Words: Andre Bekker
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MULTI SPORTS
WHAT DOES A REAL COACH LOOK LIKE, WHAT SHOULD HE DO AND WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT OF HIM? IF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE CROSSED YOUR MIND, THEN READ ON. A real coach is someone who has a deep rooted, intrinsic understanding of sport. In most cases, this doesn’t mean that for a coach to be good he has to have many titles behind his name. Take Rafael Nadal’s uncle as an example. He hasn’t won any French Open titles, yet Rafael has won many. Why? His uncle has a great understanding of what is required to be a champion. So, behind every champion is a good coach that can identify and work with the athlete’s strengths and weaknesses, without forcing their own strengths and weaknesses onto the athlete. Therefore, my first point is this, find a coach that makes you, your needs and strengths a priority!
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SECOND: a coach will be
able to guide and assist you with setting your goals. Short-, medium- and long-term goals are all there as stepping stones to help you reach your ultimate goal. If you don’t have an ultimate goal, then don’t bother with a coach because you are aimless.
THIRD: make sure the
coach is an expert on the subject matter. The legendary Brownlee brothers run with runners, cycle with cyclists and swim with swimmers. Therefore, a triathlon coach will assist you to find these experts, as I have never seen a tri coach that is an expert on all the disciplines. Most tri coaches I know of, know one sport and wing it on the others.
FOURTH: clearly distinguish
between a coach and programme writer. A coach is actively involved with the athlete. See him regularly so he can monitor your training, running style, cycling positions, swimming strokes and so on. Depending on which sport he is an expert on, don’t be afraid to communicate with other expert coaches if more than one sport is involved. Triathlon is not one sport! It is three sports combined to make one whole. Make sure you get expert advice for each discipline, otherwise you will find yourself surrounded by mediocrity.
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FIFTH: a real coach is performance
driven, not outcome driven. Performance coaches are people that focus on execution at all times. The better you execute, the more you will improve and the more you will enjoy what you do. If you are outcome driven, such as socially inspired, you need a coach that puts training groups together. These are people and coaches that will, for example, congratulate you (outcome) on finishing third in your age category when there were only five participants, while in reality you were substantially off the pace. In this equation, there is no mention of execution; the focus is on the position. How often have you seen an interview with a top-class winner and he says that he could have played better or that he made mistakes? He focuses on execution at all times and the fact that he won is secondary. So make sure you find a coach, not a social group to stroke your misplaced ego. Socialise all you want, but you don’t need a coach for that.
that will drive improvement at all times. This could be improving your 15h00 IRONMAN time or your 8h00 Comrades’ time. If you don’t want to improve, then don’t get a coach as you will be wasting his time. A good coach will send you on your merry way very quickly. If you are a participant and think you are a winner just for pitching up at the race, you don’t need a coach! It’s a two way street; a good coach needs and thrives on your successes.
SEVENTH: a coach should
have a range of experts he can refer you to, such as physios, dieticians, bike setups, swim, run and cycle experts and so on. Who else will guide you? Surround yourself with experts, it rubs off on you.
EIGHTH: a coach is someone that can
analyse and put improvements and results into perspective. Look for places to improve and pat your back when you have done well.
CAN YOUR COACH DO THE ABOVE? • If you have any questions or need advice on coaching, please email Andre Bekker on a.bekker@mweb.co.za or visit http://5thdimensioncoaching.co.za
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SIXTH: a coach is someone
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