Monday the 19th and the 26th of October saw two excellent Sport Psychology workshops being presented for the SVA coaches. Will McConn in Glasgow and Ross Murray in Edinburgh shared their different expertise assisting our ongoing effort to have science embedded in our coaching education.
Monday 19th October, Strathclyde University: Will McConn Sport Psychology Workshop: Reflection starting with the coach
The focus of 
the session was to support participants to critically reflect on their own coaching style and philosophy. Such reflection certainly centres on what we may have done differently after games or training, but also how coaches can reflect in the moment to alter what is occurring, or using such reflections to set future goals. Much of this work comes down to developing a greater understanding of our selves in various situations and contexts. Even what we may regard as failure or mistakes can be huge opportunities for learning and growth. In such a way, reflective practice provides the foundation to act positively in the future.
Will’s reflections were ‘I was greatly impressed by the engagement of the volleyball coaches within the workshop. Critically analysing your own work, and at times, our personal selves, is extremely tiring. So the sustained engagement of all was fantastic across the two hours. I particularly admired the coaches’ honesty and their willingness to share stories regarding what actually occurs in their sessions. It facilitated some great peer learning, and for me, it highlighted the amazing work that volleyball coaches are doing every week”.
Monday 26th October, Edinburgh: Ross Murray workshop: Performance profiling
This workshop took a hands-on approach to provide coaches with the tools to develop their own coaching skills. Through engaging discussions between coaches, the workshop created a positive environment that facilitated interactive learning. Further, this workshop enlightened participants to the psychological behaviours and characteristics pertinent to successful coaches. This allowed the coaches to develop their own performance profile that can be utilized to further enhance their existing skillset.
Ross said after the session “I was encouraged by the coaches’ willingness to embrace the scientific approach to personal reflection and goal setting. The lively conversation among coaches from all different levels and experiences made for a great atmosphere. Moreover, their understanding of existing psychological principles combined with their eagerness to participate made leading the workshop a fantastic experience”.
On a personal note I was delighted to see how well received these sessions were by the coaches. I will look forward to further interactions with both of our presenters.