is especially (though not exclusively!) relevant in group situations and with younger athletes where it is easy to ignore those who do not stand out from the crowd. Drop out is one of the biggest problems facing sports, yet by the judicial use of a little positive feedback and recognition there is much that can be done by coaches to stem the flow away from physical activity and keep athletes striving to produce their best. Perception of competence is a key factor in retaining young people in sport and good feedback is an essential factor in building the self confidence necessary for this.
It is never too late though! My return to blogging at Coaching Highland has been brought about through the administration of feedback from a variety of sources. Firstly, I was pleased to see a comment posted at the end of Is it Just About Winning? some six months after it was first published. Good things come to those who wait! Secondly, Alan has been encouraging me gently to return to the keyboard and, given the effort the Coaching Highland team puts in on our behalf, I wouldn't like to let him down. Finally though, and most importantly, there has been significant feedback from Coaching Highland members with regard to the Highland Coaching Conference in February. Alan has been inundated with suggestions about sessions and presenters for what looks like being an essential date for Highland sports coaches. If you are in any doubt about its value have a look at my first blog following the last Highland Coaching Conference. Do you know a hard working coach that deserves some recognition and positive feedback? A place at the Highland Coaching Conference is an ideal reward. As a taster of what is on offer I can reveal that one of our guests will be Jaymie Mart of the Barbados National Downhill Mountain Bike Team. Jaymie is also a field sport scientist with Lucozade and brings her expertise in sports nutrition as well as her experience as an accomplished athlete to the conference. Of course, having a renowned cyclist as a guest is particularly relevant in the year Coaching Highland welcomed Cycling as a Core Sport.
Finally, it would be remiss of me not to welcome Coaching Highland's newest member, Archie Hoseason, and congratulate his mum and dad on his arrival. I'm guessing "feedback" has a whole different meaning for you, Alan?!
Comment by Vince Walker at 14:53 on 14 December 2009.
Dougie don't be disheartened you write a great blog and as I sit mid 5 second break from stressing about how deep to dig a hole I enjoyed you piece on feedback. Young and old both need feedback both positive and on occasions construcive but never negative which some coaches struggle to remember.Hopefully I will get to catch up sometime.... maybe the conference which stands to be another good show at the new Academy in Dingwall.
Keep up the good work Dougie and CH staff too.
Regards
Vince
Ex Serving Member of CH
Logged in Members can comment on this article.
delicious
digg
reddit
stumbleupon
facebook
I read your BLOG entries with interest and I find them informative and useful but I must admit that I tend not to add a comment otherwise it is just a conversation between a Director and a member of staff. I would much rather that the members of this site engage in discussion with you.
Interestingly and I am not making this up, I have just checked how many times the BLOG page has been viewed since your first posting and 500 (EXACTLY) times is recorded. Therefore I am not alone in reading the posts unless these visits are simply you repeat returning to see if there are any comments?!
Dear Reader, please leave a comment for Dougie - he puts in great effort to sharing his thoughts and I think they make for a right good read. We need to encourage him to continue with it!!
Oh and please come along to the Highland Coaching Conference on Saturday 20th February 2009 at Dingwall Academy - other speakers confirmed now are from the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland; sportscotland; Zoned in Performance; and siliconcoach Video Analysis.
Last snippet for you...our new website is being developed just now and has some great new features - more to follow.
See you all in February!