Coaching and Instruction
Contents
Introduction
For several years the WFAA General Committee was aware of a weakness in the
services we offer. There was no formal coaching structure which meant that
archers had traditionally been taught at beginner level by more experienced
members of their club. This presented 3 problems. Firstly, there was no
consistency in the syllabus taught to beginners, meaning that the quality of
coaching varied greatly between clubs. Secondly, there was no common
standards between the coaches which meant the quality of the instruction
given depended greatly on the experience and natural teaching ability of the
coach/instructor. Thirdly, once proficient, archers were pretty much left to
their own devices, making it difficult to progress to senior level. This was
felt throughout the WFAA with a distinct lack of strength in depth at the
top end of the competitive spectrum and a shortage of archers who could
consistently shoot at A class and above.
Ray Howells, Welsh National
Coach and National Coaching Director for Wales. Prior to taking up his
current role,
Ray was an established coach within the GNAS. Previously, Ray has been head
coach of the Welsh Target Squad,
Welsh Field 'Gafr Mynydd' Squad and was Manager of the GB Field Team. Ray is
also a successful archer in his own
right, having won international honours for both Wales and Great Britain.
The issue of coaching was discussed at IFAA World Council in 2008 and it was found that several of the smaller countries within IFAA were in the same predicament as Wales. In response, the IFAA President, Loet Smit, undertook to establish a Coaching Academy which would be run and regulated by the IFAA and which would aim to provide a consistent standard for coaching and instruction throughout the world. This plan was rolled out in late 2011 when 2 coaching academy courses were held at the Easton Centre at Yankton, South Dakota, USA. The course consisted of intense instruction to train up the national coaches of 14 countries and was designed not only to equip the coaches with the syllabus of the IFAA Coaching System but also to enable the coaches to teach the system using the well established methods used by the National Field Archery Association in the USA. The courses were taught by the very best coaches available, thus ensuring that the IFAA Coaching System subscribes to the highest standards. Each coach received training and examination to enable them to instruct other coaches to Level 3 of the new system. The Welsh National Coach, Ray Howells, attended on behalf of Wales and successfully graduated the course. Ray was subsequently accredited by the IFAA to train and accredit coaches to Level 3. Ray was also appointed National Director of Coaching in Wales and was made responsible for all aspects of coaching and instruction in Wales. Ray will also continue in his role as Head Coach for the Welsh National 'Ddraig' Field Squad.
The second successful class of 2011 who all
graduated as Level 3 Master Coaches at the Easton Centre,
Yankton, SD, USA in November 2011. Pictured with MJ Rogers (back row 3rd
from left), George Ryalls III
(front row 4th from right) and the IFAA Coaching Director Lynne Fairhall
(back row, far right).
IFAA Coaching Structure
The structure of the coaching system is designed to cater for archers at all
levels. There are 4 Levels of coach:
Level 1 - Beginner Level
This level involves providing the necessary level of instruction for new
archers to make them proficient
Level 2 - Intermediate Level
At this level, the coach has the task of taking proficient beginners and
providing the necessary support to advance them to elite level.
Level 3 - Advanced Level
Level 3 coaches have the necessary knowledge and ability to coach archers of
all all disciplines to elite level.
Level 4 - Specialist Coaching.
At this level, coaches will become specialist in specific areas and
disciplines
IFAA Coaching System
Syllabus
The IFAA Coaching System has adopted the coaching syllabus of the National
Field Archery Association (governing body of field archery in the USA). This
syllabus was established in the USA by taking the best knowledge of the top
coaches available. The coaches from whom the course syllabus was derived
included: George Ryalls III, Larry Wise, M.J. Rogers and Kisik Lee who are
all the best coaches in the world in their individual areas of expertise.
WFAA Coaches will be provided with a hard copy of the full syllabus during their coaching courses for Levels 1 and 2.
Coaching Development Within the WFAA
With the roll out of the IFAA Coaching System, the WFAA aims to establish a
network of accredited coaches across Wales over the next few years. Our
immediate priority is to achieve a number of accredited level 1 and 2
coaches in each affiliated club within the WFAA.
Over the next 5
years the aim is to achieve a number of coaches accredited to Level 3 and
above. We believe that once established, the coaching system will serve to
establish a formal standard of coaching both in terms of the quality of the
coaches and the syllabus they will teach. We believe that given time this
will raise the standard of shooting in Wales and provide greater strength in
depth at all levels of competitive field archery.
How to become a Coach
The WFAA will be rolling out the first Level 1 and 2 courses beginning in
April 2012. The course will involve 4 sessions which will take place at
weekends. Coaches will be trained and assessed by the National Coach, Ray
Howells. Upon successful completion of the course, Coach Level 1 or 2 status
will be awarded to the graduating coaches.
Under the IFAA system, coaches accredited to Level 2 must practice what they have learned for a minimum period of 1 year before attending the Level 3 course. Therefore, there will be no level 3 courses offered until 2013.
The cost of the Level 1 and 2 course will be in the region of £100 per applicant, the exact pricing will be confirmed shortly.
Additional information on the coaching courses was provided by Ray Howells on 15th January 2012. Please click here to read it.