Coaching & Co-Regulation

I had the best conversation this week with Coach TJ Atley of the Zone Golf Academy in Canada. She's been reading 𝐶𝑜-𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐻𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 and couldn’t believe how the strategies discussed immediately helped facilitate her teaching. I am not a golfer so please forgive any of my mistakes as I do my best to recap one of her examples for you!

She usually has kids practice putting - one child at a time. After not too long, many of the kids who are NOT the one putting, have trouble waiting, and inevitably complain (“I NEVER get a turn”, “He’s getting more turns than I did… NO fair!”). Who hasn’t experienced this type of thing?

After starting to think about co-regulation, Coach TJ realized that only one child at a time – “the putter” - had a competent, authentic role. She began to think about changing this routine, so that the kids who were waiting, would also have a competent, authentic role. And better yet – their roles would all be contingent. This is co-regulation!

Here is what she did:

Coach TJ created roles of: “putter”, “placer” and “ball-getter” for the kids. The “placer” was in charge of placing the ball on the T for the putter, the “putter” chipped the ball, and the “getter” got the ball after it was chipped. Immediately, she had a routine in which all kids could assume competent, contingent roles, feel useful, help each other out, and as a result, become a true team! Coach TJ noticed right away how the dynamic changed and became positive for everyone.

I say this in my book – this is not rocket science. Anyone can learn to think in this way or look at routines through this lens once they learn how. And the beauty of reshaping a routine using co-regulation, is how powerful, positive, and connecting the experience then becomes for everyone involved.

Do you know a coach who could benefit from 𝐶𝑜-𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐻𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘? Share this post and spread the word!

Have a great week!

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