Empowering coaching for coaches, teachers and parents
What is empowering coaching?
The Empowering Coaching program (EC) is about understanding and engaging in practice that brings out the best in the athletes you coach. It is based on two motivational frameworks (Self Determination theory and achievement Goal theory) that are evidence-based and tested in a sport coaching context. The EC program was designed by Professor Joan Duda at Birmingham University, a world leader in motivation research. The EC program is delivered across Europe in community, club, and high-performance sport environments. It has been adapted for delivery to physical education teachers, sport officials, sport trainers, parents, and the health sector. It is now available in Australia for delivery in face-to-face workshops and online.
Coaches make the difference
Coaches make a difference, and it can positive or negative. One important factor is the ‘motivational climate‘ that is created for the athlete or team. Most coaches who take on the role want to make a difference in the lives of other people. A positive motivational climate meets participants' basic psychological needs of autonomy, belonging, and competence development, also known as the psychological ABCs.
The workshop focuses on assisting coaches understand the role motivation plays in quality coaching sessions, retention of participants, and relationship building. It provides a language to use when planning, observing, coaching, evaluating, and reflecting on practice. This may not be new for some coaches, but it does provide a common language and reassures these coaches that they have engaged in effective practice.
Coach education in many sports has focused on the game with little time spent on how to work with people. Great coaches work with people first, it may not have been the starting point in their career trajectory, but development of those skills has elevated them to being influential leaders of people. Putting people first and working with people effectively is a skillset, this is the focus of the EC program, it brings research to practice, and changes the dynamic of coaching sport to coaching people.
Available workshop programs
- Community, school and club programs – 3 hours (max. 15 participants)
- High-performance programs – 6 hours (a day)
- Extensions – on-field/court practice – 2 hours
- EC individual mentoring – by arrangement
- Extended club programs – by arrangement
- Tailored programs available.