Annual SCPA coaching seminar

Thanks to Cranleigh Petanque Club for hosting the annual SCPA Coaching Seminar organised by Regional Coach Malcolm McKenzie on Saturday 21 April.   Thirteen of the Region’s Club Coaches were in attendance to discuss a wide range of issues that included Tactics, Rules, YDO Crossover, Coaching Assurance, Student Assessment, and the appointment of the next Regional Coaching Coordinator as Malcolm will be leaving his position on 18 July 2018.

As always, the rules ignited an engaging debate and all coaches now have a list of commonly-flouted rules.  It was agreed that the focus for the forthcoming year will be to promote shooting, thus making the game more attacking and discourage the common approach of ‘point one up and see’.

After an excellent lunch in the Pavilion, the coaches were split into groups of three to deliver coaching to 18 attendees from the host club.  The aim was to deliver a session on shooting, assess the students, and assess the coaches on their technical coaching skills.  The four different exercises were designed to demonstrate ability, build confidence and develop consistency. Feedback was provided at the end of the 3-hour session to both students and coaches, for future development.

Thanks to Cranleigh for their excellent hospitality and to the coaches for their time and commitment. Coaches who attended the day were Pete Wilcocks, Tom Wilson, Shelley McKenzie, Danny Corp, Angela Brooks, Ernest Harrison, Graham Elcome, Christine Kateley, Hilary Annicchiarico, Mario Annicchiarico, Elaine Zimmerman and Chris Chubb.

Special thanks to Malcolm for organising the seminar and for all his guidance and support to the club coaches. We are fortunate in the Southern region to have such a wealth of coaching skills and experience available to our clubs.