My Experience of Work Placement in Sports Club - Personal Statement Example

Topic: Mental Health Name: Lecturer: Course name: Course code: Date: WORK PLACEMENT Work placement is an experience at the field that is meant to help the learners get experience in the field or professional working environment. Being a soccer coach is something I am very passionate about and worked for an organization that trains young footballers. I have done my placement at football club which trains young footballers. My role was as a leading coach and so was in charge of the coaching sessions. The training sessions were on Fridays and Saturdays. Friday i coach under 19's and Saturday I was in charge of coaching 7-8 years old. The club provided all the amenities and other leisure time occupation for the members and the social value improvement in the community. It also provided mentorship program for young children, the youth and the parents concerning football as a career, promote healthy living and foster good relations among the members. The club provided football training sessions that takes place twice a week. I undertook a total number of 120 hours for my work placement. Being the leading coach I organized for coaching classes with Manchester Football Association. FA Level one football coaching Course they had on 14/1/13 gave an opportunity for 6 coaches and 6 nominated parents to improve coaching skills. Proudly I can say we have 6 committed coaches with the necessary skills. Parents trained will train other parents and their kids in matters of the game and other social benefits that come with such as promoting healthy living and fostering good relationship among the residents. The organization is headed by the chairman and other administrators include treasure, secretary and the committee members. The committee members oversee all the activities in the club especially lobby for funding. Being an organization which basically field based it and little or no returns are attain unless the club plays major games in the competition. The club faces major challenges ranging from commitment to time management and lastly funding. Everybody comes to the training session 15 minutes late every week and the coaches not consistent. Some of the coaches do plan or attend the training session at all. Good communication with the parents gives the organization good cohesion but some coaches don’t maintain or have any link with the parents. My weak area when it comes to coaching 7 and 8 year old is the fact that they take time to grasp something. These are young kids who are interested in having fun rather than knowing all the aspects of soccer. This is not the case for the under 19 team. The 7 and 8 year olds have not developed fully the mental skills needed. Football requires players to anticipate and be psyched up for the game. They should be able to project the whole field and avoid making immediate passes without looking. The kids have not developed such skills and they make haphazard passes. I do not feel confident when it comes it comes to this aspect because players have to be mentally prepared. The under 19 team at times lacks consistency in playing, poor communication and lack of discipline. Sometimes they arrive for practice late, which cuts the time we need for training. These are the weak places I hope to work on. Simple memory joggers are necessary because they are a good way of reminding these young players what they are supposed to do. I am quite confident when it comes to the physical training I have instilled in my players. My players have mastered vital techniques such as shooting, defense, drilling and goal keeping. This is because I am a soccer fun and back at the college I learned the necessary skills. I have encouraged good team playing; soccer depends on efficient passing of the ball among players. Before the children start the practice, they do some stretches which will help them improve on their flexibility and agility in the field. I have developed good relationship with the parents and students hence respect and trust me. During practice I divide the players into small manageable so that everyone will learn the skills. The 7 and 8 year old players have mastered the soccer basics such as possession, throw in and pass. The club I work is organized and there is good communication between me and my players. The club is up to date when it comes to football equipment, support and training. This gives me a basis for my good performance. My communication and management of the club improved tremendously. This placement is guided by objectives. For any venture to be successful, it should be guided by goals and objectives. Objectives ensured that I was headed in the right direction. Being the leading coach, I have to come up with goals and objectives. However, in day to day practice I have to come up with smaller goals that should be achieved. Personal objectives relating to coaching have influenced my work experience. My first objective is to attain the advanced football coaching qualification. This will help me better my coaching skills. Attaining this qualification and skills will give me the confidence and skills that will take my players to the next level (Morelli 2011) Objectives enable us to achieve effectiveness in training. Training objectives enables the players to learn certain things and master them. By doing this we avoid common mistakes made in the field and set achievable goals. My second objective is to achieve physical training skills in sports