What grassroots coaches can teach Olympic coaches.......

As the Summer turns into Autumn I take off my cricket coaching spikes and pull on my rugby boots and whistle. In my first coaching role at British Cycling, which I started back in 2002, I was working with some of the most talented and highest potential cyclist in the North West of England. There were two elements to the role - No.1 to develop high potential, but existing athletes, within the pathway. And... No.2 to go into schools and run activities for kids who had little to no cycling experience and see if we could turn "schoolies" into future champions.

The story of a young female cyclist athlete found in a North Shropshire school who went on the represent TeamGB at London 2012 is a tale for another time but I loved the work, it taught me soo much and influenced both my coaching and my leadership.

Now as a volunteer coach at both my local cricket and rugby clubs I draw on lessons learned back in the early naughties and I want to share 5 tips with you here that I believe are relevant at both grassroots and Olympic/Paralympic level....

Grassroots coaching is where its at!

1. Build strong relationships - Coaching is first and foremost about people. Taking time to understand your athletes, their personalities, and what motivates them builds trust and connection. When athletes feel valued and understood beyond just their sporting personas, they are far more likely to buy into your coaching, believe in what they doing and give their best effort.

2. Keep it fun - At every level of sport, enjoyment is the foundation of learning. If athletes are engaged and having fun, they are more open to challenge, feedback, and improvement. Fun doesn’t mean a lack of seriousness — it means creating an environment where people love the process as much as the outcome. "Play" is as crucial to the development of Olympic Champions as it is to maintaining the attention of grass roots athletes.

3. Focus on the basics - Mastering fundamentals is what allows athletes to progress and perform consistently under pressure. Whether it’s technical skills, physical preparation, or strong habits, getting the basics right creates a platform for success. Even at the highest levels, champions continually revisit and refine the simple things. In swimming and in kayaking the performance of various skill based "drills" is a key component to creating efficiency with all levels of athlete.

4. Ask questions - Great coaching isn’t about giving all the answers — it’s about asking the right questions. Encouraging athletes to reflect on what they did, how it felt, and what they might change helps them take ownership of their learning. This approach develops independence, resilience, and smarter decision-making in competition. When I work in Premier League football academies I often ask the coaches how they incorporate questioning into their practice.

5. Balance challenge with support - Athletes thrive when they are pushed to stretch themselves, but only if they also feel supported. Too much challenge without care can cause fear or burnout, while too much comfort limits growth. The art of coaching is finding the sweet spot where athletes feel both stretched and safe and the added complexity is that is rarely the same spot for each of the athletes you are coaching.