The NSFA Coach Development team is conducting NSFA Super League and Diamond League matchday mentoring throughout the season. This initiative is designed to support NSFA coaches on the ground in their club setting by receiving bespoke mentoring from NSFA Coach Developers. Read on to learn more about NSFA Coach Developer Chris Adams!
Who’s your favourite football team and player – and why?
Favourite club is West Ham United, favourite player is Mark Noble, he typifies what the football club is all about and is a throwback to a previous generation as a “One club Man” he came through the academy as a local boy and has been captain for many years and has seen the ups and downs of the club. A great role model for any aspiring footballer.
Why are you involved in the delivery of coach development within NSFA?
Supporting coaches of all levels has always been my key passion working in football, Grassroots coaches give so much to the game and try their best to support players the experience and enjoyment of players of all levels at their local club and I very much enjoy trying to make their life as a coach more enjoyable and rewarding.
Tell us some of your key highlights as a coach or coach developer?
Anytime I see a coach return to another coaching event or the next course on the pathway is a highlight for me, it shows that we have planted a seed in that persons mind and their heart for coaching and they want to keep on getting better. That is the role of a coach developer, to inspire a love of coaching and learning and plant a seed in the heart and the mind.
What have learnt when delivering courses, workshops or mentored others within the NSFA community?
That there is a real passion within the NSFA community to support our players. Coaches continue to give up their time to learn and improve and that shows passion and commitment to the game. Also that all of us as coaches still are seeking out the silver bullet for the “best practice or session plan” rather than focusing on how to deliver that session plan, everyone of us coaches experienced or new to coaching need to remember coaching is a people business and you need to be able to connect with your players first before diving into the content or the drill/practice itself.
How have the changes to the coach development courses this year within NSFA benefitted the coaching community and you as a presenter?
The innovation shown by Jake and the NSFA team to break up the community courses into bitesize chunks has made the courses more accessible for coaches that there are more opportunities to complete their course rather than simply one long weekend of education. The coaches also then have time to digest the information they have taken in from their respective block before moving to the next block. It is exciting to see the continual evolution of these courses as we put the coach at the centre and we look at Creating a culture of coach development rather than just coach accreditation.
What are your goals for coaching and coach development this year?
That every coach who attends one of our courses here at NSFA connects with other coaches in a similar position to them, understands the important role they play in achieving NSFA’s retention strategy, learns some new coaching tips and behaviours and importantly…… has a little fun along the way
In one word, what does being an NSFA Coach Developer means to you?
Duty.
Duty to the game to help it be the best it can be and support every participant to enjoy the experience they have on the pitch!