We have developed the PGA Junior Coaching Framework to help Members deliver quality, engaging and inclusive coaching for juniors. Last month, the first of a series of workshops took place at The Belfry.
The PGA Junior Coaching Framework aims to boost participation, improve retention and ensure the game is welcoming in those early initial steps. A dedicated junior coaching tile on PGA Learn forms a central hub for tools and resources and we have now held our first workshop at The PGA National Training Academy.
Led by Sam Carr, PGA Member Support Manager, a Junior Coaching Advisory Group has been set up with 10 Members, from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and philosophies.
These Members are:
Howie Carson, Scotland, University of Edinburgh Institute for Sports & Exercise; Neil Plimmer, South, JOLF Ltd; Rob Spurrier, West, Orbis Golf; Sally Hinton, North, Close House; Aaron Lansberry, Midlands, Ignite Golf; Tom Davies, Overseas, Performance Golf Slovakia; Ben Knight, South, Chartham Park; Jack Cole, East, Little Channels Golf Centre; Douglas Bell, Ireland, Green Life Golf Centre; Nick Horrocks, West, The Masters Golf Company Ltd.
The workshop involved a range of expert speakers, from PGA Members to industry representatives, to highlight proven strategies and ensure attendees left with ideas that could be put into action immediately.
PGA Master Professional Pete Ball, who has coached thousands of youngsters over his career, appeared at the first workshop. Ball was Danny Willett’s first coach, working with him and thousands of other youngsters from inner-city Sheffield at the municipal course at Birley Wood. The next events will take place in Scotland and Ireland.
Details will be announced soon, so please stay alert for updates.
- To find junior coaching resources, click here
What the attendees said
Matthew Lawes
PGA Professional
West Hill, Surrey
I’m currently running and building a junior programme at my golf club so I wanted to come here to build on ideas, create more information and build more relations in terms of helping me improve as a junior coach and improve the juniors that I teach – so it’s a great place to get lots of information from very experienced minds.
I always enjoy attending CPD events because it gives me an extra spur of motivation after the event to go away and put new things into what I’m doing. I always try to make sure to get one thing from it at least, but generally it’s many more and it provides that boost of energy to coach better and teach better.
Andy Plester
PGA Coach
Ullesthorpe Court, Leicestershire
It provides Members with the support and expertise that they need to take something from today into what they do every day at work. It’s hugely important in coaching because it’s the future of every golf club. It’s a great idea. If you’re thinking of building a junior academy, this is definitely the place to come, to learn, network and just have a really good day.
Tony Westwood
PGA Professional
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Having coached for 40 years now across all levels, especially juniors, I think it’s important to continue growth and your own development, you can always learn something new.
I’m here to find some new ideas that I can put into our academy at Melton to see what we can do in growing the next generations of junior golfers. The work The PGA has put in to develop these courses and get the experts involved to help us to grow, whether it’s for personal benefit or the benefit of others, is very important.
What our expert speakers said
Howie Carson
Senior Lecturer
University of Edinburgh
Expert coaching happens at all levels of the game. By taking a pragmatic approach to how we understand expertise, we will enable people to see the good coaching work that is taking place. I would encourage fellow PGA Members to attend CPD days like this one because it provides opportunities to share ideas with other Members, to reflect on your own coaching practice and to consider new ways of coaching that you hadn’t before, based on the experiences of others.
Pictured sat at the front (right): PGA Masters Professional Pete Ball
Pete Ball
PGA Master Professional
Royal North Devon
It’s about getting Members to become the pied piper. If we can get that message across to all Members in the room: if we lead, they will follow. That is really important. If nothing else, when they’re sitting and having a coffee, they’re exchanging ideas and hopefully talking about what they’ve heard in the room on the CPD days. And engaging on the ‘why’. Why they’re there and what they are taking from the day with like-minded people. You have a formal setting and it’s the informal learning that takes place around a coffee that I think Is critical. You’re swapping ideas.
Sally Hinton
WPGA Committee Member and Junior Coaching Advisory Group Member
Close House, Newcastle
Visibility is so important in girls’ golf – make sure the sessions are promoted on social media, shout about it, make it as visible as you can because if you can see it, you can be it. It’s really important for girls.
Unfortunately, golf does still suffer from a bit of a stigma. Things like it being expensive, only for men and that can be a barrier to people starting. But I think by promoting sessions that are inclusive, girls only, or sessions for everyone, we can get around that, and I always include in my promotion that clubs are included, you don’t need equipment and the sessions are accessible in terms of price too.
Pictured: Advanced Fellow Coach Ben Knight
Ben Knight
Advanced Fellow Coach
Chartham Park, Sussex
Coming to CPD events is really important. Not necessarily just for the slides and the presentations you see, but for engaging with other Members in the breaks informally.
Every CPD session that I’ve ever been to, I’ve taken away a couple of key things. The PGA’s role is hugely important for junior development coaching-wise, and also in terms of advising on safeguarding and wellbeing.
