There are times when everyone doubts themselves. Some more than others. Back yourself coach! Believe.
One of the fun things I have to deal with as a coach is being up front and honest.
I'll say it how it is...
I am proud to be a coach, I love doing what I do. I have the opportunity to make someone better at something. A coach isn't always going to deliver good news or say well done.
If you are going well, I'll say so, if you need to work on something... I'll help you. If you are going not so good, I'll tell you. If you want to do an event and it fits the bigger picture... great. If not I'll say that's not a great idea. If I don't know the answer I'll ask someone. If I think you need something I cannot provide, I'll find someone who does.
As athletes you have specified a goal for the season (and more than likely beyond just the current year). A coach has to believe in themself. They have to.
But the human mind is a weird and wonderful thing! Just like athletes, coaches can have doubts too.
Where do coaches go to for reassurance or counsel when we need it?
Am I doing the right thing? What are other coaches doing? Should I be doing that? Then it can get worse, you question your own beliefs and philosophies.
A teacher in a school can refer to a school principal. An employee can defer to their manager. Where does a coach go?
A coach might have a network around them: other coaches, their mentor, physio, nutritionist, psychologist. This job is hard - to be blunt it can be brutal at times... and anyone that says otherwise is either not committed to it or they are not passionate about it.
And if there is no where to go... you have to believe in yourself!
"Back yourself coach!"
In recent weeks and months I have been through all of these emotions... questioning what I do, why I do it. I do it because I love Triathlon and I love coaching.
There are always people who want to knock you down or think they can do better. Good luck to them. Here is my thing... I am a competitive individual. I can count on one hand the number of races I have not finished. I will give my best... always. Not just to the athletes I coach, but to everything I do, I'll give my best to my wife, my kids and myself.
I am a coach.
I deliver things my way. These are my coaching beliefs. I am passionate about my coaching. Recently I attended the Triathlon Australia Performance Coaching course at the AIS in Canberra. The confidence I gained on the course was inspiring. Since then I have surrounded myself with other coaches... observing, watching, learning... coaches who have empowered Olympians, international athletes, juniors, Commonweath Games athletes.
I have been coaching for a long time. My results speak for themselves: Hawaii qualifiers, 70.3 Worlds qualifiers, Challenge World Championship qualifiers, ITU World Age Group athletes, European Age Group medallists and Junior State Team representatives.
When you come to an F4L session, attend a training camp or sign up for a personal training program with F4L you get that experience and knowledge.
We cannot be in peak condition all year round. Its just not physically, mentally or emotionally possible. So at certain times we will focus on having fun, working on technique, skills and developing strengths out of weaknesses... and then we can 'get fit' when we need to.
One of the biggest coaching challenges is explaining objectivity to athletes. I can remain objective and have the athletes best interests in mind. So for example, if an athlete misses a session due to work or sickness or anything else - they cannot just 'make that up later' it will create fatigue and possibly enhance the chances of injury or more sickness. But, that is what a good coach can do... remain objective...
So now a repeated note to myself:
"Back yourself coach. Your philosophy of Consistant, Balanced and Sustainable training really does work. You know it does!"
If you are looking to get fit for the 2017/2018 season in WA, you can sign up for a program with F4L Triathlon Coaching... now is the time to do that.
