Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, we caught up with SDS Board Member and Performance Boccia Coach, Claire Morrison, who will be heading to the games as the coach of 5 Boccia athletes.
Having been a key part of SDS throughout the years, Claire joined us as a National Development Officer following a work placement with sportscotland. Despite leaving in 2013 to join Boccia UK, she soon became a Board Member, a post she still holds.
Claire spoke to us about her preparations and ambitions for the games, why Boccia is such an intriguing sport as well as advice for aspiring coaches.
Coaching during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent periods of lockdown forced most of us to live and work differently, and for a coach this was no different. Claire however recognises that the enforced stoppage in sport gave her what most coaches rarely have – more time. Whilst there was limited contact time between lockdowns, it enabled her to revisit and work on some ‘things that are always on the list, but never quite top of the list’.
The break also forced Claire to think about how she could coach differently. With in–person contact time out of the question, using video and online resources became essential to maintain contact time with athletes. What she found was that because of the time spent interacting together online rather than in training camps as they were used to, she felt the athletes got to know her and each other better in the process.
With the athletes clearly valuing the relationship building that zoom sessions had brought about, Claire was creative and individual in her approach to meet the needs of each athlete – some of whom had easier access to practice boccia from home or locally. With some athletes able to train relatively normally, Claire would coach via video link and coach as she normally would, imparting technical detail to those she was coaching. Others however were unable to train as they would, where Claire would maintain close contact via zoom, even if just for a chat and to maintain coach-athlete relationships as best as possible. During this unprecedented time, Claire knew that being flexible and adaptable would have to guide her approach, meeting the needs of the individual as best she could.
Preparations for Tokyo
With the extra time to prepare for the games, and an extra year to understand what she and her team want to achieve, Claire reports that she and her athletes feel ready and fully prepared for Tokyo. With 2020 presenting many difficulties with much of the focus being centred around health and wellbeing, 2021 has seen the focus shift back towards performance, though Claire is keen to stress that health and wellbeing is still of the utmost importance. With the return to sport being staged throughout the year, and athletes slowly being reintroduced into group training Claire feels like everyone is like a ‘coiled spring’ in anticipation of the games. ‘We’ve waited long enough for it, let’s go and do it’ she said.
Expectations for the games?
For Claire, Tokyo will be her third games as a coach, following on from London 2012 and Rio 2016. This year it promises to be a little different than usual due to the pandemic, but as Claire is keen to point out – each games is completely different anyway, and this will be no different. Whilst there will be protocols in place due to COVID, she is keen to take everything in her stride and remain focused on her job.
Claire admits that it will be hard not to compare with previous games, however she reiterated that the most important thing is her and her athletes getting their heads down and try to deliver the performances she knows they are capable of in Tokyo.
One aspect that adds to the intrigue around the games however is that without having experienced competition since 2019, no one has seen their competitors in action for the best part of 2 years. This means that no one else really knows what their opponents are going to do, what elements they have improved and where they may be weaker. Claire however remains positive and aware that she can only control what her and her team can do, and ensure they are prepared as possible for all that is thrown at them.
What is a coach’s role during the games?
On arrival in Tokyo, the first couple of days will be dedicated to recovery and orientation, ensuring the athletes are fully recovered following a long flight, and then ensure they familiarise themselves with their new environment and ease themselves into their routines.
Once again Claire speaks about the individual needs of each athlete. Some of these athletes are competing in their first games and she will encourage them to enjoy the experience as much as possible and recognise what a phenomenal achievement it is simply being there.
With much of the hard work in terms of technical and tactical preparation having been done in the lead up to the games, the focus during the games will be reinforcing the plans they have in place as well as a focus on mindset – Claire is determined to keep the athletes relaxed and enjoying the experience as much as possible.
Ambitions for Tokyo
Claire is positive ahead of the games but says its impossible to put a number on what would constitute success. For her, what is in her control as a coach is how she can do her best to support the athletes to deliver the best performances they possibly can.
She is aware of the medal target set for the team and is confident of success, though she is equally aware that the quality of opponents across the world is so high making boccia a tough sport to medal in.
Having not seen the competitors in action for so long, there are more unknowns than usual and each team will go in without knowing how their competitors have changed and developed. Once again, Claire emphasises the need to focus only on the things within control and will emphasise that they need to go and play their own game.
What makes it an interesting and intriguing sport
For those who are interested in watching boccia during the games or getting involved in the sport for the first time, Claire is enthusiastic about the appeal of the sport and its intrigue. She believes that whilst many are familiar with the sport, they maybe do not have the exposure to it when it is played at its best.
In boccia, results can be determined by millimetres and with so much at play in terms of technique, tactics and strategy it makes for a highly competitive sport that goes down to the finest margins.
Claire is also keen to praise the extremely high skill level of the athletes who will be competing in Tokyo. The way in which the athletes utilise their bodies – some of whom have severe conditions – is phenomenal when playing precision shots where there can be such fine margins between winning and losing. The control in which the athletes control their body and minds to deliver such precision is something Claire points out as something to watch out for during the games.
Advice for young or aspiring coaches?
Finally, as Claire is about to embark on her 3rd Paralympic Games as an experienced and successful coach, she has some advice for young and aspiring coaches.
Claire is keen to encourage anyone who would like to coach to get out and look for as many opportunities as possible and gain as much experience as you can working with participants and athletes. It is important to learn your trade, discover your style and enjoy the rewarding nature of working with people and helping them develop.
During the games she encourages them to watch as many sports as possible and see and listen to how coaches interact with athletes. The messages around process, athletes enjoying themselves, being relaxed whilst competing are the kind of things you would expect to hear.
It is these soft skills – how coaches engage and build relationships with athletes that Claire believes makes the real difference in coaching.
We wish Claire the very best of luck in Tokyo!