Featured Coaches

Mark Phelps - March 2013

Silver Certified Coach
Plano, TX

 How long have you been an active coach?
- I have been coaching since the early 90’s. 

 

Where do you coach?
- Primarily at Plano Super Bowl but I have conducted sessions at AMF Richardson and Showplace Garland.

What have you gained from coaching?
- I have not only gained experience as a coach and knowledge of the game but also a huge amount of satisfaction and pleasure in helping other avid bowlers to have improved games and seeing their results.

 

If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
- Observe “ALL” aspects of the bowler’s game but emphasize to the bowler to work on only one piece at a time. Use video.
 

Jim O'Reilly - February 2013

Silver Certified Coach
Zumbrota, Minnesota

 How long have you been an active coach?
- I started coaching in 1973 after getting a management job at Evergreen Lanes in Zumbrota, Minnesota. With the exception of a short hiatus, I have been coaching ever since.

Where do you coach?
- Currently I coach youth bowling and 2 high school teams at Pine Island Pool and Pins in Pine Island, Minnesota.  I do individual coaching at Riverboat Lanes in Wabasha, Minnesota, and clinics with my coaching partner David Pearson under the banner of Bowling Coaching Associates.  We conduct clinics for 10-30 participants throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.  I am a National instructor for USA Bowling, and a Minnesota High School bowling commissioner.

What have you gained from coaching?
- I work in the bowling industry as a distributor salesman, and it has allowed me to integrate coaching into my other work as a ball drilling instructor and lane maintenance technician.  Using my knowledge from the other side of the sport has helped me to become a more well-rounded coach who can use better tools to improve my students faster. Also, the sense of accomplishment by my clients gives me deep satisfaction.

If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
- Use praise of accomplishment rather than criticism of failure as your main tool.  
 

Mac McLaughlin - January 2013

Bronze Certified Coach
Mukilteo, WA

 How long have you been an active coach?
- I have been actively coaching Youth (junior) bowlers in certified leagues since the year 2000

Where do you coach?
- I currently coach at Kenmore lanes in Kenmore, Washington, for adults and juniors. I am the league coordinator for King Country Eastside High School Bowling League, and have helped the elementary PE teachers institute a bowling program for grades K-6.

What have you gained from coaching?
- I have gained much satisfaction from seeing the bowlers work to improve their bowling and have watched most youth bowlers average grow by leaps and bounds. It has also made me a better bowler as I try to bowl better myself by coaching myself.

If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
- It is very difficult to give just one tip to a new coach as I have several that I feel are very important.
To synopsize:
  1. All youth coaches should be USBC certified and RVP registered
  2. Watch how the bowlers being coached handles the ball on the lanes before giving any advice to the bowler. It is extremely important as there is NO ONE single way for all bowlers to handle and release the ball onto the lanes.
 

 

 

 

Joe Stalnaker - November 2012

Bronze Certified Coach
Alderson, WV

 How long have you been an active coach?
-I have been an active coach for 3+ years.

Where do you coach?
-I coach at the Greenbrier Bowling and Recreation Center in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

What have you gained from coaching?
-Each person that you work with during your sessions has different idiosyncrasies and that it is important to not to try and rebuild the bowler completely, but to work on their weaknesses. I realize that with each student that I am working on their particular game and style and not someone else's.

If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
-Don't try to make your student's game your game. Let the student develop into their own game, and patience is a must.

As a side note, On March 10, 2012, I bowled 100 consecutive games with USBC regulation equipment (15 lb. strike ball, 13 lb. spare ball). I started at the Greenbrier Bowling and Recreation Center at 6:00 AM and finished at 2:00 AM on March 11, 2012. The herculean effort was to raise funding for the PBA Senior Regional Tournament to be held in Lewisburg, WV, the week of September 28-30, 2012. With the help of the bowling community, we were able to raise over $3,000.00.
 

 

 

 

 

Cory Knop - October 2012

Silver Certified Coach
Tucson, AZ

How long have you been an active coach?
-I have been actively coaching for thirteen years.  My passion started by assisting with my daughter's Saturday morning youth program. I have been fortunate enough to train under some of the world’s best coaches (Dick Ritger, Susie Minshew, Ron Hoppe…etc.) which has only enhanced my love for teaching.

Where do you coach?
-I do most of my coaching in bowling centers in Tucson, Arizona.  I was honored when Mr. Dick Ritger asked me to join his outstanding staff of instructors, and have, on occasion, assisted with his clinics in New York and Tucson. I was also fortunate enough to participate in a couple of Susie Minshew’s Bowling Success Clinics in Texas.

What have you gained from coaching?
- I have a great job as an Engineer at the University of Arizona, but I have to say coaching has been the most rewarding experience for me.  Helping people of all ages and skill levels to accomplish their goals, and to see the pure joy on their faces when this happens, is truly priceless.

If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
-My advice to new coaches would be to take on the responsibility of finding new ways to improve your student’s self-confidence.  It’s easy to get caught up in analyzing all the negatives.  However, I think it’s equally important to re-enforce the positives!  If we constantly hit the negative aspects of a student’s game, we erode their confidence.  A good coach will find the right balance between identifying flaws and praising their achievements.

 

 

 

 

Randy Stoughton - August 2012

Gold Certified Coach
Lake Wales, FL

How long have you been an active coach?
-I have been coaching bowling off and on since the summer of 1972.

Where do you coach?
-I am the Head Coach at the Kegel Training Center

What have you gained from coaching?
- I have learned that there is so much to learn about bowling that it takes a life time to gain the knowledge. If you're not able to accept being wrong, you will never find out what's right. Every bowler has their own way of learning and even more importantly their own way of hearing your message. It takes a great deal of trust and honesty between teacher and student to for a relationship that produces change.

If you could give one tip to a new coach, what would it be?
-Coach to the students skill level.

 

 

 

 

David Pearson - June 2012

Silver Certified Coach
Rochester, MN

Read More

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Bean - May 2012

Level I/II Certified Coach
Mukwonago, WI

Read More