It goes to credibility........

[David B.]

silly me of course by queue jumping !!!

 

[Adam]

We were just doing what we were told, and only one person took exception to this and promptly had an argument with Will about setting an 'Example' Priceless

I was also surprised the Ed didn't use his charm and end the discussion sooner.

Anyway lets get back on track.

I agree with Ed if you want to get to the top AA/AAA National team etc, you need to be talking to someone thats been there and done it or still doing it. Experience must count for a lot. Thats my opinion.

Would like to hear what our resident coach/instructor Robert6500 thinks

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Yeeeeeehhhhheeeeeeeey

Glad you all brought up the most important part of being a good coach. I dreaded to say it again after I did on 'The Old Place' and got slated .

The ability to win and to teach how to win is the most important thing about coaching at the top level........in my humble opinion...........

In order to be a 'truly great coach' you need to have had good success in high level competition and by that I mean real competition, international or high level UK competition, not just the..... 'I won 5 County Championships and a bag of crisps' etc etc etc...................

Because it is only then when you are against 'the very best' in your chosen sport that you know exactly what it is like and what is needed from the mental side of the game.

Many people can teach you to hit targets efficiently...............Not many can give you the 'extra'..... learnt by themselves by succeeding in top level competition...........whether they can effectively transmit that information learnt is another thing.

As and when I need a lesson to sort out my bad habits or lack of form...............lets see.............where do I go, who do I trust?

CPSA .........hell no!!! (and I am a level 2)......I cannot honestly think of one coach in the CPSA set up who could give me the necessary skills needed for my particular task.

BASC..........hell no!! for competition...........hell no!!

APSI.......... (possible few only - discipline specific)....the rest....hell no!!

Of course this is only my opinion............you all have to make your own minds up by trying who you want.

I worry about over 'badged up' coaches with skeet vests proclaiming this and that..........!

Most top coaches do not wear 'badges' to show their levels.........unless of course it is a badge worth wearing that you can be proud of wearing......like 'England' or 'GBR'........... ....most top coaches have never been anywhere near a CPSA, BASC or APSI course.....................and don't get me going on ISSF (unless of course it is an ISSF A class of which there are relatively few) :lol:

.

 

[Scuta]

What irritates the life out of me is the retired firefighter, or policeman who does a three day course and then announces to the world that he's a shooting instructor or even a coach.

Must say that I don't care if they're a part time toilet brush salesman who read a book on it once. If they are, or have been a competitive shot and have the ability to impart the knowledge & skill set I'm after, at the appropriate level, then happy days!!

 

[ROBERT6500]

I have to agree with Nicola about the qualifications thing. All CPSA, BASC, APSI, Institute etc,etc qualifications can mean naff all as all of the associations shall we call them are all in it for the money.....fact. You should never go by a badge or an emblem etc on a jacket, but by multi recommendation and results alone.

I was coaching very successfully for years when I thought I had better get some insurance just in case. No Insurance company wanted to know as I wasn't qualified damned it. So I looked into all the associations and how they go about it all, and what qualification would get me the most work at shooting grounds. That turned out to be A.P.S.I so I went and did the course which I have to say I found very easy indeed. Odd course though as they tell you virtually nothing, you have to tell them and show them what you know and you have to pass 100% and nothing else will do. I now have my insurance (and badge) but does it make me a better coach......I don't think so but it does go well on your C.V for work. This question of course is as old as shooting it's self and I for one have answered it many times before. But I'll stick to my guns as it were and say again "Multi Recommendations and Results is all that matters.

Oh and Adamantine, I'm not the resident coach on Shootclay and never will be or wish to be. I just like to help out all shooters when I can. There are many top people on here to give excellent advice and I, like them, just like to give my view on a subject from time to time.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Good honest reply Robert.

 

[chubby]

I coached the little poppet until he was B class in Sporting, then handed him over to Steve Nutbeam who took him the next step, as I felt that Even though I am AA i could not pass it on as well as Steve.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

I coached the little poppet until he was B class in Sporting, then handed him over to Steve Nutbeam who took him the next step, as I felt that Even though I am AA i could not pass it on as well as Steve.

Now Martin.....what did I say about behaving.......

We do not want to know about your AA meetings ...........

Seriously though.......if i remember......you are a coach are you not, in the rifle side. How does that differ to instructors and coaches for clay.

Your lot are a lot more regulated by government FAC restrictions are you not?

If your not.......then you have been in my dreams........again!!!!!!

.

 

[chubby]

I am an APSI (yes they gave me a pass) Shotgun and ARA Rifle pretend instructor, oh and I work at a shooting school

But I do not feel qualified enough to take a B shot into A as Ben and others have the mental approach as they have been there.

Rifle are quite a lot different as it is all calmer and not moving.

 

[Hawkeye]

A line I heard in conversation around the time I started shooting , probably about 25yrs ago, " beware the man with badges". Turned out to be quite true.

Annoying when you see novice shooters that have been 'coached' and the coaching received is clearly what is holding them back from acheiving their potential

 

[chubby]

Bryan, I don't wear any badges

 

[Hawkeye]

I wasn't refering to you chubby, just to an earlier post and to some people who have shot for a short time with no achievments thinking they are qualified to tell others how to do it. Ooooooohhhh , makes my blood boil.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

I wasn't refering to you chubby, just to an earlier post and to some people who have shot for a short time with no achievments thinking they are qualified to tell others how to do it. Ooooooohhhh , makes my blood boil.

I quite agree!

 

[DoubleBarrelledDon]

This is an interesting one....I do a little coaching mostly for corporate / beginners or the occasional game shot but I would never purport to be someone with the neccessary experience or knowledge to coach someone who knows how to shoot well and wants to go to the next level. Sadly there are a lot of people out there who think that because they have that magic piece of paper they can teach anyone, it takes a lot more than qualifications to do the job really well. For starters you need a personality that allows you to communicate well with others and put them at ease with you.....if you dont have that then go find something else to do as you will be wasting your time. The "A lesson with" series I am doing with Clayshooter magazine is a good case in point as there are only a few of the "top coaches" that have any qualifications (in sporting at least), they have proved their ability in competition and thus far all of them have proven to be very capable. Sadly that sounds like I am generalising and saying that courses arent worth the paper they are written on and that isnt true, there are some good courses and some good coaches out there that have been through the system (yes Mr Eaton , Im talking about you...amongst others) who perform well with shooters of all abilities but those who think that because they can get people to hit dinner plates on corporate days that they can teach top shots how to suck eggs are sadly deluded.....

I always say that those who shout loudest usually know the least....(said in a very quiet whisper....)

 

[EdSolomons]

Fetch me my bull horn......

 

[DoubleBarrelledDon]

Ed, I would have total confidence in your ability old chap......your shy retiring nature makes you the exception to the rule......

 

[EdSolomons]

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Well said Don.

 

[FieldandClay]

There are some very good and true comments to this thread but Don you are bang on target, brilliant post!

 

[ROBERT6500]

Hello Don, you'll have me blushing in a minute.

Can't wait to see the the start of the series your working on though.