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What can I do as a parent to help coach my two sons on a 3-P air rifle team? Books, videos, or other resources?

tsigmon wrote:What can I do as a parent to help coach my two sons on a 3-P air rifle team? Books, videos, or other resources?

A/ the easy way
1 - do a coaching course
2 - coach somebody else's kids
3 - get somebody else who has coaching accreditation to coach your kids
4 - note that there is nothing in the above three points about learning it all from books or videos. They can be great resources for a coach, but should be nothing more.

B/ the other way
1/ get books and videos and try to apply them to your own kids
2/ 99% chance that all parties get frustrated and either go for A/ (above) or find another sport. Either way there is a REALLY good chance you will spoil your relationship with your kids.

I agree with Spencer (i.e. do a coaching course), and that's why a lot of folks start coaching, in most sports.

The last thing kids need or want is someone with less idea than them telling them what to do...

Rob.

tsigmon,

What city/country are you located in or near?

'Dude

I've coached kids in a variety of sports and the best thing parents can do is just be supportive and enthusiastic. Find an experienced coach and let them do their thing. You can ask the coach to assist.

I recommend you try to find a shooting coach that is skilled enough to personaly demonstrate the skill you want the coach to teach. Next, you should get a copy of a good shooting book that deals with 3P so as to help you and the coach avoid simple mistakes that may occurr during training. This is another reason why I recommend a coach that can actually shoot rather than one that only has credentials. Look into a local 4H group that has a strong shooting progrem and try to affiliate with them. Good Shooting Bill Horton

2650 Plus wrote:This is another reason why I recommend a coach that can actually shoot rather than one that only has credentials.

I don't agree. You don't need a coach that can shoot or has credentials (other than for liability issues). You need a coach who is capable of helping the athlete to improve.

That person might/might not have been a good shooter and might/might not hold credentials. Neither is a pre-requisite for being a good coach.

In my time I have known several highly qualified coaches, or coaches who have been good shooters, who have been pretty poor coaches.

I have also known great coaches who have never been good shooters or gained qualifications.

It is alo worth remembering that not all shooters will react in the same way to a coach. Some will learn a lot, others will just switch off.

Yes, I agree. There are shooters that cant coach and there are coaches that cant shoot. I am personally convinced that there are things a shooter /coach learns that helps the coach avoid small mistakes that , if practiced by the beginning shooter and ingrained in his/her technique, will limit the shooters ability to progress . Good, valid information is the beadrock on whitch the shooter builds the steady improvement that may lead him/her to championships. I will make one more statement. There are coaches that cant coach and must be avoided at all costs as they are destructive to the shooters progress. Good Shooting Bill Horton

Sounds like Bill must have met Chet! ;)

tsigmon ...

As a coach who is not a rifle shooter (other than recreational), with three daughters that I've coached, I don't agree that you will ruin the relationship with your kids.

While you will compete, to some degree, vicariously thru your children I always find myself putting myself in their shoes and trying not to push too hard. My oldest and youngest are still shooting competitively (well my youngest really), my middle, while a great shot, decided it was not her main focus ... you kinda gotta let that go and support them in their interests too.

I'd like my oldest to keep shooting, but she's getting married in Dec and it's hard to get her back on a rifle while she concentrates on school and the wedding plans.

My best advice is to take a Level-1 coach school and then take the ASEP courses and get your Level-2 cert... If you concentrate on the studying on the ASEP courses, they are almost as much of a self reflection as well as a study into the coaching of young athletes.

Always be supportive ... in being a parent/coach sometimes you have to give up the "push" moment and turn it into an empathetic moment. I also try and get my own kids in front of other coaches as much as I can ... especially for those "push" moments. A couple of years ago my youngest was having a rough time mentally after day one of the JO's. One of the other coaches offered to talk to her so I brought it up to her. SHE DID NOT WANT TO TALK TO HIM. I chatted with her for a half hour and "for me" she finally agreed. After 15 minutes with this other coach her attitude had improved and was a great moment for her in that she realized that I had done all I could for her and she realized that she could go to another coach and ask for advice. Don't try and be the end all coach, just do what you can in a supportive fashion.

(BTW ... Thanks Gary!)

Thanks for all of the replies. We are a recreational shooting family and none (except me skeet shooting many years ago) have had any formal training. Bad habits may have unknowingly developed and may be hard to loose. My oldest has been on the JROTC rifle team going into his 2nd year and my youngest is in his first year. The coach knows what he is doing (I think) but I don't see any coaching on the days I get to the range in time to watch the practice. I don't see any adjustments to shooting positions, or hear any suggestions to help improve scores. I guess what I am looking for is,what and how much coaching, a coach shoud do. A CD or book to inform me more about the sport, to help me understand what needs to be done to shoot properly would help I think.

Tsigmon
Union SC

"Ways of the Rifle"

Also "Air Rifle Shooting", but it is geared more towards precision air

See our host's website page:
http://www.pilkguns.com/books.shtml

Both, in my opinion, are "required reading"

Assuming you're not yourself a coach or experienced 3P shot, then just talking them through the thought process can help.

Do you know what didn't feel right?
Have you worked on that with (coach)?
What did they suggest?
If that isn't working, is there anything else they suggested?

And absolutely basic stuff. Are you sure everything's done up tight? Did you change everything from position 1 settings to position 2 settings?

Also things like taking pictures of them in position. Young shooters in particular often know what a good position looks like once they've been coached a bit, but don't have the body awareness to realise that they are not in one.

You could also have a quiet word with the coach - anything you'd like me to remind them of when they're practicing, or if it comes up at home?

tsigmon,

I don't know what to say exactly regarding you coaching your sons, sometimes parents coaching their kids works great, other times it turns out to be an area best left alone.

Some of the best advice already given here is to be supportive. "Hey that was great!!! What did that feel like when you were doing it?" and "It's ok, you gave it a good effort, it just did not come together today."

The usefulness of various books depends on the reader, sure Ways of the Rifle and Air Rifle Shooting are great books but if you are just getting started can be a little like teaching middle school math with a university calculus text.

If you are in Union a local resource would be Paul Davis (864) 427-0654 he runs (ran? have not seen Paul in years) the program at Union High School. Also, on the other side of the state, Joel Sexton 888-446-9898 runs a pistol program at the Citadel (Yeah I know, that is clear on the other side of the state but he might have some ideas for resources in your area.)

The next question becomes, what level are your sons at?

Cheers,
'Dude

Agree with 'Dude.
Paul Davis is one who we have brought out to NM numerous times to work with our smallbore shooters. He is very meticulous on the positions and can provide those "push" moments that are occasionally required.
If you use him ... get a copy of his positions checklist as this is a great tool for coaches as well.

The answer is .. it depends..

Are you just trying to help improve their scores for 3PAR or is this more long term with a future Olympian in mind?

Also, as has been mentioned in the other replies, some parents are good at being coaches and some should just provide support and let an experience coach work with their kids.

....it just depends...

If there are longer term goals in mind and you personally want to work with your kids and other kids over time, then you need to sign up for a coach certification course

Coach Program information: http://www.nrahq.org/education/training ... chools.asp

If you are interested in helping them achieve an Olympic dream you should consider the coach college and conference coming up in November here at the Olympic Training Center. You'll be able to attend a level 1 coach course, complete your ASEP and first aid course that are the requirements for Level 2. Plus attend the coach conference where you will network with other coaches and learn more about coaching in one weekend that you will learn in months or years.

See attached registration form.