Q: What is the similarity between someone winning a fortune in the lottery draw (lotto) and an elite amateur golfer turning professional?

A: Their sudden change of status means both undergo the process of ‘transition’ and managing that process well is easier said than done.

The challenge of  successfully ‘transitioning’ is highlighted by the fact that up to 70% of all major lottery winners worldwide end up bankrupt within a few years of their big win and less than 1% of elite amateurs make the ‘grade’ in big-time professional golf.

For my Sports Coaching MSc dissertation I was lucky enough to interview nine former elite male amateur golfers about their experiences following their transition to professional golf. My presentation at the first A.S.K workshop in Hungary will cover some of the findings of my research and possibly challenge those present to see the process of ‘elite players turning professional’ through new eyes.

‘Barriers and coping resources’ is an expression coined by Dr Natalia Stambulova, one of the world leaders in understanding why some athletes make the grade while most do not. It refers to Dr.  Stambulova’s ‘formula for success’ for elite athletes.

During my presentation I will draw on some of her research work as well as that Dr. Nancy Schlossberg; a leading authority of ‘life transitions’.

Suggested pre-reading for ASK delegates:

Stambulova, N., Alfermann, D., Statler, T., & CôTé, J. E. A. N. (2009). ISSP position stand: Career development and transitions of athletes. International journal of sport and exercise psychology, 7(4), 395-412.

Henriksen, K., Stambulova, N., & Roessler, K. K. (2010). Successful talent development in track and field: considering the role of environment. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 20(s2), 122-132.

For more information and to register visit http://eur.pe/ASKWorkshops-Hungary

For more information about the 2016 A.S.K. Workshops visit http://eur.pe/ASKWorkshops-Hungary, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search #ASKWorkshops, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

Research has shown coaching and the relationships between players, parents and diverse coaches to be an often “messy” and complex process. My interest in the subject of inter-coach relationships initially stems from my own experiences during an eight year period (2001-2008) where I was a highly motivated junior coach at Sigmaringen Golf Club in South-West Germany.

During that period and under my guidance, our junior programme developed 5 elite players who went on to gain state (regional) or national recognition through their on-course achievements.  My relationship with the various county and national coaches during that period varied from very collaborative to passive-aggressive to non-existent.

Feedback from many home and regional/national coaching colleagues throughout Europe indicate tension or a lack of communication often exists between them and one can reasonably assume these seemingly fractured relationships impact negatively upon player development.

During my 2015 Coaches Circle presentation I will initially discuss the “why?” behind the differing relationships between home and county/national coaches.  Part of this discussion will cover the micro-politics of governing bodies within Golf, the various effect of pyramid systems on coaches and players, and why coaches may find it difficult to “park their ego” when working with junior players.

To conclude my presentation I will suggest two possible strategies for developing more productive home and regional/national coach relationships.

Pre-Event Reading

• Branton, J. A. (2013) Understanding the relationships between parents, coach and golfer and their Role in talent development (MPhil Dissertation, University of Birmingham).
• Collins, D., Abraham, A., & Collins, R. (2012). On Vampires and Wolves—Exposing and exploring reasons for the differential impact of coach education. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 43(3), 255.
• Carfaro, V. A. (2013) Early developmental experiences of professional golfers: a case study from the UK (MPhil Dissertation, University of Birmingham).
• Jones, R. L., Armour, K. M., & Potrac, P. (2002). Understanding the coaching process: A framework for social analysis. Quest, 54(1), 34-48.
• Jowett, S., & Cockerill, I. M. (2003). Olympic medallists’ perspective of the althlete–coach relationship. Psychology of sport and exercise, 4(4), 313-331.

For more information on the 2015 Coaches Circle Visit the Event Hub Page: http://eur.pe/2015CoachesCircle