What makes a good coach?

[JaxBowlingGuy]

I have seen in a couple threads where people are interested in finding out how you know a good coach from a "bad"... So thought I would start this thread to get everyones idea as to what good traits are for a coach to have..

[Graaille]

1 A good coach takes the time to watch several frames to see how you bowl before saying anything.
2. A good coach improves what your doing, and if major changes are actually needed, has a plan for making those changes one item at a time - rather than hitting you with 23 different things to keep in mind at the same time.
3. A good coach will work you past what you think your limitations are to find what your actual limits are.
4. A good coach will recognize the root of the problem vs. what you think it is.
5. A good coach at the end of your time will have you feeling like you accomplished something positive - even if you can't see it yet in your game.
6. A good coach isn't there to boost your ego, but neither are they there to crush your spirit. They believe in what they do - and that you can succeed in performing (and more importantly - enjoying) this game that we do.


more as I think of them...

[Strike Domination]

Graaille has a lot of good ones. I also think a good coach not only recongnizes the root of a problem, but knows what you should do to correct it rather than going through a trial and error process. A good coach shouldn't recommend the same things to everyone, beyond the things that everyone should do to become consistent and effective.

[ebowler]

I believe a good coach will use video, so you can see what you are doing, and if you are improving or not.

That's what I like about the coach that is working with me. He started with my approach / timing, and we worked on it for 3 1/2 hours. I would ask about my drifting, release, etc. and he would tell me that we will work on those thing once we get the approach / timing right.

I bowled yesterday, and worked on the approach. I refrained from going back to what I have been doing for the last six months, and work on getting the correct approach into muscle memory. Over 7 games, my averaged dropped 40 pins, but thats OK, it's part of the process and I will improve in the long run.

[JAnderson]

This isn't specific to coaches, but my take on the evaluation process should be similar for coaches:
Evaluating Internet Bowling Resources (http://bowlquest.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-ask-why-evaluating-internet-bowling.html).

Sometimes coaching IS trial and error precisely because the same solution will not work for every bowler.

Good coaches should be able to give you a positive corrective focus. Focus on not doing something will only lead to failure.

Good coaches will listen and seek to understand the student before trying to make the student understand the coach.

Not everything can be the coaches "fault". There are different levels of "coachability" for students. Some students will do and try anything to improve. Other students simply will not try some things no matter what.

[WAC4504]

My coach always tells you that it's not about the score, it's learning to do it right. He's told me many times and I've heard him tell many other people that it doesn't matter what lane it lands in as long as you do this or that, and if that lanes not on we'll turn it on and get your ball back. Good luck and good bowling
Bill

[Windfall]

Graaille and JAnderson make great points.

My definition of a great coach is one who takes the time and care to understand the world of the student. I believe you can only influence student by already knowing what influences the student. That way the coach shows they care and they have the leverage to teach in a more agreeable way.

Another thing I appreciate is a coach who cares more for the health of the bowler than the "proper delivery." Bowling should be a fun lifetime sport, not some short-lived achievement sport.

[Strike Domination]

Well I might be going for a lesson soon but I'm not completely sure. I'm wondering how you all feel about coaches who aren't certified but still charge like they are(as opposed to just giving a couple tips here or there for free). This describes the person I'm thinking about seeing and he uses video.

I feel that I need someone that really knows their stuff because I'm not only trying to get better, but I probably need to be babied through a few things that some or most coaches wouldn't even change(i.e size, speed, and method of the first step in a 5-step approach, among other things).

[Graaille]

Well I might be going for a lesson soon but I'm not completely sure. I'm wondering how you all feel about coaches who aren't certified but still charge like they are(as opposed to just giving a couple tips here or there for free). This describes the person I'm thinking about seeing and he uses video.

I feel that I need someone that really knows their stuff because I'm not only trying to get better, but I probably need to be babied through a few things that some or most coaches wouldn't even change(i.e size, speed, and method of the first step in a 5-step approach, among other things).

I think the only thing I'd do (and this is true for certified coaches as well) is talk to some people who've taken lessons from him/her and see what they thought. Certifications are just pieces of paper that the coach has paid for - may mean a lot, may not mean squat. Word of mouth and personal recommendations mean more to me.

[Strike Domination]

That's what I was thinking. This guy comes recommended by most people who have worked with him but since he's also a pro shop owner too you don't really know if people will just throw any business his way regardless. He does seem to have a good reputation though.

[JAnderson]

I've been lucky to work with 4 good coaches: 2 certified instructors and 2 non-certified instructors. SD - like you I "asked around", stuck to the local scratch players and kept hearing the same names over and over.

