First steps in coaching (gently, due to broken toe)

I had my first steps in coaching last night, albeit in the role of an assistant coach during the session. This is obviously the sensible way to start – There is no way that I can possibly claim to have the experience yet to take a session on my own.

In fact, the UKCC Level 1 Coaching Course that I am going on soon is classed as “Assistant Coach” level, so it will be perfect. Slow steps!

My steps are particularly slow at the moment as I broke one of my toes at the weekend. Unfortunately, despite attending two judo sessions over that weekend I can’t give some story here about some amazing thing I did. Instead, I broke it when falling down the stairs. Sigh.

So, how did the coaching go?

It was the junior class and I would say the average age was about eight or so. The numbers were lower than normal but this made it easier, as we had just the right number for each coach on the mat to work with a pair.

Children are a marvel to work with. So distinct in their personalities, and even in the warm-up I became very aware that I really did have to be setting as an example, as they were watching!

I think one of the main challenges for me was explaining the Judo exercises we were doing in the right language. Getting the points across by way of demonstration and talking it through. Part of me was wanting to start talking about the fundamentals of a throw (kuzushi etc) but I realised that these are very young children and everything has to be done at the right level.

So I can’t wait for the coaching course and, of course, much more experience to start learning all the tricks.

I stayed on for the senior session, where I was training myself. Chris Doherty, Regional Technical Officer, was there to show some exercises, which were great. He is also a big fan of the fundamentals, which I suppose you would expect from someone in his position!

Plus it turns out he is a tutor on the Bath course I have applied for. Excellent.

Toe very painful. It stunted a lot of my Judo and I was forced to find workarounds. Forward throws were pretty much out. Especially ones involving bending the knees. Newaza was not so bad as I could try and keep the toe out of harms way, and it was nice to try and find an advantage when a “foot down”!

Worked on Ko Soto Gake in tachiwaza randori, as once my foot was hooked behind, the toe was out of danger! In a way, it made me work harder to complete the throw as I didn’t want to back out as it could injure the toe. Hmmm. I should be careful…