Clinic Report Coaches Forum 2006

ADA Dressage Coaches Forum 2006
Red Deer Lodge, Red Deer, Alberta
February 11, 2006

From all of Alberta, we had 38 dressage coaches and 4 presenters attend the 2nd Alberta Dressage Coaches Forum, Saturday February 11, 2006 in Red Deer. We started the day with a presentation from sport psychologist April Clay. To be a thinking rider, April let us know we must start with awareness, basic mental skills ,and tools for using the skills to attain a level of expertise.

We learned ideas how to deal with self talk, mental rehearsal, visualization, focus/concentration, body diction, goal setting, awareness, competition skills, the ideal performance state and the practical application of these positive practices in our coaching philosophy. Thanks April, for tailoring this presentation to dressage coaching. From a sport psychology aspect, our sport, as all sports do, has specific issues. April helped us identify our specific dressage issues and learn the appropriate coaching response.

We all enjoyed a great lunch and previewed a dressage DVD from Europe.

We all introduced ourselves to the group and then split out into 3 workshop groups, Straightness with Crystal Kroetch, Biomechanics of Collection with Tina Watkins, Show Preparation with Norma Jean Clayton. After the break we changed groups and got involved in another interesting session hour. The workshop sessions were lively and left everyone wanting to learn more.

From the evaluation forms left with me, everyone is looking forward to next year’s forum. I will be mailing out a coaches contact list to all participants from the day.

Thanks to all the participants in the forum, coaches and presenters. A special thanks to the ADA for taking a long term vision for dressage in Alberta and sponsoring the day!

Vickie

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