5 Reflection point: tips for before, during and after coaching sessions
As you reach the end of this session, it is a good time to pause and reflect on your learning so far. In this session you have explored three of the core pillars of the ARC model of practice: developing self-awareness and reflection, building relationships and adapting practice to meet different needs. The final section of this session encourages you to take some time to reflect on what you have learned so far and how this learning might inform your future practice.
Take a look at the table below which offers both a summary of the key tips from this session and also some additional ideas you may find useful. It has been structured around the delivery of a coaching session: thinking about things to consider before a session (preparation and planning), during a session (delivery) and after a session (reviewing).
If you want to see a bigger version of this table, a PDF is available to download.
Activity 2 Top tips for your own practice
Review your notes for this session and make a list of the following on the basis of what you have learned:
- 1–3 things you intend to START doing that you haven’t considered before
- 1–3 things you intend to CONTINUE doing from your existing practice
- 1–3 things you will STOP doing from your existing practice.
Discussion
Learning new ideas for coaching practice can be quite daunting and overwhelming with lots to take on board, and implementing these ideas can be even harder, particularly if a coach operates in environments where time is very tight and there is little space to really prepare, plan and execute new ideas. This activity is designed to help a coach break down the broad ARC principles of practice that have been introduced so far into very small, practical steps that can be introduced at various time phases of a season and session. Trying out small bits here and there is a good way to slowly start modifying and improving practice so it gradually becomes normal and embedded in what a coach does.
You have now reached the end of Session 2 and by now should be starting to get a better sense of how ARC principles can be put into practice to enhance a coach’s effectiveness in working with ethnically diverse cohorts of young people. As with Session 1, this session concludes with a summary of your learning, including a short quiz to re-cap your knowledge.