Each coach has helped tremendously in a different way. The first coach was one of the non-certified coaches, a gentlemen named Len Mal who has since retired to Toronto. He was touted as a good "swing coach" and he definitely lived up to that reputation. He wasn't as helpful with the modern release, but he wasn't totally ignorant either.

So, keep in mind that any coach is going to be stronger in certain areas than others just like bowlers are stronger in certain areas than others. If I had few swing problems, Mr. Mal would not have been able to help me much, but that doesn't make him a bad coach.

Is there anyone in Jacksonville or the surrounding area who may be able to help SD out with a coach recommendation.

SD - next time I'm in town, maybe we could hook up and bowl a few lines.

[JAnderson]

It's a bit of a haul for you SD, but there's also year-round coaches and training at the Kegel Training Center (http://www.kegeltrainingcenter.com/V2/default.aspx)

[Strike Domination]

Jay, I got the feeling you had the impression that I was in Florida in the first post of this page. If I was there, I would give Kegel some serious thought. Heck I'd love to see the likes of Ron Clifton, Tom Baker, Ron Hatfield.

I guess I've been trying to ask bowlers that don't get coaching or don't care enough about their game(even though they average over 200) to invest in it really. Lately I've been subbing on a league and the league next to us is a scratch sport shot league so I might ask some bowlers there. The guy I'm considering bowls that league too, and I'm sure there's a couple people that at least get tips from him.

[mrbill]

1 A good coach takes the time to watch several frames to see how you bowl before saying anything.
2. A good coach improves what your doing, and if major changes are actually needed, has a plan for making those changes one item at a time - rather than hitting you with 23 different things to keep in mind at the same time.
3. A good coach will work you past what you think your limitations are to find what your actual limits are.
4. A good coach will recognize the root of the problem vs. what you think it is.
5. A good coach at the end of your time will have you feeling like you accomplished something positive - even if you can't see it yet in your game.
6. A good coach isn't there to boost your ego, but neither are they there to crush your spirit. They believe in what they do - and that you can succeed in performing (and more importantly - enjoying) this game that we do.


more as I think of them...


Good Coach not so good coach, that is the question?
I was practicing yesterday and the pro shop owner was watching me for about 3 or 4 frames. When I was about to leave the center he spoke to me for the first time in over a year of me going to that center.
He said he was watching me and that he seen alot of things in my game that needs improvement, so my ears perked up to hear his wisdom. I also heard he was the old UCF coach and never bowls under a 200 game.
So he asks me if I want to get better, and I say yes, then he tells me the mentle game is very important and if I could write down what my routine was and what i was thinking from when I get up to get my ball at the line and every thing inbetween till i sit down again. He said then he would throw out all the unwanted garbage that was not needed.
Now I do all my thinking while i'm sitting down and when I get up it's my routine is tap my thumb on the rosin bag,pick up ball with 2 hands, wipe it off, step to the line, Say to myself "Bend knees,Fingers, mark,Follow through" And then I do what I had planed when I was sitting down.
Now I know I'm slow on the uptake and was worn out from just rolling a quick 6 game working on the twig and the 3rd arrow eyes with a 3 board break point, my 2 lines I need the most practice in,but at first when he asked me if I neede help I thought he was wanting to help as a bowler/friend.
Later on on the way out the door after saying "ya I will be here tomarrow from 3-5 for the free bowling" and that he would be there too to see the written report on my thinking process.
Now I'm like omg he is gonna want to get payed! he is a UCF ex coach.
But then I thought wow he knows nothing about me and that I have done what he asked for 6 months in 09.
Today when I see him I will break out my folder and the stack of papers I have from last year, but the thing is I feel lilke I'm wasting his time on one hand telling him I was gonna bowl the next day and that he would see me there. Also now that I remember for reasons I can masticate about later, He did me wrong when I first started bowling 2 years ago, thats the reason I go 20miles to another pro shop for all my stuff.
I want to be friendly with everyone but I don't want to yank his chain.
Sorry about the long post, it was a question at first and turned into a statment:(

[JAnderson]

Jay, I got the feeling you had the impression that I was in Florida in the first post of this page. If I was there, I would give Kegel some serious thought. Heck I'd love to see the likes of Ron Clifton, Tom Baker, Ron Hatfield.

Sorry - not sure where I got Jacksonville ... Ron is awesome, I can vouch for that personally. I didn't know Tommy B coached. See - you learn something new every day.

[Strike Domination]

Sorry, Jay, I meant Mark Baker. I knew it was a Baker but for some reason Tom was the name that came to mind. Chris Barnes gave him a shout at the start of this season, referencing last season and saying he ended the season well after seeing him.