Volunteer Coaching Handbook

2014 Edition, The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties

FOSTER SUCCESS THROUGH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT – VOLUNTEER! At The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties, our goal is to make our participants more successful individuals first, and better golfers second. We are here to give our participants the tools to make positive decisions on and off the golf course. We hope you will build strong, caring relationships with the youth that we serve. Participants are more willing to accept what we teach when it comes from a caring instructor in a safe, positive, environment.

MISSION OF THE FIRST TEE OF SPARTANBURG & CHEROKEE COUNTIES To positively impact the lives of local youth by providing character education programs that promote core values and healthy habits through the game of golf

ABOUT THE FIRST TEE The First Tee was created in 1997 to introduce young people of all backgrounds to the game of golf and its life lessons. Through The First Tee Life Skills Experience, young people discover how skills essential to success on the golf course can help them flourish in life. These skills include self-management, interpersonal communication, goal setting, mentoring, and conflict resolution. The First Tee Life Skills Experience strives to instill in participants The First Tee Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits. Founding Corporate Partner: Shell Oil Company Founding Partners: Augusta National Golf Club, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, and USGA

ABOUT THE FIRST TEE OF SPARTANBURG & CHEROKEE COUNTIES The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties is one of 188 chapters of The First Tee, a global initiative of the World Golf Foundation. Our vision is to be recognized as an effective youth development organization, making a positive impact on our community by fostering success in our participants. We believe in a mission-centered approach to programming; a positive learning experience for every participant; dedication and passion in our board members, staff, and volunteers. The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties was chartered in 2002 and conducts Open Enrollment programming seasonally in spring, summer, and fall at three learning centers – The Creek, Woodfin Ridge, and Cherokee National Golf Clubs. Programming is also conducted through Outreach Clinics and The First Tee National School Program at an elementary level in local schools.

THE FIRST TEE NINE CORE VALUES Golf is an ideal context for acquiring The First Tee Nine Core Values, because it is a voluntary activity that provides challenges, requires commitment and effort over time, and has clear rules. The First Tee Life Skills Experience creates a youth-centered, mastery driven climate in which young people are empowered to explore options and make decisions, two elements that are critical to the development of a child’s value system. The First Tee Nine Core Values: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Courtesy, Judgment, Confidence, Responsibility, and Perseverance

THE FIRST TEE NINE HEALTHY HABITS Through collaboration in 2011 with The Annika Foundation and The Florida Hospital for Children, Nine Healthy Habits were introduced as a part of The First Tee Life Skills Experience. Embracing physical, emotional, and social health, The First Tee Nine Healthy Habits encourage young people towards a lifestyle of wellness through the game of golf. Physical Habits: Energy, Play, Safety Emotional Habits: Vision, Mind, Family Social Habits: Friends, School, Community

THE FIRST TEE CODE OF CONDUCT Respect for self, Respect for others, Respect for surroundings

POLICY AND PROCEDURES Dress Code Appearance is important for setting a positive example for TFTS&CC participants. Please dress in appropriate casual or golf attire, including khaki pants or shorts, tucked-in golf shirts, and tennis-style or golf shoes. Hats and visors are optional, and should be removed indoors. Arrival Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of each class. This time will be used to assist with set-up and/or review of the day’s lesson plan. Please develop your participant/volunteer and parent/volunteer relationships during pre-lesson and post-lesson time. Lesson Plans The day’s core value will be posted at the learning center when you arrive. The day’s lesson plan will be available for your review at the registration desk. If you would like a copy of the lesson plan prior to arriving, contact the Site Coordinator and one will be e-mailed to you. Cancellations If for any reason you are unable to attend class, please notify the Site Coordinator as soon as possible so that a volunteer replacement can be recruited for your scheduled time. If Class is canceled, updates will be posted to Facebook and on thefirstteespartanburg.org Participant Safety The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties does not allow coaches/volunteers to be alone with participants when away from the group activity. For the protection of the participant and the volunteer, there must be another volunteer present at all times when being around a single participant. If you witness any form of child abuse, immediately notify the Site Coordinator so that appropriate action can be taken. To insure participant safety, the following behavior will not be tolerated: driving or sitting in golf carts, lack of attention to safety zones, swinging golf clubs without permission from instructors, throwing or bouncing golf balls on walls, pavement, or greens. Please discourage running, except when warranted by the group activity. In the interest of safety, please do not use cell phones or PDAs while volunteering, except in cases of emergency. First Aid In the event of injury or an emergency involving a participant or volunteer, render appropriate first aid. If the injury is severe or potentially life threatening, immediately call 911 and notify the Site Coordinator, who will contact the individual on the Emergency Contact list and take other actions as are appropriate. Inclement Weather In the event of inclement weather or possible inclement weather, a decision regarding cancellation of programming will be made 1-1/2 hours before the scheduled class. Please check your e-mail, Facebook, program website, or call the Site Coordinator to verify cancellation. Participant Behavior Encourage participants to observe proper golf etiquette at all times. If a participant is misbehaving, let them know that their behavior is not in line with The First Tee Code of Conduct. If improper behavior continues, ask the participant to sit out of the activity for 5 minutes. If improper behavior still continues, notify the Site Coordinator so that appropriate action can be taken. Appropriate Terminology There are no “bad” shots in golf. Some shots go where the player intended and are called good shots and some shots do not go where the player intended and are called “miss-hits”. Practice this with the students and also with your own game!

