Creating tactical practices
Which is easier to design : technical or tactical
What would you say, if asked?
Are you as good at coaching tactics (concepts)
as you are coaching techniques (hitting & moving)
The coaches struggled to create a tactical practice
It was critical to passing or failing the course
As part of a BWF coach education course, coaches were expected to deliver practices with the main focus being ‘Tactical Development’.
Initiall they struggled to move away from technical-looking practices.
The Tutors asked, well, demanded that the coaches think about how they would create a practice that was clearly high in tactical development concepts. That they included game-like decisions, did not use multi-shuttle and allowed limited their verbal interjections.
Afterwards, they were asked to ‘defend’ and discuss what they did on court. The question of what makes a practice tactical came up very often.
Many of the coaches found this challenging, especially the discussion afterwards.
How comfortable are you designing tactical practices
then discussing and explaining why you did what you did
An honest coach-to-coach conversation
Technical or Tactical?
Is it true that most coaches are comfortable with coaching technique, especially in individual (1-2-1) coaching?
We agreed that generally, technical work was all we observed from coaches – why was that?
Is it a risk to assume that as players become technically proficient, they also automatically become tactically aware?
Maybe coaches believe that by reproducing the technical strokes/movements in practice, tactics will ‘naturally’ develop.
We did think that coaches tried to use practice matches, but how much thought did they give to what type of games, and how they should act to develop this tactical learning?
However, our concern was that most coaches develop tactics by giving advice verbally either during the practice or at the end.
This direct feedback, whilst seemingly of value, can deteriorate before the next session as it requires the players to remember and, of course, listen!
Reasons why you may find it hard to create tactical practices
The key questions that you need to consider
1. When do tactical thoughts happen on court – and is it only on court?
2. When and how to introduce tactical thoughts?
3. What tactical concepts are best to start introducing to players?
4. Where can you find information, advice and education to help you?
Players must introduce tactical thoughts and concepts
as soon as some hitting and moving skills are partly established
If you want to read more about Tactical Practices
this post is longer, more in-depth and full of aspects for you to consider
Do you want a conversation?
I’d like to hear from you if you have a viewpoint on anything that you’ve read
We don’t need to agree, but explore viewpoints.
It would be great to hear from you, send me an email : contact@badmintonandy.com
This is part of a series of conversation starters.
Although not in detail, the posts are written to get you thinking and talking with others.
