Bowling Coaches Need To Keep Studying

My friend, Bruce, is getting his USBC Bronze Coaching certification this weekend. I asked him to help with coaching a high school bowling team and he enjoyed it so much, he went online and got his USBC Level 1 Coaching diploma. Then, one of the local bowling centers (the same one where I went to for my certification) organized another conference for this weekend and he was one of the first to sign up. Congratulations, Bruce!!!

Even in the past three years, the course has changed and has been re-written to embrace the new techniques and technologies of our dynamic sport. I haven't seen all the study lessons from the course that Bruce is taking; but, I'm anxious to see what the changes are, if any.

With the revamping of the USBC Coach's Association, we have to take ongoing seminars and/or classes for Continuing Education Units (CEU) in order to maintain our coaching rating. This is a great organizational move on the part of the governing body because there was no way, in the past, to keep track of people who represented themselves as "coaches," but, who hadn't upgraded their skills or taught anyone for many years.

Too many changes happen on an ongoing basis. For example, when I look back into my handouts and workbooks from the Young America Bowling Alliance (YABA) Level 1 certification seminar that I received in the mid-1990's, a large percentage of the information is now obsolete. Even the information in the Olympic Bowling Level 1 certification class taken in the late-1990's has too much out-dated things in it.

Until I took the Bronze certification class, I was basing what I taught to youth bowlers on that "old stuff." The sport of bowling continues to change, literally, on a day-to-day basis and it behooves all us coaches to keep abreast of as many changes as we can.

We should know the history of bowling which would include the general information as well as types of equipment that were used in the past. Let's say that I get a bowler who's returning to the sport after many years. Our knowledge level must be such that we can lead them in making the transition from the "old-style" of bowling to the modern era. If we were to teach that bowler the techniques that would have made them successful in the 1970's, you can bet we would have a very frustrated bowler on our hands who would have a difficult time getting back to the "way they used to bowl."

We also need a knowledge of the current technologies and developments occurring on a worldwide basis in our sport. If we have a brand new bowler, regardless of age, we need to be able to teach that student what is necessary to enjoy the game and make progress in today's methodology of bowling.

There are so many opportunities available to the modern day, amateur bowler. High School bowling, College scholarships, Team USA bowling representing our country in international events, and World Bowling Championships.

If we don't coach them properly, we're doing a disservice to them. We want them to achieve the highest levels possible and assist them in attaining their highest possible goals in the sport of bowling.

A Hui Hou! (See You Again!)