KEEN veteran coaches have put together the following suggestions for having the best possible time with an athlete:
1. Read your athlete’s profile.
- Look for helpful hints, like calming techniques, motivating techniques, or behavior management techniques.
- Read about what the athlete’s parents hope the athlete will gain from KEEN.
2. Talk to the athlete’s parent when he/she is being dropped off.
- Ask whether there is anything new you should know (e.g., is athlete particularly tired, did athlete learn new skills at school, etc.).
- Clarify any questions you have about the profile.
3. Communicate clearly.
- Tell your athlete at the outset of the session exactly what activities you will be doing.
- When giving any instructions, keep your directions short and simple. Avoid complex directions. Break down tasks/activities into distinct pieces, if needed.
- Make eye contact with your athlete when giving directions.
4. Be firm.
- Don’t be afraid to speak firmly to an athlete if he/she is not trying to participate in something that he/she typically likes to do or is able to do. Some athletes pretend to sleep when they don’t want to participate!
- If, after your attempts to be firm, the athlete still refuses to cooperate, please inform the KEEN Coordinator. He/she can be the “bad cop.”
5. Recognize and celebrate progress.
- The way we “measure” progress in a KEEN session is very different than how progress might be measured in other settings. For example, it might be a great achievement for an athlete just to make it all the way through the session. Or it may be an amazing accomplishment to follow a simple set of directions.
- Each step is significant. Putting all those steps together can add up to a major accomplishment.
- Record progress on profile at the end of the session.
- Celebrate with “high-fives” and by sharing important moments during “Prouds.”
6. Share ideas with future coaches.
- Record helpful hints on the athlete’s profile, particularly if something worked well.
- Make note of activities your athlete particularly enjoyed or disliked.
7. Ask for help if needed.
- The KEEN Program Coordinator is typically roving to check on coaches and athletes. Feel free to stop them and ask for help.
8. Have fun!
