FUN or COMPETITION

Brian McCormick highlights the differing opinion of coaches with regards to enjoyment of sports sessions.

Surely enjoyment and participants having fun whilst benefiting for the training should then aid in their competitive accomplishments. This age is a crucial and influential factor for later sports participation. One bad experience can mean minimal structured physical activity.

Thinking about athletes taking that step to progress their development within the sport should be down to personal preference, the rest I think should be using sport as an enjoyable way of promoting physical activity and to allow children to socialise and experience new things within a safe and structured environment.

When I think about my own coaching, I try and have participants having fun through training, yes there are times where I need them to focus and listen to what I am telling them, but looking towards competition I find they’re a lot more receptive when explaining progressions or further areas to focus on. I think the coach athlete relationship that I have referred to previously is really important in providing an enjoyable, motivating and progressive environment….