Age Grup Cach (level 2) ASSESSOR GUIDE Thank yu t ur caching educatin partners 2012 Swimming Canada and Caching Assciatin f Canada Prduced by Mss Melien
COACH ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION WHAT S THE DIFFERENCE? Assessment What is it? Assessment is a step in the learning prcess whereby the learner is infrmed f his r her perfrmance r prgress twards the achievement f a given utcme. Assessment is a frmative prcess. Assessment prvides infrmatin and feedback n caching perfrmance at a given time. It is crss-sectinal and cntextspecific. Assessment may be bjective r subjective. An Assessr: Prvides feedback and infrmatin t caches based n utcmes and criteria. Uses valid and bjective assessment tls t gather infrmatin n caching perfrmance fr a given utcme. Makes recmmendatins t imprve cach perfrmance. What are the qualities f an Assessr? An Assessr: May have cntext-specific knwledge and experience. Has sme knwledge f the utcme being assessed. May be an athlete, parent, administratr, r anther cach. May als functin as a mentr cach. Is identified by the P/TSO, accrding t NCCP and NSF standards. Evaluatin What is it? Evaluatin is the prcess whereby a judgment is made n the ability f the cach t demnstrate ne r mre utcmes t an established standard. Evaluatin is a summative prcess. Evaluatin is cumulative and may require several assessment methds. Evaluatin is bjective and prvides a benchmark. An Evaluatr: Passes a judgment n caching cmpetency in a specific cntext based n utcmes and criteria that have a defined standard. Uses valid and bjective evaluatin tls that define perfrmance fr a given utcme and criterin. If external, has been identified by the NSF t cnduct an evaluatin f a cach and has nt been invlved in the training f the cach. Grants certificatin. What are the qualities f an Evaluatr? An Evaluatr: Is cnsidered an expert in the cntext and in the sprt. Is well versed in the NCCP evaluatin standards and prcess. Is a leader in the sprt s caching cmmunity. Is free f bias and subjectivity. Is selected and trained by the NSF, accrding t NCCP and NSF standards.
IN-PERSON PRACTICE OBSERVATION The assessment prcess in Age Grup Cach (level 2) invlves an in-persn bservatin f the cach thrugh a full practice sessin with their regular grup. A checklist f items t prepare fr the bservatin; Date and time f bservatin has been cnfirmed Practice plan has been received and reviewed by the assessr at least ne day befre the practice Schedule a pre-practice meeting between assessr and cach t discuss the practice plan and key bjectives fr the practice. Ensure the cach clearly identifies what age and stage their swimmers are as identified in the Swimming Canada Lng Term Athlete Develpment mdel (included in this dcument). Yur gal as an assessr is t make the cach feel as cmfrtable during the inpersn bservatin as they wuld under "nrmal" circumstances. Plan yur psitining during the practice t be able t hear and bserve all interactins between the cach and swimmers, while nt interfering r distracting frm the practice activity. Assessrs shuld begin the assessment prir t the practice start time in rder t assess practice preparatin and safety precautins the cach takes, the cach-swimmer interactins n arrival t practice and the cach cmmunicatins regarding the activities t be dne during the practice. Please review the PRE-OBSERVATION CHECKLIST n the next page. Caches are expected t meet the published standards in rder t be Certified as an Age Grup Cach (level 2). Yur rle as an assessr is t bserve their caching habits and help them t identify areas where they meet r exceed the standard, and areas where they require additinal mentring r prfessinal develpment.
