Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Clinic for Coaches

Regulars have seen this before (sorta). A couple years ago I threw out the idea of organizing a coaches clinic around World Cup. I suggested the PSP might want to take credit for arranging it etc. I didn't really follow up because I didn't get anything approaching a clamor of public demand. Even so I still think it's a potentially worthwhile idea--but I still have no clue whether any of y'all are really interested. So here's your first opportunity. Is this something you would be interested in? (Or maybe friends of yours involved in the game? Hook a brother up. Not everyone reads VFTD you know.) If so what areas of coaching would be of the greatest interest?
I'ma put a coaches clinic link in the sidebar asap. There will be an email link--or you can respond in comments. Initially I'm curious to gauge interest levels and see what problem areas, if any, appear to be commonplace.
Periodically I will post general reminders and we'll see what happens. I am targeting PSP World Cup as the location and time frame as it will see the largest gathering of potential clinic goers--and everyone will be there anyway. I'm thinking right now that the best time would probably be one evening from approx. 7pm to 10 or 11pm. If you have a day preference feel free to include that in any comments.
The options are almost endless when it comes to the content of the actual clinic so I'm also thinking that the core of the clinic will be a Coaching 101 notebook that will provide fundamental info about everything from team organization to running a pit to focused drills in practice aimed at achieving specific results, etc. A little bit of everything (more or less) so that regardless of what's covered during the clinic hours everyone will also receive a (hopefully) handy reference guide that can continue to offer ideas, direction and information.
That's as far as I've thought it through. Depending on the venue I'm thinking a cost in the area of $35-$50. If there is sufficient interest as the time gets closer I'll be able to firm that up.

19 comments:

Barkeep said...

I think this is a great idea. I think there are a lot of teams, mine included that could benefit greatly from it. I particularly am interested in structuring practices, giving feedback to players, walking fields and breaking down games.

Barkeep said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Awesome idea! Problem may be that coaches will not have time at cup?

MikeMFromPrime said...

This would be great. Paintball coaching is very new territory. There aren't too many people even experienced in the arena.

Who'd be on a short list of folks to direct/inform such a meeting? Current and former Pro coaches seems like an easy one. Bob Long is/was renowned for his talent development.

Could there ever be a coach who's never played the game, at least at a high competitive level?

Twisted Games Of Texas Paintball said...

Definitely interested. Our shortcoming is time management. Have lost several matches over the past couple of years due to our inability to appropriately manage the match clock.

dan. said...

sign me up. I'd make time for it even though i'll be heavily involved with several teams at cup.

aSpaceApe said...

I am definitely interested

Missy Q said...

I'd have gone with a full day class the day before the cup starts, at $250/head. You're giving it away too cheap Loco, plus what value can you give in a couple of hours on an evening after a hot day's play?

Baca Loco said...

Missy
I read you but what you're really asking then is for those interested to miss another work day plus spend another night in a hotel and spend another wad of cash to participate.
Do I think a full day at your price would be well worth it for serious teams? Yes, I do but I'm more interested in reaching as many teams and coaches as possible and make it as easy to participate as possible.
If enough people wanted to expand the clinic it would be easy for me to do so it remains an option, I suppose.

Gabriel R. said...

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQCP85FngzE



Seriously, though. I'm down for this. If it's the day before Cup, I'll fly down early for it.

Anonymous said...

Interested for sure.

Ken said...

Baca, you must check the sanity of anyone who signs up to coach paintballers. I think you should require them to watch your "Ask the Coach" segments (which by the way, we are long overdue for another installment) and understand the truth behind the humour.

(In all seriousness, I applaud the effort coaches put in for such a thankless job. This is more or less me wanting another Ask the Coach......did I mention I like Ask the Coach?)

Gary Baum said...

" Clinics Aren't Just For Players Anymore"

http://viewfromthedeadbox.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-02-12T15:29:00-05:00&max-results=15&start=45&by-date=false

It seems OFOV (owner of VFTD) and renowned paintball coach Baca Loco is gonna be participating in a paintball coaches clinic in Lakeland Florida. (Is that what you're really doing in Lakeland, Baca ?)

"Who says there's no money in paintball?"

I sorry I could not resist posting this :-)

Anonymous said...

I would be interested even though Im not a coach. I want to be the best player I can, the more information the better. I look all the time for techniques for breaking down field layouts, tips and strategies. Shoot that is how I found this blog. I hope it happens....I'll be there!

Baca Loco said...

Ken
I probably get more Ask the Coach requests than anything else. I have a couple of scripts ready--so we'll see. ;)

Gary
If they think that's money they must be living in a treehouse.

No, I visit Lakeland for the culture. /sarcasm

houdini said...

Baca - Sent you an email about a related proposal... (hotmail account)

Fullbore said...

Actual value, probably in excess of 10x whatever the fee is, an investment that will keep on paying out!

Anonymous said...

Put me in coach, i am so down for this.

Oli said...

Count me in.. and quite possibly two more teammates!