school for 6 months starting December. This objective will equip me with the necessary physical skills that are essential in training. Soccer players should be fit and skilled physically. To attain that they need to have a coach that has the physical skills so that they can emulate from the coach. This objective will definitely improve my work experience to the benefit of players. My other objective is to increase the number of young players of all categories. This will give this institution a good name. If we produce a lot of skilled players, this will give the institution and the coaches a good reputation. Enrolling more players means that I will be more empowered financially. Nothing is as fulfilling as enabling many young players to tap their full potential. My other objective is to objective is to attain the people and managerial skills certification like leading, coordinating and organizing my team members from the school of sports within the next one year ending 2014. A coach is looked upon to make good decisions when it comes to managing the team. Coaches are sometimes faced with difficult situations when it comes to managing the team. Achieving this objective will make me an all rounded coach; I will be able to make good training and managing decisions that will push the team to the next level (Bass 2004) Coaching and learning at the same time will enable me to learn new things. Each day presents a learning opportunity. The objectives that I intend to achieve relates to my future goals. Coaching is a passion and every coach dreams of coaching a successful team. I plan to coach a big team in future. Having this skills and experiences will help me achieve that goal and that is why I plan to better my physical and managerial skills. Coaching these young players has taught me the patience and skills that might help me achieve my future plans. There are various learning theories that I make use of during training. Theories of learning give us different learning strategies that we should make use of in order to make learning effective. These theories provide us with different paradigms of learning. Famous schools of thought include behaviorism, constructivism and cognitivism. Cognitive theory was developed by scholars such as Roger, Reigeluth Gagne, Piaget, Briggs and Wager. This theory states the human brain is capable of processing information unlike the behavioral theory. This theory states that human being is capable of processing information, manipulating information, creating mental models and information mapping. Football requires mental skills as well as physical skills. This theory is effective in that players are able to grasp the information I give them, store and manipulate them in order to better their game. Soccer requires tactics and this theory gives us processes on how human beings can improve their thinking. According to this theory crucial learning comprised personal involvement at affective and cognitive levels. These levels were self-initiated, though extremely pervasive and influential enough to cause attitude change, behavior, and in some instances, the learner personality. This theory states that learning should be closely monitored by the instructor. As a coach I should be aware of my players’ feelings and capabilities so that I can coach them affectively. According to Kolb (1984), concrete experience gives the information that creates as a foundation for reflection. Owing to these reflections, it is possible to adapt the information and conjure abstract concepts. These concepts were then used to advance new theories about the globe, which can then actively test. From testing of these ideas, it is possible to again collect information through experience, starting from inauguration of the process. Behavior is learned, unlearned and relearned. Learners are able to retain or see what they are being thought by their coaches. Any bad or indiscipline behavior can be unlearned and valuable skills can be relearned with a well trained and goal oriented coach. I also borrow a lot from the humanism theory when it comes to my methods of teaching. Proponents of this theory include Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. This theory states that learning is student centered and the educator should act as a facilitator. Maslow is known for his famous model of self actualization. Football is an aspect of the society and it should be able to produce self actualized people. As a coach I ensure that the emotional needs of players are catered for so that they feel accomplished not only in the field but generally in life. This theory is keen on self, motivation and the value of achieving goals. It says that learning should enable freedom, dignity and potential (Huitt 2001) this theory states that aspects of humanity should be added in our daily dealings. As a coach I should inculcate values and goodwill in my players. I aspire to this school of thought because when dealing with young players, I need to teach them about life values and skills as well as the importance of achieving goals. Contemporary issues faced by coaches include sports safety, coaching practices and health of players. Sports safety is vital especially since am dealing with young players. These are young players that are still vulnerable and still have a bright future ahead. Before parents can allow their children to come to this institution, they need assurances that their children are in good hands. Safety of these young players should be all rounded. They