NCCP STANDARD FOR IN-PERSON OBSERVATION Pre Observatin Checklist Assessr reviews that the cach has; Presented a plan fr the practice that is being run Identified main segments f the practice and duratin in minutes: intr, warm-up, main part, cl-dwn, and cnclusin r reflectin. Ensured equipment is available and ready t use Clearly identify a practice gal that is cnsistent with Swimming s Develpment Mdel and the level f the swimmers. See Swimming Lng Term Athlete Develpment mdel (Discuss at the Pre-Practice Observatin) Prvided a timeline fr the practice activities Outlined facilities and equipment required t achieve practice gals Presented a cmplete Emergency Actin Plan (EAP) with all six f the critical elements fr the training venue. Lcatins f telephnes (cell r land lines) Emergency telephne numbers nte: all numbers shuld be updated bi-annually Lcatin f medical prfile fr each swimmer under the cach s care. Nte: substitute swim cach needs t be updated n all prfiles Lcatin f fully-stcked first-aid kit Advance call persn and cntrl persn Directins r map t reach the activity site
PRACTICE OBSERVATION TOOL PRINT AND USE AT THE IN-PERSON OBSERVATION While bserving the cach in a practice sessin, the assessr will cnsider whether the cach was bserved ding the fllwing; SAFETY? FEEDBACK? Scan practice site fr hazards? Knw where swimmers are? Psitin yurself t see all swimmers? Practice injury preventin? Rle mdel safety? Have an emergency actin plan n hand? Keep feedback shrt and simple? Give meaningful feedback? Why was it great? Explains why a suggested technique r strategy change will make a difference? Prbe fr understanding f feedback? Recgnize & acknwledge swimmers effrts? Fcus n mastery f swimming skills? Prvide feedback that is psitive, specific, and directed twards bth the grup and individuals? Cmments related t safety: Cmments related t feedback:
PRACTICE OBSERVATION TOOL PRINT AND USE AT THE IN-PERSON OBSERVATION While bserving the cach in a practice sessin, the assessr will cnsider whether the cach was bserved ding the fllwing; TEACHING METHODOLOGY? SWIMMER ENVIRONMENT? Psitin yurself t be heard and seen? Speak ludly enugh t be heard? Adapt fr disabled swimmers? Use 4 D s Teaching prcess? Demnstratin, Descriptin, D, Debrief (feedback) Perfrm demnstratins crrectly? Give shrt & simple instructins? [1 r 2 pints] Use visual and kinesthetic methds at every practice? Mve arund t watch swimmers frm a variety f psitins? Use experiential learning t imprve understanding? [learn by experimentatin] Use tls t enhance learning? Minimize distractins when yu are teaching? Prvide pprtunities fr swimmers t ask questins? Cmments related t teaching methdlgy: Prvide a welcming & inclusive envirnment? Cnverse in a psitive & meaningful manner? Ensure swimmers understand respect and safety expectatins? Make eye cntact with swimmers? Treat each swimmer with respect? Have respect and safety expectatins fr all? Have cnsequences fr disrespectful r unsafe cnduct? Incrprates meaningful activities that are fun, challenging r team riented int practice? Catch yur swimmers ding things right? Appears t enjy caching their swimmers? Create pprtunities t interact with all swimmers Cmments related t the swimmer envirnment:
DEBRIEF MEETING After the in-persn bservatin, the assessr and cach will meet t debrief the bservatin and discuss a plan f next steps t help the cach cntinue t imprve. A three step debrief prcess is recmmended; 1. Opening: Asking key questins 2. Facilitatin: Leading the cach in guided discvery t prbe areas fr further evidence 3. Clsing: Summarizing key pints and prviding feedback Nte: Please take 15-20 minutes after the practice bservatin t prepare yur ntes while the cach takes time t finish any pst practice administrative/staff details r parent questins. DEBRIEF TIPS Prepare yur bservatin ntes and bring them t the debrief meeting as a reference; The key t a successful debrief meeting is preparatin and LISTENING; Let the cach find their way t the answers / slutins yu want t prvide them; Recrd agreed upn next steps fr the cach using the frm n the page that fllws; Assessr must keep all recrded ntes fr submissin int the nline NCCP Age Grup Cach (level 2) Assessment frm a link t the frm is prvided at the end f this dcument.
DEBRIEF MEETING NOTES Fllwing the bservatin, cach and assessr meet t discuss the practice sessin. 1. Opening: Asking key questins. After each questin, be quiet and listen t the cach. Examples: What was the best part f tday s practice? Why? What part f the practice culd be imprved? Why? What d yu feel yur swimmers gt ut f the practice? Was there a breakthrugh f defining mment in yur practice? Have yu recrded it? Debriefing (Reflectins and Cmments) 2. Facilitatin: Leading the cach in guided discvery t prbe areas fr further evidence Examples: If [situatin] ccurred, explain what yu wuld have dne? I nticed that yu did. Why did yu d that, r what might yu have dne differently? 3. Clsing: Summarizing key pints and prviding feedback Examples: Overall I thught that yu did well. Yu may want t cnsider trying in the future. I bserved that [a specific scenari] ccurred and thught that yu shuld be aware f its impact during the practice. Recrd specific next steps assessr and cach have agreed n
SUBMITTING THE FINAL ASSESSMENT Once the debrief meeting is cmplete, the assessr will submit their final assessment. T cmplete the assessment, yu must submit yur bservatins here: http://www.tfafrms.cm/222041. A cpy f yur cmpleted assessment frm will be frwarded t the cach, the NCCP Administratr and yurself. If yu have any questins r prblems with the frm, please cntact nccp@swimming.ca. When cmpleting this Age Grup Cach (level 2) Assessment frm, yu are asked t submit the fllwing items; - Cach name, email and descriptin f the grup f swimmers they are caching - Yur cmments regarding the in-persn bservatin f the cach during a practice sessin; - A summary f yur final debrief discussin with the cach, Thank yu fr participating as an assessr in the NCCP Age Grup Cach (level 2) prgram!