Transcript

ALEX TWITCHEN

As a coach developer, I see myself as somebody who wants to help coaches learn and get better. That's my intention. And it takes time. It doesn't happen overnight.

And as best you can, you have to get to know the people that you're working with. I think to be a coach developer, you should be adaptable and capable of working with coaches in different situations. There will be times when I might be working with a group of coaches on a course or a workshop. And then on other occasions, I'll be helping a coach individually, perhaps watching them coach or discussing something with them.

I also spend time helping my colleagues and assist them in any way that I can. To me, that's still developing coaches. And it might mean we just share a coffee and have a good chat.

I'm also conscious that the type of support a coach wants can vary according to their experience and the people they coach. Working with an inexperienced coach in a grassroots or community environment can be very different to supporting an experienced coach working with talented young players. And the type of support I have to provide will change accordingly.

There are some aspects that remain the same-- knowing how people learn, understanding how to build good relationships, that it's about them and not me, and knowing myself are important. Being a coach developer can be a really satisfying role. But you're always learning and looking for opportunities to improve yourself and provide even better support to the coaches that you're working with.