Levels
Here's a quick look at the
10 Bitesize Golf levels of progression, that takes young players from
beginner to elite performer.
A total and complete golf education and a system that engages kids
from 4 - 16.
Sustainable Success
Through Solid Structure
World class long-term junior golfer development programme
Teaching golf to kids is different to other forms of golf coaching and arguably it's the most difficult and takes the most skill as a coach. There are many qualities you need, such as patience, fantastic communication skills and creativity. If you possess abundant amounts of these, you'll be a brilliant coach of young players and the rewards will be enormous. If you can take a medium to long-term approach to developing talent, there's no reason why your young proteges cannot reach elite levels of golfing performance, which reflects greatly on your abilities as a top coach and has huge benefits to your facility and indeed the whole game of golf.
Why Bitesize Golf works so effectively
One of the biggest if not the biggest problem with getting boys and girls into golf is continuity. A schools initiative may introduce children to golf, but it’s hit or miss as to how many find their way to the next step, which could be group lessons at a local club or range. The pro, or usually the assistant’s assistant give some freebies, introductory or roll-up cheap sessions and then hope the new golfers take it from there and book some more coaching, join the club or in most cases drift away again.
If a young golfer sticks with it and improves, through whatever means, they may become proficient enough to qualify for elite coaching from one of the Golf unions or federations who look after these high performers. The whole system in general is too disjointed. with coaches handing pupils from one to another and so called programmes not taking kids from starter to elite performer. There are too many cracks in the system and too many potential young golfers are lost to the game.
Red Level 1.
Beginner
This is where the journey begins.
Red Level 1 is a basic introduction to the game focussing on the basics.
Contents include:
Aim
Hold
Dress code
Identifying your ball
Different shots
Pace of play
Taking care of the course
Play the ball as it lies
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Orange Level 2.
Learner
Great stuff, pupils are having fun and progressing. This second level starts adding to the levels of knowledge and building their skills
Contents include:
Pre-shot routine
Saving time
The teeing area
Features of the course
Things you should have in your golf bag
Swing away
Swing through
Safety
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Yellow Level 3.
Improver
After completing the first 2 levels, pupils will now be getting into the swing of things and ready to take on new information and begin to develop repetitive swing actions.
Contents include:
Building your stance
Addressing the ball to play wood shots
Introduction to the rule book layout
Definitions of rules
Being quiet on the course
Bunker shots
Putting pointers
Clubhouse rules
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Green Level 4.
Committed
Pupils are now becoming committed golfers. This level introduces drills and skills to help motivate pupils into practising with purpose between coaching sessions.
Contents include:
Balance
Timing
Good sportsmanship
The handicapping system
Distance control around the greens
Chipping tips
Who plays when
Judging distance on putts
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Blue Level 5.
Accomplished
Already approaching the halfway point. It would be expected that pupils have been playing, practising and having coaching for nearly a year by this point.
Contents include:
Weak, strong, neutral holds
Letting players through
One piece swing away
Courtesy on the course
Landing spots
Stance and stability
Rules 4, 5 and 6 covered
Out of range
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Indigo Level 6.
Proficient
Pupils are now regular golfers with handicaps and they're improving fast. As we move into the upper levels of the programme progress can be rapid.
Contents include:
Maintaining consistency
How to work out your distances
Playing straighter shots
Learning some golf jargon
Rule 6, 7, and 8 explained
Playing the lob shot
Putting limbo
It's all in the ball
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Violet Level 7.
Advanced
This is the point where we introduce positive golfing psychology, health and fitness to the programme. This level of coaching is normally reserved for more elite players, but with Bitesize Golf it's now available for all players progressing to this level and beyond, you no longer have to wait for a call up from some panel.
Contents include:
The power engine of the swing
Stat sheets
Building resistance
How you learn, neural pathways
Shaping your shots
Stretching out
Zoning in on the flag
Pictures in your mind
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Coral Level 8.
Skilled
The programme now fully incorporates coaching, plenty of constructive, purposeful practice with specialised drills and routines. Pupils are now highly educated in the facets of golf and have an in-depth knowledge of their swings and their shotmaking ability. The new psychological section is preparing them for tournament play, with strategies for coping with pressure situations and how to stay in the present so the voice in their head is helpful rather than nibbling away at their confidence.
Contents include:
Play to your strengths
Positive feedback
Creating your own course planner
Self talk and self belief
Creating anchors
Plugged in a bunker
Time to relax
Upper body strength exercises
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Silver Level 9.
Talented
The talented level is how we label Silver simply because any young person who has reached this level is truly talented in the field of golf. It has taken many hours of dedication, persistence and perseverance. It is quite conceivable that players at this level are comfortably playing single figure golf and extremely valuable members of any golf facility.
Contents include:
Uphill lie
Ball below feet
Goal setting
Energy and diet
Pattern breaking
Visualisation
The food pyramid
Drinks and hydration
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
Gold Level 10.
Elite
This is a wonderful achievement to reach this level in golf and Bitesize Golf applauds all pupils who are at this standard. To complete this level you will not only have to be a very proficient and highly skilled player, but you will have to have an enormous amount of golf knowledge, which will set you in very good stead throughout your golfing careers and stay with you for each game you play.
Contents include:
Shaping shots
Psychological tools
Playing your 'B' game
7 habits of champion golfers
Fighting fit for tournaments
Best foods for great golf
Periodisation
Rules 20, 21, 22, 23 &24
Plus much more
Book, lesson plan, challenges, report, certificate
With each level you get the Lesson Plan
Teaching kids is different, teaching younger kids is very different and takes a special set of coaching skills. It is arguably the most difficult area of coaching but also the most rewarding. As a top coach you have the opportunity to create an elite athlete or player, you are faced with a blank canvas and time to mould and shape a pupil who has virtually unlimited potential.
These lesson plans are the culmination of over 40 years specialising in working with and coaching thousands of pupils aged 3 to 18. Whether it's one to one or a full school class of over 30. There are many secrets woven into the whole programme, some are more obvious than others but every step has been carefully designed to build the 'success cycle'. Once you get this rotating, you and your pupils are on the pathway to success, however you both choose to determine what success is. For some, it's simply knowing enough to play golf on an ad-hoc basis with friends and colleagues. For others, it's reaching the highest standard they can possibly achieve, to play competitions and tournaments and look to win silverware and titles as they go. You can guide and advise, but ultimately it's the student who will decide what's right for them.
Above all else, these lesson plans and the whole Bitesize Golf development programme focusses on having fun. Creating fast-paced sessions with lots of content and ensuring pupils are engaged.
Here are a few of the elements you will find interlaced throughout the programme
Skills acquisition
Skills development
Over 500 drills, skills, games and exercises
Step by step, pupil-centred progression
Stretch targets
Practise routines
A total golf education covering rules, etiquette, history and traditions
Physical fitness and well-being
Psychological tips and training to strengthen young minds
Performance assessment and feedback
PAR's challenges, which form the Player's Achievement Records
On course development and experience
Bitesize Golf has received recognition and acclaim from many of the world's top coaches associated with junior golf development, along with praise and encouragement from golf associations and unions.
I can thoroughly recommend this book by my dear friend and fellow passionate advocate of junior golf, Rudy Duran, who also happened to be Tiger Woods childhood coach. Some great tales and anecdotes here as well as many tips and advice on how he worked with Tiger as a very young child. It’s a fascinating read and a valuable guide if you have a kid in golf.
Give your kids the best start in golf
