South Yorkshire Coaches Meeting with Regional Coach and Coaching Coordinator

13th November 2008. 7.30pm

EIS Sheffield, near the vending machines!

 

  • Persons present 

Cliff Edens - Regional Coaching Coordinator

Sally Shutt – Regional Coach

Rod Bly – W.B.L.T.T.C.

Phil Wright – Abbeydale TTC and South Yorkshire County Coaching Secretary

John Whidbourne – National Councillor for South Yorkshire

Alan Lowe – Sheffield TTC Coach and Vice Chairman

Bill Grant – Sheffield TTC Coach and Chairman

Mick Barlow - Coach

Ben Barlow – Coach

Stephen Parkinson – Vulcan TTC Coach

Roy Yau – Coach

Ken Chung – Coach

 

  • Apologies

Ian Geddes, Ray Hurst,  Alan Dunn,  Jim Kenny,  Paul Young,  Rokhshid Ghaziani,  Craig Stenton,  Sue Gilroy.

 

 

  • Introduction - the reason for the meeting - Cliff Edens

Cliff Edens (CE) introduced himself and Sally Shutt.  The role of Regional Coaching Coordinator was explained and he pointed out that the focus was Coach Development in the Region and ensuring that the young people of the Region have the opportunity to train as part of the Performance Squad or Development Squad.  CE stated that the region has coaching development money for courses and Mick Barlow (MB) asked how to apply for this.  CE said that he needs an email asking for a donation and he will progress it.

Sally Shutt (SS) explained her role.  She is attached to three Premier Clubs and the Yorkshire Region.  Her brief remit is to go into schools and source the Clubs with the pupils she teaches.

 

Phil Wright (PW) asked why this had not been communicated to the Leagues.

CE stated that the Region has representatives from South Yorkshire on the Regional Committee and it is expected that the representative cascades the information from the meetings.  However, CE stated that he will inform the League Secretaries of the role of SS and what her commitment is in the Region to the Clubs and their linked schools.

ACTION: CE to disseminate this information to the League Secretaries.

 

Agenda:-

 

1) Coach mentoring - Using local Clubs, CPD - Cliff Edens

CE asked how best to mentor the Coaches in the Region.

PW stated that it would be good to have a group of coaches with some of their players to attend a block of 8 weeks (for example) so that the players receive good quality coaching and practise whilst the Lead Coach can help the other coaches with their development.

Rod Bly (RB) stated that he would like one to one mentoring but would also be happy to receive this sort of help from a group.

CE suggested a ‘Performance analysis’ day at a big tournament like the one run by Ulf Karsson at the European Top 10. 

After a healthy discussion, it was decided to arrange a day of training by coaches bringing about 5 players to Sheffield and having lead coaches run a session for the development of the players and coaches.

ACTION: CE to liaise with Alan Lowe (AL) and PW to arrange a suitable date and progress.

CE to also see if a Performance Analysis day is feasible at a large tournament in Sheffield.

2) Playing technique - Cliff Edens and Sally Shutt

RB promoted a discussion on playing technique.  SS stated that the best thing to do is to get back to basics and teach the shots as ’per the book’.  The new Technical Resources is given to each candidate at a UKCC Course or Bridging Course.  There must not be confusion between technique and individual style which can be developed once good technique has been taught.    


3) Coaching aids - Cliff Edens and Sally Shutt

RB asked about the use of video for coaching aid.  AL stated that Sheffield TTC has a video and is a vital part of feedback to the player.  There was further discussion about the value of videoing the player.


4) Coaching opportunities (Venues) linking to player progression – Discussion

There was a general discussion about the venues for player progression.  SS attends schools on behalf of Sheffield TTC and is meant to feed players wanting to develop into the Club.  Sheffield TTC have a high level of players and have a ‘gap’ in their structure for those who want to start playing TT from the schools.  CE stated that it would be useful for the other Clubs in Sheffield to be ‘sister clubs’ of Sheffield TTC so that SS could feed the inexperienced players into those clubs who subsequently feed the better players into Sheffield TTC.  PW and RB stated that they already send the more skilled players to Sheffield.

ACTION: CE to investigate possibility of putting this structure in place.

 

Richmond Hill, Leeds was discussed and it was agreed that it was the best place for the Performance Squad to train but the Development Squad could be trained locally. 

ACTION: CE will look into combining the Coaches development session with a Development Squad.  Ben Barlow (BB) to be consulted on participating / developing the session.

 


5) Communication between Regional Committee and Coaches - Cliff Edens

CE will communicate with the coaches through email and via his website, www.tabletenniscoach.net .   It is hoped that all coaches wanting to participate in this group ‘sign up’ to have information sent to them.  CE will also communicate through the South Yorkshire Representative on the Regional Committee and stated that it had been through that link that this meeting had been called, so communication had not been bad!

 


6) Bridging qualifications - The facts - Cliff Edens

RB asked what the advantages to taking a bridging course are.  CE stated that it will give him protection for his coaching by adding knowledge of new and current issues.  CE also stated that there is much more to the course than just a qualification and new ideas and practices are shared too.  BB asked if his ‘A’ level qualification would mean that he doesn’t have to do certain aspects of the course.  CE and SS explained that there is an ‘Accredited Prior Learning’ scheme which is where the candidate can produce proof of qualifications to add to their UKCC package and sometimes this may mean that certain aspects of the course do not have to be done. UPDATE: CE has spoken with ETTA Coaching and confirmed that the A Level would probably count in this instance.  However, the advice is to attend the one hour lesson on physiology as the paperwork attached to proving APL is more time consuming than attending the lesson.


7) Regional training - Performance and Development Squads - Why are they so important?

- Cliff Edens and Sally Shutt

As part of the LTAD pathway: these squads are part of this path.  This issue was discussed as part of item 4.

 

8) The New 'Leeds Regional Training Centre'.  Cliff Edens

This was also discussed as part of item 4.

 

 

 

9) Yorkshire Region - Why join the Yorkshire's together?  - Cliff Edens

CE stated, in a passionate manner, that with all of the coaches working together, we could make Yorkshire region the best in the Country at producing players.  There was scepticism but general support for this.

 

10) AOB

Miraculously, none.

 

Meeting ended at 9.40pm.

 

 

Minutes by Cliff Edens