Qualities Your Coach Need Embody (Part 3 of 3)
Your coach is your teammate in your training and racing process. You need to feel solid about having this person on your team.
After you’ve addressed what you want out of your coaching relationship using the guidelines from Part 2 below you can peruse these additional qualities that I believe should be present in a quality triathlon coach to see if they are important, or not, to your coaching relationship. Your coach…:
* Guides you in making your own decisions. A smart coach does not force-feed your process. He facilitates your evolution as an athlete.
* Guides you in learning more about yourself through the sport.
* Sees and acknowledges the different needs of male and female athletes as well as elites and beginners.
* Can speak to your personality type. Does she talk to you in a way that you can hear her? Or is she continually talking over your head or down to you?
* Knows how to give positive reinforcement when it is warranted, but doesn’t play perpetual cheerleader.
* Shows you your strengths on a regular basis as well as how far you have come in your training, especially when you forget to see this for yourself.
* Can safely point out areas that need work, while acknowledging that most athletes are sensitive to criticism.
* Teaches you how to coach yourself during races and during the off-season.
* Teaches you how to execute an event without having to vicariously hold your hand.
* Teaches independence in the athlete and supports the relationship as one based on growth.
* Mirrors the healthy ways in sport. He practices what he preaches; he is someone you respect.
* Has extensive experience doing your sport—this becomes more critical for ultra distance events. She has been there and can relate to your experience on all levels.
* Allows that your program is the most important thing to you and treats it as such.
Ask for references and find out what other athletes say about how he operates? Set yourself up to select a coach who will shift your training to a positive light. And in doing so, don’t ever settle for less than.