Jack Gray: Coaching Assistant Course
We had an opportunity to catch up with English and GB athlete, Jack Gray, after attending one of our Coaching Assistant courses to see how he found it and understand why he has deciding to get into coaching alongside his athletics career.
Why did you choose to attend the coaching assistant course?
Our Coaching Assistant course is ideal for people who are looking to start their journey to coach on-track activities, no matter what their background is.
Jack explains, "I am really keen to move from competing as an athlete into supporting my local club and helping other athletes to find the same level of enjoyment that I have. The coaching assistant course is a great first step to give you a good idea of what the coaching experience is like and how to give back to the sport."
How have you found balancing the demand of being an elite athlete and completing aspects of the course?
As well as being a full-time athlete, Jack also works full-time which makes for a very busy schedule. However, he was able to make the course work for him.
"The great thing about this course is that the online modules are flexible so you can dip in and out of them. You can book the training course far in advance which is useful for me working full time and training as a full-time athlete, I can take the modules slowly and build it around my training."
Jack also added, "Fundamentally this makes it more enjoyable, it feels more manageable when you are learning over a long period of time within a time scale that feels comfortable."
Watch more from Jack in the video below:
You are certainly training and competing at a very high level, but would you be interested in going into coaching alongside and after your competitive career?
Jack hopes to bring a lot of experience into the coaching role, to help inspire the next generation of athletes.
"I am looking to go into coaching after I have finished my elite athlete career. Athletes like myself, who have competed internationally and at more major comps, bring a lot of experience that can sometimes be lost."
Do you think that some of the learnings will help your own career?
Taking a step into the coaching headspace has given Jack a new perspective into his training, correcting some bad habits as he goes.
"It gives you the opportunity to step back in the coaching process and see why the mechanisms are in place to become better athletes and why we need to do them. I have learnt to look at how I structure my training and organize my drills and practices more efficiently."
Talk us through the course, what have been your favourite parts?
With a mix of online and in person learning, this course offered Jack a lot of flexibility and a good background into coaching practices across the disciplines.
Jack said, "The idea is you get a really good grounding in coaching practices and principles then come and demonstrate them in person. The ability to do that revision from home and then come here on the day and give it a go with real life people is a great thing about the course."
How have you found the opportunity to learn alongside other aspiring coaches?
Despite not all coaches working in the same discipline, Jack found it really useful to gain a better understanding of different coaching backgrounds.
He explains, "It has been really fantastic because you get that diversity of backgrounds and opinions, you get to work with coaches who are working with people of different age groups and at different events. I don't think we should see athletic disciplines in silos, there are lots of things we can take from other events whether that's throwing, jumping or running."
"I am mainly focused on running, but some of the things my course colleagues have said who are more throws focused for example involve really good principles that I can apply in my distance training. I really enjoyed that aspect of the course."
How have you found the tutors you have come across during the course?
"They make you feel really comfortable and welcome when you attend the course. There is a great balance of a formal session with an informal atmosphere so you feel like you are able to learn in a structured way, but you don't feel pressured at all and feel like there is support around you"
What would you say to someone else who is considering starting their coaching journey?
Jack stressed the importance of starting your coaching journey alongside your athletics career.
"If you can start your journey in a slow way with the course being flexible enabling you to work at your own pace. Having a transition from competing at your highest level to becoming a full-time coach and doing it more gradually, you will find it more enjoyable."
If you have been inspired by Jack and would like to start your own coaching journey either online or in person, view our range of courses and get started today!
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