Damage 'so called coaches' in India do

[hvj1]

In the last two decades of my shooting/coaching career, I have been fortunate enough to interact quite intensively with some of the BEST Coaches in India and abroad. Each of these persons have left some very deep positive impressions in my mind, my shooting techniques and a long lasting impact on my coaching career. Some of the really great coaches , I have had the experience to interact with are as follows;
1. Zelko Todorovich (yugoslavia) - Chief Coach to National Teams of Denmark, Sweden and presently now with France.
2. Tibor Gonczol (Hungary) - Coach to Australia, India and many others.
3. Matti Kirilov(Sweden) Chief Coach Sweden
4. Marcus Lindskog(Denmark) Coach to junior National Team
5. Eva Spengler(Denmark) Coach to Junior Women Team
India:
1. Sunjoy Chakravarthy - Former Coach to Anjali Bhagwat, Suma Shirur and many other internationals
2. Ashok Pandit
The reason I hold the above in very high esteem, is due to the fact that ALL have them have displayed the requisites for being a good coach and these are as follows'
1.In depth technical knowledge of the skills and techniques of their respective events (rifle/pistol).
2. Vast experience - a minimum of 12 years (Marcus) to almost 30 years (Tibor)
3. Ability to LISTEN PATIENTLY to shooters problems.
4. Ability to assess the student's mental and technical levels.
5. Ability to COMMUNICATE and make SURE that they themselves have been UNDERSTOOD by their students.
6. Ability to TRANSMIT & DEVELOP CONFIDENCE in their students.
7. COOL AT ALL TIMES.
8. Completely consumed with devotion towards their students.
For each of the above mentioned names, one will find a VERY LONG list of shooters who have attained very high levels of acclaim at the National as well as international level.
Whenever, Sunjoy Chakravarthy was approached by a new or experienced shooter with a problem, Sunjoy Sir, would never shoot off an answer! He would do the following;
1. Very patiently and calmly listen to the shooter's problem. Only after the student had finished, then he would speak, and invariably the words were- NOT TO WORRY- I will observe your shooting then we will talk.
2. He would then observe the shooter without letting the shooter know that he/she was being watched. This observation would be discreet and sometimes over three to four days or at least two to three shooting practice sessions of the shooter.
3. He would then sit with the shooter (aside) and spell out his defects/flaws.
4. THEN, he would observe and sit behind the shooter for HOURS, till such time the shooter was benefitted.
5. For all this effort, Sunjoy Sir, NEVER CHARGED A DIME.
Unfortunately, in India there are no established hierarchy of coaches or Coaching Levels, as they have it abroad. In fact there is great dearth of GOOD coaches. Shooting has picked up in a big way, the new enthusiasts, cannot differentiate between a good coach or a charlatan.
Quite recently, at a supposedly reputed Shooting Range in Pune, a person underwent a Jury Course in N.Delhi. Now passing a Jury Course ensures that the certificate holder has a good knowledge of Technical Rules of a particular event. It however DOES NOT qualify that person to coach. This person is now coaching almost twenty young shooters in both rifle and pistol! To makes matters worse, this person has not even attained a district level shooting standards!
If the foundation of a building is weak, the structure is bound to collapse. So is the case in Shooting or for that matter any discipline (music, mathematics, languages...) To really attain high levels of shooting skills, the basics techniques of shooting a rifle/pistol/shotgun, must be drilled thoroughly.
I have regretfully observed almost hundreds of enthusiatic and some exceptionally talented young shooters go completely to waste due to these charlatans!
Today, Shooting Websites have mushroomed in India, courses are run, with fees being nowadays charged in Dollars. I discussed this issue a long time back with Ashok Pandit and he did not mince his words - These youngsters must have brains enough to be discerning in the first place, was his reply. Fools will always be attracted by bigger Fools. Unfortunately they realize it too late if at all!

[eljefe]

We had one here, fortunately he migrated to a better site...Amen.
Now , if you have interacted with some good people and have had a distinguished career as a fauji/coach, would you consider restarting again? not a glitzy, 'attract the moneybags' academy, but FIND a couple of deserving youngsters and go for it? I would be glad to help...

[hvj1]

Dear eljefe.
For the last 15 years I have been coaching and believe me it takes the stuffing out of you. Everytime you sit behind your shooter, specifically in a match, one's emotions go through a bashing, very much like clothes being thrashed in the old Indian style of washing (dhobi ghat!). During the Nationals, I used to sit behind at least 9 shooters, one after the other. As a coach, you know the mistakes the shooter is making, but are completely powerless to do anything but to keep a straight face, just in case the shooter looks back for assurance and God forbid catches the dismay on your face. After each match, your student may have fared very badly, one can feel the pain, but cannot show it, one does the opposite, smile (when you feel like crying), reassure (when you really feel like tearing your hair),motivate (when you yourselves are depressed),point out ways and means of overcoming the failure, (but inside one is equally ripped).
In short, as a coach, one lives through each shooter's personal triumph and failures, the turmoil, tears and torrid times. At the same time one is so elated, when a student does well. Believe me nothing in the world is sweeter than your students success!
So over the last 10 years, it has taken a lot out of me, probably burnout. So I have decided to switch off for a year or two. Recently we organized an IFG Meet at Balewadi Pune, (where I was the coach for 10 years). While the others were shooting, I did feel the old stirrings deep inside me but it was a faint breeze.
One of the reasons for my joining the IFG forum, was precisely to look for the wind which would stir my sails.
Actually, when we were designing the Balewadi Shooting Range, the infrastructure was so designed, that it could be later formed into an International Institute - Asian Institute of Shooting to be precise, where the most talented youngsters would be selected and groomed by an equally talented bunch of international coaches. This institute was to provide residential and educational facilities to its students. I contemplated short term and long term courses for Trap & Skeet, small bore shooting and even self defence. Also professional courses for those who would be interested in taking up coaching seriously. An entire Project Report was submitted by me to the Govt. of Mah.
But, there were and still are some individuals in Maharashtra, who want to take over the Balewadi Shooting Range and run it as their own fiefdom. Several tried, some are still trying.
Nevertheless, I thank you for your post and very encouraging offer to help, not many do. By the way, this particular reply from me is a form of catharsiss.
Regards

[Vikram]

HVJ,

That is a very touching post. I wish there are more coaches/mentors like you.It is also an emotional investment into the players/wards and it could be very taxing as you rightly said. "Guru-Shishya" relationship is something very special provided it is mutual.Thank you for sharing.

Re the politician/non-sporting elements that wish to control the sport, they are one of the biggest problems plaguing the sports scene in India.People like you are the bulwarks against them.

Best-
Vikram

[Sakobav]

hvj

The partial treatment for gunners with connections is quite common through out the gun clubs. Good guns and equipment was always the domain of few of us. Those guns were never shared with other members. Its also a very expensive sport and not all places have the facilities for shooting range etc.

Cheers

[eljefe]

offer will be good for perpetuity or forever, which ever is longer, no going back-if i can I will! so let me know

[hvj1]

Thanks Vikram, Eljefe, Ngrewal.

[jitu sati]

hey hvj1
sorry to interrupt the exchange of ideas of experienced people. i had put in a post some time ago regarding the coaching
i am a fauji who used to be good in 9mm and want to take up air pistol shooting 10mtr
have recently started shooting with a springer
am at jaipur
am going to get a good starters pistol IZH soon
at 39 surely not young but have the passion to give a solid try
any knowledge of a good coach in jaipur or nearby. ill give my absolute best but require guidance
can u advice
jitu