Anti-discrimination

Being an inclusive coach is a fundamental requirement for being a great coach. Being inclusive means adapting and modifying coaching practices and activities to ensure that every participant regardless of 

• Age, 
• Gender, 
• Ability level, 
• Disability and ethnic background 

is included (that is, has the opportunity to participate if they choose to). 

Great coaches adapt and modify aspects of their coaching and create an environment that caters for individual needs and allows everyone to take part. 

The onus of inclusion rests with the coach. Developing and delivering culturally appropriate, structured sporting activities for ALL sportspeople can be a challenge for any coach. 

Coaches do not need special skills or knowledge to include all participants. Many people, for example, think that you need special skills or knowledge to coach participants with a disability. This is not the case. The basic skills of quality coaching outlined in this course, when applied with an inclusive philosophy, will ensure that the inclusion of all participants, including people with a disability, becomes a natural part of coaching.

Adapting existing contemporary coaching styles and techniques to meet the needs of Indigenous and immigrant sportspeople, particularly in regions where immigrant sportspeople may make up the majority of a team or club, provides the basis for a much improved sporting experience, retention in sport over the longer term and a potentially successful sporting pathway for all sportspeople to compete at the highest level in sport. 

Cultural differences can be the reason for exclusion of Immigrant and Indigenous people in sport, particularly in urban or remote regions of the USA. 

To ensure Immigrant and Indigenous people are included in the sport of Kickboxing, it is important for coaches to understand what culture is and the importance it plays in ALL athlete’s lives. 

Coaches do not need ‘special’ skills.

Qualities & Skills of an Inclusive Coach

Qualities

Patience: Recognising that some participants will take longer to develop skills or make progress than others.

Respect: Acknowledging difference and treating all participants as individuals.

Adaptability: Having a flexible approach to coaching and communication that recognises individual differences. 

Skills

Organisation: Recognising the importance of preparation and planning 

Safe practices: Ensuring that every session, whether with groups or individuals, is carried out with the participants’ safety in mind 

Knowledge: Possessing the ability to utilise knowledge of appropriate practices and how to modify them in order to maximise the potential of every participant

4 Core Coaching Skills (Reminder)

• TEACHING
• LEADERSHIP
• MANAGEMENT
• ANALYTICAL