Phonetek
09-13-2018, 12:09 PM
Yesterday was the first day of our kids league. We provide free coaching to them. I haven't taken the test yet to be a "certified" coach but I will be within the next couple weeks. The bowling center is paying the fees. I had to coach this girl, she's a little older than my son but she's a little on the slow side with a learning disorder. She's a very nice girl but she gets frustrated easily and confused quickly. She came with her own ball drilled fingertip. I was teaching her the push away.
I started with a one step drill and she kinda freaked thinking that I was making her no longer do a 4 step approach. Her dad was down there by her most of the time badgering her which didn't help. He got her very frustrated. My counterpart seen what was going on and made an excuse to get him away. After that I was successful in teaching her the push away in short order to where I could move to the backswing. She wasn't letting it get past her leg then forced it forward and tossed it on the lane. I was able to get her to let it swing a few times but not entirely successful.
I went and got a training ball which is less than 4 lbs plastic that kids throw down a carpet lane that we have. I let her take both home and showed her how to be down on one knee and roll it down the carpet. I think she understands how to do it. We let her take the ball and carpet home to practice with. After this drill I let her practice what she learned the rest of the league without further instruction. I didn't want to overwhelm her. Kids have a short attention span, especially with her disability I had to be careful that she wouldn't just shut down. By the end she did much better and I feel that what I showed her made a difference.
I didn't expect what I ran into my first time out doing actual coaching to someone other than open bowlers or my own kid. I have respect for those who do this on a daily basis, it's NOT easy and you have to be creative. Just like snowflakes, no two bowlers are alike. Kudos to those of you who do this all the time, you deserve it.
I started with a one step drill and she kinda freaked thinking that I was making her no longer do a 4 step approach. Her dad was down there by her most of the time badgering her which didn't help. He got her very frustrated. My counterpart seen what was going on and made an excuse to get him away. After that I was successful in teaching her the push away in short order to where I could move to the backswing. She wasn't letting it get past her leg then forced it forward and tossed it on the lane. I was able to get her to let it swing a few times but not entirely successful.
I went and got a training ball which is less than 4 lbs plastic that kids throw down a carpet lane that we have. I let her take both home and showed her how to be down on one knee and roll it down the carpet. I think she understands how to do it. We let her take the ball and carpet home to practice with. After this drill I let her practice what she learned the rest of the league without further instruction. I didn't want to overwhelm her. Kids have a short attention span, especially with her disability I had to be careful that she wouldn't just shut down. By the end she did much better and I feel that what I showed her made a difference.
I didn't expect what I ran into my first time out doing actual coaching to someone other than open bowlers or my own kid. I have respect for those who do this on a daily basis, it's NOT easy and you have to be creative. Just like snowflakes, no two bowlers are alike. Kudos to those of you who do this all the time, you deserve it.