Tobacco and Alcohol Use Smoking or chewing tobacco and drinking alcoholic beverages are not permitted on The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties premises at any time.

THE FIRST TEE COACHING PHILOSOPHY The First Tee believes that if you… (a) Expose young people to the values inherent to the game of golf (context) (b) Surround them with caring coaches and volunteers (external assets) (c) Teach them life skills (internal assets) Then you increase the probability that they will acquire, demonstrate, and apply The First Tee Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits to their everyday lives. The First Tee Coach Program Through a progressive series of activities and educational experiences, coaches learn to empower youth to explore options and make their own decisions, two elements that are critical to the development of a child’s value system. Research shows that The First Tee Coaches play a key role in creating positive relationships that inspire young people to look into their future, set goals and discover their individual potential. Individuals can progress through several stages of The First Tee Coach Program depending on the level of involvement and training desired: Volunteer Coach: Conducts station and group activities; assists with safety (parking lot), registration, bathroom visits, first aid, and set-up/breakdown. Training Required: Chapter Volunteer Training; TFT Assistant Coach Training certification and Golf Skills & Life Skills Training with Site Coordinator recommended. Lead Coach: Takes the lead in delivery of TFTS&CC Life Skills Experience, including set up and break down; responsible for general well-being and safety of class as well as Good Better How. One Lead Coach suggested per Class. Training Required: Chapter Volunteer Training, TFT Assistant Coach Training certification; Golf Skills & Life Skills Training with Site Coordinator Site Coordinator/Coach: Oversees activities at programming site, create schedule for site, recruits and trains Volunteer and Lead Coaches. Executive Director: Oversees all programming locations and programming schedules. TFT Assistant Coach: E-Learning certification through TFT, approximately 2-3 hours. Class can be done in stages. This class will provide each Volunteer a baseline for TFT Coaching Philosophy and ensure a uniform coaching environment for all participants. If interested, please contact the Site Coordinator.

The First Tee Coach-in Training (Level I, II, III) The First Tee Coach The First Tee Master Coach

THE FOUR BUILDING BLOCKS 1. ACTIVITY BASED -- Emphasize Doing vs. Telling. Have participants do an activity and review the experience. Engage participants in situations that produce thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that illustrate golf and life skills. The First Tee curriculum is Fun and Seamless, integrating golf and life skills into one activity. Participants do not learn life skills in a classroom and then go out to play golf. 2. MASTERY DRIVEN -- Help participants monitor their own progress, allowing them to focus primarily on the process and not the outcome. Intention equals Attention: Clarify the purpose of the class before each lesson and make that the focus in teaching. For example, if the lesson’s golf skill is the pre-shot routine, do not focus on the outcome of any shot taken, just the pre-shot routine. 3. EMPOWER YOUTH -- Be youth centered and establish positive relationships with participants. Youth Centered: Focus on the agenda of the participants and strive to understand situations from their points of view. Encourage participants to be actively involved in the decision-making process. 4. CONTINUOUS LEARNING -- Use a good-better-how technique to give feedback that emphasizes what participants are doing “right” while seeking opportunities to encourage and reinforce learning. Coachable Moments: Use a variety of situations to teach and reinforce golf and life skills learned during class. These moments are spontaneous and can occur when participants are playing on the course, interacting socially in a non-formal atmosphere, or when dealing with a family conflict.

TWELVE QUALITIES OF A GREAT INSTRUCTOR 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Understands that giving a lesson is a PRIVILEGE Is professional Gives 100% - all the time! Is organized -- each lesson has a beginning, middle, and end Watches and listens to the participant Demonstrates desired techniques rather than telling how to do it Has ability to establish a relaxed environment, conducive to learning Has patience, patience and more patience Is a good communicator: age-appropriate vocabulary, use word pictures, clear demonstrations, less is more, flexibility to match participant’s ability 10. Can motivate and empower students: able to inspire and influence the participant, shows a genuine interest in the participant, energetic and enthusiastic, competent in life and golf skills knowledge 11. Possesses fundamental golf skills: promotes confidence in teaching and optimized learning for participant 12. Makes learning FUN!

