Creating a Mentoring Programme for Sport: A ... - sports coach UK

Creating a Mentoring Programme for Sport37sports coach UK‘A Guide to Mentoring SportsCoaches’ workshop/resourcesports coach UK/CoachwiseLearning Mentor Training1st4sport Qualifications Level 3Award in Workforce MentoringTo find out more and book a placeon a workshop, visitwww.sportscoachuk.org and clickon ‘Workshops’.If you would like to organise aworkshop for your mentors, callthe Workshop Booking Centre on0845-601 3054.For more information, visithttp://sportscoachuk.org/peoplewho-develop-coaches/coachingsystem/developing-yourworkforce/sports-coach-ukmentor-trainingor contactCoachwise Learning on0113-201 5544.For more information, visitwww.1st4sportqualifications.com/candidate_information/qualifications/qualificationbin/workforcementoring-l3or call 0113-290 7610.6Pairing mentees and mentorsThe approach you take to pairing mentors andmentees will largely depend on the aims of theprogramme. For example, in a situation where amentee has identified some quite specific needs, itmay be more appropriate to formally match amentee to a mentor. However, where needs aremore generic, an informal/organic approach topairing may be a better fit.Formal matchingAlthough crucial to the success of the programme,matching mentors to mentees is not an exactscience. Nevertheless, to reduce mismatches, factorsthat need to be taken into consideration includementee/mentor preferences associated with gender,age and cultural background, as well as mutualinterests. In order to maximise the opportunity forsuccess and allow a connection between pairs todevelop, you should also consider proximity,availability, and shared and individual goals.Where programme goals are tightly defined,matching may be focused on the specific skills andexperiences of the mentors involved. However,where programmes are less goal-oriented and moreholistically driven, pairing may be based onmatching interest.Within a tightly defined programme, you would lookto identify mentee needs and compare these withmentors’ knowledge, attributes, skills and experience.However, within more holistic programmes, menteesmay be paired with mentors with whom they sharesimilar views/outlooks on life. In this approach,potential problems due to cultural differences andvarying interpersonal styles can be more easilyavoided. The process can be helped by the use of amatching questionnaire that establishes interestsand experiences.Natural pairing (self-selection)While truly natural pairings really only occur outsideformal mentoring programmes, you can take stepsto replicate the circumstances in which they happenthrough structured but informal settings that focuson social interaction.Unstructured or unfacilitated mentoring occursnaturally when a novice and an expert areinadvertently drawn together, usually as a result ofsome mutual interest or attraction, and a unique,reciprocal, trusting relationship develops.What we know is these often occur in social settingsand are generally initiated by the mentee. They areassociated with a mutual endeavour or sharedexperience and involve social practice/situatedlearning. What appears to be important here is thedegree of mutual interest, respect, trust andopen communication.One way to encourage natural pairing may be toinvite all participants to a social event where theycan informally explore previous experiences,interests and aspirations. A group session thatrequires those involved to share these throughstructured activities and free time will enable you tomonitor interactions and natural groupings. Fromthese observations, you may feel confident toundertake a social pairing exercise or askmentors/mentees to self-select a partner. If thisapproach is taken, it is wise for you to ask thoseinvolved to select their top three. Thismentee:mentor ‘speed dating’ approach will give youbetter flexibility in matching.