I have now had time to check out the Coaching Manuals issued by Croquet Australia, and find they had changed very little since I last worked from them. To clarify some mis-information that has been circulated, I set out below a summary of the requirements to become a Beginner Coach.
Every croquet player uses these skills (granted, some do it better than others), so coaching is not something to be feared. Coaches invariably find that their own game improves, because they are more aware of the correct (or best) way of making a stroke. My job as SCD is to alert you to HOW to teach the strokes mentioned above - each stroke can be broken down into separate physical movements, which makes it much easier for the beginner to grasp. There is also a pattern to each stroke, and as a coach you will be able to put the pieces together so that the pattern emerges that translates into a smooth meaningful stroke. Another skill you will be taught to use is the ability to correct bad habits that creep into everyone’s game.
A competent Beginner Coach is probably the most important member a club can have, because it is the BC who meets the new player and introduces them to croquet through a series of lessons. A person’s passion for the game can be ignited by the manner in which they are introduced to the basic skills required to play croquet, with the added bonus of being taught the skills correctly so that bad habits can be corrected before they become entrenched.
Talk about becoming a BC with your fellow-players. If your club hasn’t any qualified (accredited) Beginner Coaches, perhaps now is the time for you to consider taking the plunge. Ideally, more than one candidate spreads the coaching more equitably - and you have a friend(s) doing the course with you.
Betty Brown
State Coaching Director
Croquet NSW Inc.
October 2005
For further information click
to email Betty, or telephone (02) 4332 5260 evenings.