Instructing and coaching is a huge job which requires a diverse and complex range of skills.

Developing a great team of instructors and coaches is essential to enable participants of your Discover Sailing Centre and Club Coaching programs to have a successful and enjoyable experience. Developing club instructors and coaches requires planning, education, and resources for your coaching team.

Right now, as you approach the opening of your season, Australian Sailing encourages clubs to foster the instructor and coach training pathway which is available through Australian Sailing. This training should only be considered as the start of the coach development and support strategy for your club. Annually, it’s recommended clubs provide on-the job training to all their coaching team.  

The critical aspects of the instructor and coach role is to help provide; as a minimum requirement; a safe, organised, fun and engaging session.

During training, instructors and coaches will be:  

• Ensuring programs and sessions run smoothly and with purpose.
• Maximising opportunities offered to sailors to learn and develop during the session.
• Devote a high percentage (80%) of time during the training session to meaningful skill development where sailors are engaged in fun sailing activities/games (i.e. not sitting around on the water or land).
• Ensure all sailors can enjoy the experience with their friends / others on the water.

The coach should also be focussed on the individual sailor’s needs via facilitating positive sailing experiences, and will be prioritising their:

• Safety
• Time spent developing each skill in the session and establishing a number of actions within each skill
• Having fun.

To assist coaches to provide the best practice environment for sailors, it’s recommended that several coach development strategies are implemented at your club.

Just prior to sailing season opening, your sail training committee / club training coordinator should implement activities to support instructors and coaches such as a ‘‘Club Coach and Instructor Annual Training Day’. This will assist to support coaches by:

• Establish ground rules – expectations, responsibilities, how the club supports the coaching team.
• Develop an understanding of the coaching team needs and wants to deliver great sessions
• Remind your team of Club equipment: care of the club gear, maintenance etc..
• Confirm Safety procedures and protocols.
• Clarify roles; such as Leads and Assistants which in turn provides Safe, Organised, Enjoyable/Engaging sessions
• Establish the expected behaviours of the coaching team which will support the sailors and parents’ expectations, and support the coach’s development.
• Understand the coach’s other commitments, and availability in order to inform rostering your team.
• Walk through any processes you have at your club, for sailor and coach improvement.
• Plan sessions and discuss any changes.

Resources for Club Pathway coaching programs are currently in development. This season, some clubs around Australia are testing resources. One resource is the ‘Club Coach and Instructor Annual Training Day’. Whilst in development, it may be available soon for your club to use and test. Should this be of interest to you to implement in the next couple of months (Sept/Oct), please contact sarah.ogilvie@sailing.org.au to find out when and how it’ll be available.

*In-case you missed the introduction of Club Pathway’s and what’s coming, please view the below Australian Sailing Club Conference webinar below: