Coaching conversations affect outcomes, including the likelihood of better performance, personal development and improved sporting environment. These conversations may be a brief few words in the heat of competition, or an informal chat with a troubled player, but they are the essence of coaching; and they can be conducted skillfully, or less so. Have you heard about something called motivational
interviewing? Have you ever wondered why and exactly how conversations inspire change, and what the skills involved are? When might you give direct instruction, simply listen, or something in between? Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been developed, refined and evaluated over the last 30 years in some tough environments (addiction, prisons) and in everyday settings (schools, health care clinics) with a single common purpose: to use listening and other skills to enhance motivation and promote behavior change. This workshop brings MI into the sporting world, using a broad model of communication styles as a foundation for improving coaching practice. When might you simply advise someone to do this or that? When is it better to hold back and let them work this out for themselves? How do you diffuse conflict in a constructive way? What communication styles do you use, and how can you be more skillful? How would you feel if you could develop razor-sharp communication skills to affect the best outcomes possible in your coaching? The workshop
A day to discuss, practice and listen, using everyday coaching scenarios
• This 1-day workshop will welcome coaches, colleagues, administrators and sportspeople themselves to consider what a realistic and effective conversation looks and feels like.
• It will be of value to anyone involved in sport, from the community field to the elite sporting environment.
• Attention will focus on the spirit and practice of coaching conversation skills that make a difference, with an emphasis on how motivational interviewing improves practice.
• A few themes are like to feature strongly: persuasion often meets with resistance; listening can be used purposefully and efficiently; and flexibility is close to the art of conversation skills that improve outcomes.
• The workshop will cover the practice of a full range of communication styles, using demonstration, videos, and the discussion of everyday scenarios in sport. Trainers
Dr Imtiaz Ahmad is a GP Trainer and Lecturer in communication skills. He is the Chairman of the Football Association Medical Society (SE) and the Development & Academy Team Doctor for Tottenham Hotspur FC since 2008. He has a special interest in mental health issues in athletes and communication between players and staff in the elite sporting environment. He is co-founder of London MRCGP Courses and author of ‘How to Pass the Clinical Skills Assessment’ for GPs. Professor Stephen Rollnick, a clinical psychologist and Honorary Distinguished Professor at Cardiff University, has spent 35 years on the subject of motivation and behavior change. As a co-founder of motivational interviewing he has trained thousands of people worldwide, and has used sport participation, often cricket, to survive and thrive with his family and friends. He grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and now lives in Wales. Dr Ahmad and Professor Rollnick will be supported by a team of experts with diverse experience in sport including Caro Wild (Street Games), Rob Shannon (psychologist and exercise behavior expert), Dr Tim Anstiss (former international pole-vaulter and medical adviser to the Rugby Player Association), Dr Nina Gobat (trainer in motivational interviewing) and Dr Jeff Breckon (former footballer and university researcher in sport & exercise). Expert Commentator
Mr Pat Jennings former goalkeeper for Northern Ireland, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, will use his considerable experience of playing and coaching to reflect on communication in football and comment on discussions that unfold during the workshop. Registration
Places will be booked on a first-come-first-served basis. Please complete an application form at: http://www.micardiff.co.uk/registration.php
Cost
The cost is £125 or £100 for students for the one day**. There are limited reduced rate places available for registered students and groups. This price includes training fees, morning and afternoon refreshments, and buffet lunch. This workshop is being run privately, is not associated with any organisation or institution, and includes the cost of reusable beaded name badge holders produced by HIV-positive mothers in South Africa, see www.kidzpositive.org
A percentage of all profit will go to the “friends of MI” 1% Fund (see www.mionepercent.org) and the Tom Maynard Trust (http://www.tommaynardtrust.com ). Venue
Swalec Stadium, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9XR. This is a spacious and modern facility, close to the city centre, with views over the county cricket ground and surrounding parkland.
