From Potential to Performance

One of the greatest disappointments for many teachers is the unfulfilled potential of learners. What can educational professionals in Scotland learn from the successful coaches of the sporting world?

Dr Frank Dick argues that great coaches have 20:20 Double Vision. They focus on delivering high performance today, whilst preparing for tomorrow’s different and even tougher arenas. What can teachers learn from this approach in the context of Curriculum for Excellence where teachers have to plan today’s lesson and at the same time maintain a focus on developing the four capacities in every young person for the future?

Renowned as one of the country’s best and most consistently inspiring motivational speakers, and the current President of the European Athletics Coaches Association, member of the IAAF Coaches Commission as well as Chair (and architect) of the IAAF Academy, Dr. Frank Dick O.B.E. has combined his talent for inspiring sporting achievement with the business world. Frank has also held the post of Chairman of the British Olympic Coaches Advisory Programme (1983 - 1994), and Director of Coaching for the British Athletics Federation (1974 - 1994).

With a history of sporting excellence through coaching some of the best talent - Boris Becker and Daley Thompson, to name just two - he has, over the past 15 years of speaking to 100’s of companies both in the UK and around the world, recognised six key areas of personal and professional development that, once taken out of a 'training room' mentality and put into a different context, can lead to individual and team progress simply by giving a different perspective.

Frank's contribution to sport and coaching has been recognised in being awarded an OBE in 1989, induction to the UK Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999 and the prestigious title 'UK Sporting Hero' by Sport UK in 2001.

Why not have a look at some video footage of Frank in action at different events and you will see how his enthusiastic approach and ideas translate and apply to the world of teaching and learning.

• Showreels on Frank Dick's official website
• YouTube clip: Excerpt from video of Frank Dick’s presentation ‘Mountain people’
• YouTube clip: Frank Dick delivers inspirational coaching statements to camera.