The following is written for the purpose to share and create some thinking about how we as coaches can do better. These ideas are things that I have learned by experience and study, and writing. In no way do I feel that I am an expert. I still need to learn and grow as a coach. I hope that as you read you will be willing to think and share your feelings about how we can help to build great young people so that they become great adults.
Introduction to Self Determination Theory
Every club coach has, at least once in his/her career, wondered how to keep kids in the water and prevent them from moving on to other sports. Perhaps the answer lies in the writings and research of Richard Ryan and Edward Deci who developed the Self Determination Theory (SDT) in 1985. Ryan and Deci were "focused on the social-contextual conditions that facilitate versus forestall the natural processes of self-motivation and healthy psychological development." They postulated that everyone is motivated by three basic innate needs. These are: 1. Autonomy; 2. Competency, 3. Relatedness. Ryan and Deci defined each of these needs as follows:
1.Autonomy is defined as a participant's feeling that they have a choice in what they do. In swimming terms autonomy can relate to a participant being given a choice in what events he/she might swim, or train.
2. Competency is defined as the participant's belief or feeling that they can do the activity, stroke, or set they are being asked to perform or complete. In a swim training or competing setting it is the perception that the participant has that they are able to successfully complete the task they are being given to complete.
3. Relatedness is defined as the sense that the participant has that connects them to the sport, their teammates, the coaches and so on. It is often described as that "warm and fuzzy" feeling they may develop that they matter to the sport, team or the coach. When the participant feels connected to these entities they feel a heightened sense of willingness to attend and compete at a higher level.
There are volumes of research that indicate when participants have a greater sense of autonomy, competency and relatedness they are more likely to persist in their efforts to attend and be a part of the team. They are more likely to be intrinsically motivated and therefore more willing to learn and grow in the sport. The research also indicates that when these needs, autonomy, competency and relatedness are addressed by the coach(es) the participants are more likely to continue to return and further their participation.
How to (Recommendations)
Autonomy. The coach is the central figure in helping to insure that these needs are addressed. The coach needs to find ways to allow for autonomy within the practice setting. The coach is the recognized expert in the training process but can allow for autonomy in the training setting. To allow for autonomy the coach can set aside a day, or two,or three where he/she allows for the swimmer to choose their stroke. The coach could also present the swimmer with two sets, both of which can be designed to achieve the desired training outcome, and allow a choice of set "A" or set "B". For swim meets the swimmers can be given their choice of events. The coach can present the swimmers with one required event and then they can choose the remaining two or three, or whatever the maximum number of events might be.
Competency. The coach must become a teacher of proper skills and event requirements. The coach needs to recognize when the swimmer is ready to compete in any given event and distance. There are many requirements for a swimmer in any given stroke, event or distance. Nothing is more frustrating for the swimmer then continually being put into a situation where they may fail at performing by getting disqualified for not doing the proper stroke, or turn, or technique. Perhaps even worse is the feeling of failure that may happen if the swimmer is not able to complete a given swim because he/she has not developed the conditioning level needed for a successful completion of the event.
Relatedness. Once again the coach here is central to "connecting" the swimmers to the sport, their teammates and even the coach. to do this the coach must reach out to each swimmer and demonstrate that he/she cares about everyone. To do this the coach should daily try to speak to each member of the team or group. Simply saying hello and welcoming them to practice helps to do this, however what is even more important is to thank the swimmers for coming to practice and being a part of the team and swimming. The coach can also create a culture where each member of the group cares for each other. Stressing that everyone is important and helping the swimmers to learn to work with and support each other will help to build relatedness. The coach needs to learn to be a "needs" supportive coach. The coach can still be tough and have high expectations while being needs supportive.
If you would like to read more you can go the following sites. Many of articles can be found by "googling" Self Determination Theory.
1. https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/the-theory/
2. file:///media/removable/KINGSTON/2000_RyanDeci_SDT.pdf
3. https://psychology.iresearchnet.com/sports-psychology/sport-motivation/what-is-self-determination-theory/
4. https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/intrinsic-motivation-self-determination-exercise-sport/
5. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nikos_Ntoumanis/publication/11927839_Empirical_links_between_achievement_goal_theory_and_self-determination_theo
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