(September 2014)–This past year I ventured into unknown territory in terms of the game of golf. I completed my first season as a Middle School Golf Coach while I also further introduced my 5-year-old son to the game. I had no idea what I was in for during my first season of coaching golf, so I kept an open mind and decided that I would try to learn as much about the season long process as possible.
It has been a few decades since I’ve been in middle school and I was guessing that a few things had changed in that time. Meeting and getting to know my team was an eye-opening experience—to say the least. I was immediately transported back in time and even though the technology of the day has changed, most things have pretty much stayed the same. Middle school kids are still trying to find their way not only in school but in life and count on adults to help as well as to know when to get out of the way. Life on the golf course is no different. Knowing when to instruct and knowing when to pull back and let a player experience something on their own was something that I learned quickly.
I learned that as long as each player is told what is expected of them then they have a better understanding of how to get it done or seek help when they cannot. Whether I want to admit it or not, I am a role model for all of the lives that I touch on or around the golf course. The kids that I coach along with my son count on me not only for golf wisdom and advice but they also look to me for cues and lessons about how to deal with life as a whole.
Now the other side of this coin is that they are still middle school kids and their attention span is even shorter today than it was when I was in middle school. Smart phones, social networking and so many outside forces are fighting for what little attention each golfer is paying toward their game. Maintaining focus for as long as possible has and will continue to be an uphill battle but one that you can at least earn a draw because winning sometimes seems like a long shot. It all starts with keeping the game fun at ALL times.
Now my son is a vastly different ballgame but not completely. In his eyes daddy can do no wrong and as long as he sees how important golf is to me then he will at least always have a passing interest in playing. Getting him beyond a passing fancy is a challenge that I feel most parents/coaches fail miserably at, simply because they do not listen. While at the driving range one day my son once told me that he no longer wanted to hit the ball and was happy just watching me hit the ball far. That was when the light bulb went off and I knew that if I pushed him harder he may possibly never want to golf again. So I practiced, he watched and when we were done we both went inside for his favorite drink…sweet tea.
Golf unfortunately is often a solitary game where it is more often than not just you and the ball. You may have a coach/instructor with you from time to time but repeating a golf swing continuously for 20-40 minutes of just practice is a daunting task to ask any child to complete. ALL kids need instant feedback to know that what they are doing is correct and even worth doing at all. In golf that is a little harder to do but not impossible as you just need to find the right triggers to reach your audience. My son loves to putt the ball simply because it goes into the hole giving him the feeling that he did it right and that feeling alone will make him want to do it over and over again. As kids get older their level of feedback needs to grow right along with them. It can range from them hitting the ball really far to chipping the ball into a small net that is 15 yards away.
Every junior golfer has something that will make them keep working at golf but it is a coach’s job to find it. Keeping each golfer engaged while maintaining a constant level of authority has been a challenging and incredibly rewarding journey even after just one season. I cannot wait for season #2!
Talk to you again, soon.
Anthony
Anthony L. Wilkins is a national Academy of Sports Medicine & Titleist Performance Institute Certified Personal Trainer an avid golfer from New Jersey who currently resides in the metro Atlanta area with his wife and son. His book, Foundation to Fairways: The Everyman’s Guide to Golf Through Fitness & Strategic Performance can be purchased HERE
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