| Steve
Bowman: Feature
interview and Australian Team Coach 2001 |
| Q1:
How
long have you been involved in skating as a coach and as a
skater? |
| A1:I
first joined A.F.A.R.S. (Australian federation of amateur
roller skating) when i was ten back in 1969. I have been
coaching full time officially since 1986. But was involved in
coaching seminars in north Queensland since 1980. |
| Q2.
You are Australian Artistic Team Coach this year for the World
Championships, is this your first year or not? |
A2: This is my third year officially but will be my seventh consecutive year attending worlds.
|
| Q3.
What role do you primarily fill as Team Coach at a major meet
like the World Championships, would it consist more of a
technical or support role? |
| A3:
Definitely both when required. I try to assist depending on
the skater and their needs, it is getting easier to read. That
is why I have done my level 1 sports trainers accreditation
this year and a sports massage course to increase my skill
level. But hopefully the skater has done the work at home and
I am just there for support and try to help them achieve the
best result possible. |
| Q4.
Is it more difficult to work as an Oceania Team coach or World
team coach? |
| A4:This
is a tough question as both have different requirements. What
I mean is worlds are a 16 day slog of very long days and
nights. Oceania is a week long but the team numbers are
massive and is very demanding also. I thought Jodie Garufo was
fantastic at Oceanias this and will be a good world team coach
in the future. |
| Q5.
Are there any particular moments in either roles that stand
out, that you would like to share with us? |
| A5.Well
I have had skaters at worlds the past 7 years and this is my
first purely as team coach and no skaters. Tammy
Bryant getting silver
in 1999 in Australia was one for sure. But nothing will
compare to 1995 when I was there to see you
and Tammy win gold medals in Colombia. Also that year was the
first Junior Worlds and my dance team came 6th out of 10
couples their first worlds. 1995 will be a year I will never
forget as it was magic to be a part of. |
Q6. As a coach, do you feel that roller sports in general operates in a way
that can ensure our sports survival over the next 10years?
|
| A6:
To be honest I was having a few doubts for a while and was
considering retirement this year, but I was able to sit down
with the R.S.A. board informally during nationals with several
other coaches that have concerns and I so pleased that they
were prepared to listen and maybe there is a light at the end.
I really think we have lost our way a bit and need to make our
national championships a much more high profile event. I felt
the skaters were not being considered enough being left out a
bit and I want to see nationals have the professionalism it
deserves. This was felt by all coaches that attended and the
board were very open to resolving this. The big problem Jayson
is that there is a lot of talk and talk is cheap without the
facts so I think that everyone felt very pleased at the result
of this meeting. We (coaches) have to have more input to issues
for our skaters and we will continue to do so thanks to the
board being very open and approachable. |
| Q7.
Is there something as a coach you would like to see change or
take place in Australia to assist in the development of our
sport? |
| A7:Well
there is several points of view I have. One is to lift the
profile of nationals to make it a more elite event. A big issue
for me is the length of time it takes to run the event. My
skaters last year enjoyed the Artistic only event as it was
cost effective and time effective. It is hard for remote
skaters as they have to fly to their own state titles as well
as nationals so It comes down to money and for the parents
time is also an issue. Also some grades need to be looked at
as the numbers are sad especially international and we need to
seriously looked at the whole picture. I would also like to
see a national training camp for our elite skaters at least
once a year so all coaches and skaters can start working
together to better our standard. |
| Q8.
If you had to describe in one word, how you feel after the
first few days at a World Championships as a coach.. what
would it be? And why? |
| A8:"EDUCATED"
I Feel after the last seven years I have developed alot by
attending worlds as a coach and mixing and getting to know
other coaches. I was pleasantly surprised in 2000 that Antonio
Merlo (the Italian team coach "selector") took me
under his wing and was terrific to our skaters with advice and
knowledge, as was Sara Locandro, a top Italian coach also. It
is necessary to be flexible as a coach and to take all
information presented to you and find a way to better your own
skaters. |
| Q9.
How do you think Australia will perform at this years World
Championships? And do you think that Australia can ever enjoy
the successes of 1995 again in your lifetime? |
| A9:WOW
1995 will be hard to achieve again but it can be done. What it
takes is the thing. You have to be in there for the long haul
and I do not see much of that lately for all different
reasons, and sometimes those reasons are a cop out, you need
the heart and no one can do it for you it has to be YOU. This
may sound a bit harsh but I believe it's true as I have seen
proof of what the heart can do in 1995 and at other times by
other skaters. This year I feel we are still developing and
with several new skaters it will be exciting and hopefully no
pressure on them. Esther and Gawaine have had a fantastic year
getting second at world games but they have no illusions for
worlds and will be trying for a personal best performance.
They are a credit to our sport and have the heart I was
talking about earlier. |
| Q10.
You live and teach up in far North Queensland. Does this
isolation prohibit you from progressing in anyway or do you
feel that the internet and other similar resources keep you up
to date? |
| A10:I
hate it! Don't get me wrong I love the area but the floor is
only 37x22 and its tough without access to larger floors.
Personally I would love to be back home in Brisbane where I
can interact with other coaches and my skaters can get more
than one or two comps a year. They go to states and if they do
not make the team its a year long wait to the next state
titles. We try to have local comps but its not the same so
next year we are going to try to compete in the Brisbane
leagues once or twice as virgin airlines will be starting up
here and might make it affordable to attend . And oh yes thank
god for the internet. |
| Q11.
You attended the coaching seminar in Las Vegas. What kind of
topics were discussed there and was it beneficial for you to
attend and would you recommend it to any other coach in
Australia? |
| A11:
I did enjoy the seminar but was a little disappointed to only
know a few people mainly the presenters. It was basically
meant for developing coaching from the ground up . There was
so many coaches it nearly blew me away. There was only one on
skates day and I would have liked more of that. I would have
like to worked with a few more top coaches and drained their
brain haha. but I still think it was ok. The main topic for me
was the freeskating as program construction was the big issue
(even balance , the package etc, footwork). I did bring up
however my thoughts on how the judges all say that they like
to see the package (and they were there also) but when it came
to worlds 1999 especially in the ladies free it was
overlooked. (variety) the big issue for me. So yeah it was
worth it and I recommend it. But it is not for elite coaching
as much as for the newer skaters. |
| Q12.
Do you have a message for other coaches/skaters that may be of
assistance if they are from a rural area or great distance
from a skating centre point? |
| A12:
Yes hang in there and don't give up, if I can do it anyone
can. Also ask questions, if you want to know something there
is people that can help you never be afraid to ask for your
sake and for your skaters |