should be protected from physical hazards, emotional and psychological threats. Young players need a place where they do not feel the need to hold back. Good communication between the players and coaches will ensure that matters affecting safety are dealt with effectively. Health and safety is another contemporary issue. It is an issue of importance because it affects the performance of the players. As a coach, I ensure that we have first aid kits and ensure safety in the field. Players are bound to get hurt in the field that is why first aid kit should always be available. An ambulance should be on standby because there can be serious injuries. The field should be generally secure and hygienic so that avoidable health hazards are minimized. As a coach methods I use in teaching these players can be an issue. Young players are quite sensitive and they need a coach that will be sensitive to them. Most coaches are known to just back orders to the players. Young players need caring and patient coaches. As a coach, I aspire to give all these players equal opportunity. I motivate them to strive for excellence in the field. My responsibility will also be involved in vetting of players before recruitment, vendors and suppliers. Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks will be important in upholding due diligence and raising the reputation of the team. Some players have doubtful credentials requiring vetting and investigation. This cannot be hurriedly done but procedures of indentifying and knowing the basic details of players is important for managerial reasons and also for coach to know the weaknesses and strengths of the players of which it will be easy to improve their training and coaching. Bibliography Huitt, W. 2001. Humanism and open education. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved September 11, 2007, from the URL:  Morelli, Jason A.2011.Coaching and management techniques in athletics Nova Science Publishers Bass, Tom. 2004. Football skills & drills. Human Kinetics Hammond, G., 1990. Fleeting Things: English Poets and Poems, 1616-1660. illustrated ed. s.l.:Harvard University Press. Heilman, R. B., 1999. The Professor and the Profession. Illustrated ed. s.l.:University of Missouri Press. Illustrated, E. o. S., 2008. Sports Illustrated: The College Football Book. illustrated ed. s.l.:Time Home Entertainment, Incorporated. John Donne, G. A. S., 2000. The Variorum Edition of the Poetry of John Donne, Volume 2: The Elegies. Illustrated ed. s.l.:Indiana University Pres. Riggs, D., 1989. Ben Jonson. reprint, illustrated ed. s.l.:Harvard University Press. Trimpi, W., 1962. Ben Jonson's Poems. Illustrate ed. s.l.:Stanford University Press. Young, R. V., 2000. Doctrine and Devotion in 17th-century Poetry: Studies in Donne, Herbert, Crashaw, and Vaughan. illustrated ed. s.l.:Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 200 Appendix WEEKLY ACTIVITY LOG DATE: VENUE: SUMMARY OF WEEKLY ACTIVITIES 15/12/2012, planning in terms of facilities, location and time. Separating the players in terms of age groups and sex. 04/01/2013, organizing with Manchester for training of coaches and parents 11/01/2013, coaching under 19’s and teaching Ball control was not an easy task because it requires good mental abilities. 12/01/2013 -I engaged in teaching the children basic skills in order to remind them about what they had learnt last week. We brushed on the ball passing skills before learning about ball control techniques. 16/01/2013, meeting with the coaches and parents after their training on improving the training sessions. 17/01/2013, Ball control is about receiving the ball and trapping it before passing it. This was a session that kept the teenagers alert because it requires concentration and discipline. 18/01/2013, the session was about positioning. Young children at the age of seven don’t know how to maintain position. The session was fun and encouraged good relationships with the learners. SPECIFIC TASKS/PROJECT During the ball control practices we did certain exercises. First of all the children jogged to get them excited for the game. We practiced different types of ball control techniques. The first technique is where the players throw the ball into the air and try to trap it with the soles of their feet. The second task I taught my players during ball control is how to control ball from the inside foot sweep. With this technique the players use the inside of their leg. The players can also use outside foot sweep to control the ball. Dribbling is important aspect of ball control. The players should dribble the next to their feet so that they can control the ball effectively. After the players learnt the 3 techniques for ball control. We practiced all these techniques so that the players can blend all the techniques into their game. Position crucial in the game of soccer. Learned about the numbering and various football formations. This formations includes 4-2-4, 2-3-2-3,3-3-4. ASSESSED LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Ball control is a necessary skill in soccer. Ball control is important for soccer players if they have to stay competitive. Learners and myself as a coach obtained and learned the necessary skills required The main objective of positioning is to know the rules of the game and develop good cohesion and discipline amongst themselves. Good managerial skills and encourages teamwork. The major aim of the basic skills to enable the learners be get accustomed with the necessary skills. Read More