Training session this morning.

My goal as a coach, is to become one of the best in the world. For me that means, a really good theoretical knowlegde, but still being able to see where I'm lacking. Being able to put out theory into good practise, and make trainings that challenge the athletes development. To always strive for becomming better at what I do. And maybe most importent, seeing the difference from athlete to athlete and still being able to make posibilities for everyone to develop, even if there in a bigger group.

As a coach I'm mostly measured by the results "my" athletes perform. That's okay with me, because I wan't the athletes to succeed in that way also. Still I know results come from hard work and not from speaking big words. So if "my" athletes need to succeed, they need to work hard. They have to understand that it's up to them to work hard, because I can't do the trainings for them, but I can challenge them and guide them on there way.

To meet theese goals, I mostly enjoy working with 1 on 1 coaching, but it's also really fun working with a gruop and with group kohesion.

So this morning I did some 1 on 1 coaching. Following the runners in the forrest is a really good way to do that. Especially young athletes need to be coached when things are happening out in the forrest. They need to become aware of what they do well, and what they can improve. Use of camera during the session, with an evaluation afterwords is also a really good way to do this. Then the athlete has a chance to see them self in action, and in that way the awereness is easier to achive.

The traning today had, use of compass as the theme. As you can see I manipulated the map, to make it easier to focus on the compass. At some points I also erased the detail inside the ring. This is normally not the way I do compass training, but from the expirence that theese athletes did,nt read the control description, I made it like this. I believe that compass is a really importent tool to use when running orienteering, and I wan't "my" athletes to trust in that. If you don't trust your compass, why use it? Another state from me, when you use the compass be accurate or don't use it. Often I see runners not using the compass properly and again why use if you don't know where your getting. So in theese sessions, I hope in time that they will develop a really good feeling with the compass and become able to use it as a basic in there orienteering method.

So getting back to being able to succeed, you need to work hard. Sometimes working hard means to get out of your comfort zone. Today the session was so challenging, that it was hard for to do well all the way. I would never put up a session like this just before importent races, because you might loose some or alot of self confidence. But as a development training it's really good, but for sure remember to coach everyone after the session.

New job!

So after the summer I have started a new job.

I'm now the orienteering coach for Wang toppidrett (a sports gymnasium).

We have 3 weekly trainings, that I plan. Apart from that my job is to help the students make good training plans and evaluate there training. This is a parttime job, so for me it's perfect to combine with my studies. Eivind Tonna had the job before me, and he has put up a good standard for the work. I hope to take it futher and maybe focus even more on the technical training. I believe that in age of 16-18 which the students have, it's really importent to get alot of technical traning, to put a good bacis. My goal for this autum is to make sure, that they have alot of different technical tools to use, while planning and executing a leg of the orienteering course.

So far it has been alot of fun and I really like working with young motivated athletes. The group is really dynamic, with alot of different personalities. I'm starting to get to know everyone and that's importent in my job. I know it's a good challenge to guide everyone in a good way, but I'm up for it, and I know that we are going to have some fun on the way. The level of students is really good, but there is still alot to work with. To be honest, I'm not really focusing on the results they perform right now. I'm focusing more on how much they can develop and maybe most importent, how much they wan't to develop. In Norway the posibilities of becoming a good orienteer is really great. So alot comes down to the induvidual athletes and if the take the consequence of the feedback they get from there training sessions and there performens. From working with some of the best, I know that it's not about how few mistakes you do. It's about searching to become better all the time and if you get a negative feedback, you take the consequence and become better at it. This does'nt mean that you only have to look for mistakes, you also have to know what youre good at, but don't be affraid making a mistake. Just my open thoughts on that, more to come.

Still to combine studies and traning like we do on Wang toppidrett, is something that I believe in, and I see it as a good posibility for youngsters to develop in a good way in an importent time of there life.

My own company

This year I have started a company. The purpuse is to do some small coaching jobs for clubs, groups or athletes and so far it has worked really well.

Here is a small comment on the jobs, I have done so far.

Anders Vister: This year Anders asked me to help him with his training. He is a really interesting athletes to work with and if he does his job the next years, it will be interesting to see how far he can get.

Nydalen SK: I have helped the club as being an advisor for some of the athletes. So far Nicole Ragvin has been the one who has used this offer. It's nice to help my old club.

Olav Lundanes: I have worked with Olav also this year. We have a talk every second month. In theese meetings we talk about everything concerning his training and life. Last year Olav became the world champion in long distance, and it has been really fun to work with him from the aged of 17 and then see him become the best in the world. I believe Olav have alot of good years in front of him.

Tue Lassen: For the second year I'm working with Tue on his Technical and mental development. It's motivating to work with Tue and we have a really good coorperation. It's also nice to give something back to Danish orienteering from where I grew up.

Fossum IF: In the spring I followed the talented runners from Fossum in the forrest and tried to give them some feedback on issues to work with technically. I made a project with using camera as feedback tool. It worked really well.

Lillomarka OL: I'm helping Lillomarka developing as a relay club. It's much fun to give my expirence from Halden to a upcoming club. I believe Lillomarka has understood that you have to work over time to become a relay club. So they take good expirence from each relay and maybe in time.....

NOF: I made a class for coaches in Norway on how I do the personal coaching. Nice to give away my thoughts. I also help NOF with making material for the trainer courses.

Vestfold O-krets: I used a day in Kongsberg with the juniors from Vestfold, working with the use of camera as feedback tool for technical development. The group was motivated and it was great fun. A really nice day, and I believe they could use the things I presented.

So if you or your club have some good ideas, but need help to start up. Just contact me, and I will se what I can do.

kbuch1979@gmail.com

Studies in Oslo

Yes, I will try agian. Maybe this time, I will keep it up for a longer time.

The idea is to write some thoughts about orienteering.

Just to keep you updatet I will write some small articles about the last year in my life.

Since last I have quit the coaching job in Halden SK(1/11-2010) and started studying agian. I'm really pleased with my work in Halden and I believe that I put my fingerprint on the athletes and the club. Now I'm doing the masters course in sportspsychology on the Norwegian school of sport science in Oslo. I'm really glad for the study and I really believe that I'm becoming a better coach during this course. Also in time I wan't to work more with sportspsychology, and I think the timing is really good. Now, I just started the 2. year of the study. The first year of the study has been just alot of different classes, while the second year is just for writing my master thesis. I'm writing about motivational changes in a orienteering race and how it effects the result of the race. I will promise to write more about this later.