Zoe is all about PEOPLE
This week has seen the launch of UK Coaching’s Principles of Great Coaching. The Principles of Great Coaching are centred on the acronym PEOPLE and have been designed to help people who are coached, coaches and the wider general public understand what great coaching is.
Local tennis coach Zoe, is a proactive coach whose passion for the game has encouraged many women who would never have even considered picking up a racket to come along a have a go!
Zoe was instrumental in developing a very successful ThisGirlCan 50-60yrs women’s tennis project that saw women having a giggle whilst also getting fit and learning new skills. Zoe has gone on to become a LTA ‘She Rallies’ ambassador which involves inspiring and empowering a female workforce to create more opportunities for women and girls in tennis. Zoe is a great example of a coach that puts the ‘PEOPLE’ principles into practice week in week out on the court. She has also just last month qualified as a LTA Level 4 Senior Club Coach, which was a huge personal achievement to her.
Read more about why Zoe loves to coach!
“I personally decided to get into coaching to create opportunities for women to get back playing a sport which offers huge benefits mentally and physically.
“I was very keen to get involved in developing a Over 50’s tennis club session in my local area of Shenstone. Through thisgirlcan funding provided by SASSOT I set about running free Cardio Lite sessions. To get players on board I posted flyers through every door in the village and used Whats app groups to spread the word.
“Getting involved with this project broke down lots of barriers for 50-60 years old ladies making the game accessible, enjoyable and sociable. I adopted a positive and empowering coaching style where the ladies would have a say in shaping the session on a week by week basis creating a fun and engaging atmosphere. The 50 – 60 group do not see themselves as old but also do not want to be put with young gym bunnies. The social and fun aspect was a huge part of why the project was a success, a lot of the ladies had lost confidence and as a coach helping players mentally and physically on a weekly basis was hugely rewarding.
“Playing sport as a youngster I saw huge benefits on self-confidence, so being a part of developing that self-confidence in women and girls who have not yet had the right environment in which to play a sport is hugely rewarding.
“Meeting different people on a daily basis is what I enjoy most about my job, playing tennis and coaching is very sociable so has had a very positive impact mentally.
“There are lots of opportunities for women in coaching now and more women needed in coaching roles to encourage more females to start playing the game. There are opportunities at every level whether its developing tennis at grassroots level or performance.”
Join UK Coaching in celebrating great coaching and supporting Coaching Week from 4-10 June 2018 and share your #GreatCoaching experiences on social media. For more info, visit www.ukcoaching.org/greatcoaching