GROUP COACHING PROCEDURE When addressing a group of participants, it is helpful to arrange them in a “U” shape to insure that you have their attention and that everyone can see and hear you. Safety cannot be overstressed. Reinforce each lesson’s Life Skill and Core Value. Repetition is key to learning. Nonverbal cues can signal your enthusiasm (or lack of it) to the participant. The important thing is to help the pupil to relax. Learning is more likely to be effective if carried out in a relaxed atmosphere. Each participant is entitled to some individual attention but not to excess.

GENERAL COACHING CONCEPTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Be positive Enforce a professional appearance Be organized Exude energy and enthusiasm for what you’re doing Develop relationships -- get to know participant names, talk to parents Be disciplined -- demand respect for self, others, and environment Coaching Cues  Get their attention!  Eye contact  Explain in ways participants can understand, using examples from everyday life  Demonstrate – ask for questions  Participate - set up drills so there’s very little standing around  Give positive reinforcement when participants do something well – high fives  Start every correction with a positive, i.e. “You have a great grip, now let’s try this.” 8. Use appropriate terminology – there are no “bad” shots in golf – reinforce the shots that do what we intended and learn from the shots that do not do what we intended – apply this to your own game!

MEMBERSHIP IN THE FIRST TEE LIFE SKILLS EXPERIENCE The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties extends membership to participants ages 5 and up. Youth ages 5-7 are exposed to golf in a fun, safe environment through Little Linksters programming. Certification begins at the PLAYer level (ages 7 and up) and continues through more advanced levels of Par, Birdie, Eagle, and Ace. Advancement from level to level is determined by cumulative knowledge of golf and life skills. Over time, participants learn to introduce themselves, manage emotions, resolve conflicts, set goals, and plan for the future. Benefits of The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties Membership: 1) 2) 3) 4)

FREE access to The First Tee of Spartanburg six-hole course Special range ball pricing ($2.00 per bucket) Supervised practice sessions and playing opportunities Opportunities to compete in The First Tee of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties events

Students must present their TFTS&CC Membership Card to the Golf Shop prior to using facilities.

CERTIFICATION The First Tee curriculum offers five progressive levels of Golf and Life Skills instruction: PLAYer, PAR, BIRDIE, EAGLE, and ACE. Certification insures that each participant can successfully complete, demonstrate, and apply the golf and life skills acquired during their previous classes. Advancement is solely up to the participant and their aspirations. The length of time needed to graduate from one certification level to the next will vary from participant to participant. YARDAGE BOOKS The use and reference to yardage books for all certification levels is heavily encouraged during class. The yardage books can be used during or outside of scheduled class time and is a great tool to help participants understand the golf and life skills. Yardage books also help participants prepare for assessments at their current program level.

PROGRAM LEVELS LITTLE LINKSTERS (Ages 5-7) LITTLE LINKSTERS is an introduction to The First Tee Life Skills Experience. Participants are exposed to the game of golf in a fun, safe environment. Golf skills are taught through the game of SNAG. No previous golf experience is necessary. There is no certification process for LITTLE LINKSTERS. PLAYer (Ages 7 and above) PLAYer introduces participants to the game of golf and The First Tee Code of Conduct. PLAYer fosters an appreciation for the course, the equipment, the rules and proper etiquette. The emphasis is on Playing the game, Learning the game, Appreciating the game and finding Your game. PLAYER ADVANCED (Ages 10 and above; first time participants) PAR (Ages 8 and above with previous PLAYer or PAR class completion) PAR emphasizes interpersonal communication and self-management skills. Participants learn how to introduce themselves, respect others, and keep a positive attitude while learning something new. Participants are introduced to life skills through basic golf skills, rules, and etiquette. BIRDIE (Par Certified, minimum age 10) BIRDIE focuses primarily on goal setting. The curriculum teaches developing goals, goal ladders (plans/steps to achieving goals) and how to deal with challenges when faced with adversity. Golf skills focus on advanced putting and short game development, competitive play, and more comprehensive instruction on the rules of golf. EAGLE (Birdie Certified, minimum age 13) EAGLE focuses on health and wellness, building a support team, dealing with conflicts, appreciating diversity, and planning for the future. Participants focus on getting the most out of their practice sessions, learning to self-check their swings, improving accuracy, and course management. ACE (Eagle Certified, minimum age 14 or entering ninth grade) ACE focuses on personal planning for golf, career, volunteerism, and education.