In each Training in Focus edition, we will provide some bite-sized, practical, easy to implement ‘Top-Tips’ from experienced instructors and coaches from around the country, that you can incorporate into your session planning and delivery throughout the season. 

Starting the series in this edition, is Goldy’s Top-Tips for instructors. 

Chris Goldacre, known by most people as ‘’Goldy” is the Australian Sailing, Chief Instructor for the Dinghy Program, in addition to supporting the growth and development of the national Dinghy Program, he maintains a full-time role at The Royal Perth Yacht Club, as the clubs Development Officer and can be regularly found out on the water helping people to improve their skills afloat. 

Goldy has more than 30 years’ experience in training at a variety of levels, from teaching beginners, through to advanced race coaching in many classes and has a deep understanding of dinghy sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, and instructor training.

Goldy’s Top Tips:

• Be prepared before the participants arrive and have everything ready to go. 
• Keep it simple in the initial stages of learning. 
• All your communications need to be clear and precise. 
• Be confident that you are the expert. 
• Keep all participants close to you and within view. 
• Always have a range of activities planned for each session. 
• Know your session plans well and have a plan B in case conditions change, or the session is not achieving its desired outcomes. 
• Make sure your session plans match the ability level of the participants and have extension activities planned for the faster learners. 
• Explain the plan for the session and describe the outcomes expected. 
• Identify one thing to improve in every session. 
• Monitor the success of all participants throughout the session and adjust the session plan if they are struggling. 
• Keep a balance of happy and firm throughout. 
• Set behavioural expectations early in the program, focussing on how important these are for the participants’ success and deal with any disruptive behaviour immediately.  
• Developing a concept of team and team identity, can be extremely useful in creating group co-operative behaviours. 
• Learn your participants’ names as soon as you can and address them by their names. 
• Engage participants actively wherever possible, a hands-on, practical approach will be far more engaging and lead to faster learning outcomes.  
• Think of ways of presenting all topics (even theory topics) in a hands-on manner, or at the very least, have a follow up practical application activity for the group. 
• Provide regular encouragement and praise for all participants’ efforts, not just for results. 
• Feedback participant’ successes and efforts to parents / guardians and to the individual. 
• Provide breaks or “focus breaks” according to age and level of participants and monitor the participants during these breaks. - This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know the individuals, (other sports / interests / pets / family / etc) and to develop rapport with them. 
• Develop a routine for setting up and packing away. 
• Make it fun and do not forget to have fun yourself, enjoyment for everyone involved should be the outcome in all activities and sessions.