Coach, I WILL NEVER DOUBT YOU AGAIN
That s the word one of my '' high maintenance'' đŸ˜‰athletes wrote by text messages after winning her first ever ITU world championship gold medal a few weeks ago. And my reply to her was ''of course you will doubt me again''.
So i was ask if it bothers me that some of my athletes doubt me at times? Not really. When the going gets though, the hours of training piles in and fatigue become overwhelming, the mind of athletes will always wonders. Second guessing some decision, workouts, past experience, etc. Driven athletes will at times get consume with over analyzing everything and it s very difficult for a athlete to remain objective and neutral.
So how do we process with athletes that will doubt and questions at time, you decisions, workouts, change of plan, race recommendations, pacing strategy etc?
The answer is commitment. That is the most important element a athlete need to give to a coach. When new athletes contact me for potential coaching relationship, it s the first element i will discuss. Are they ready to be Committed to the me and the program.
Commitment to the coaching relationship aka; ''I say, you do'' . I m not asking you to agree with all my decisions, i m not asking you to never doubt or be scare when you see the schedule for the coming week, i m not asking you to not be nervous or think i m crazy when i tell you the pacing strategy we will use at your next big race. I m not asking you to even like me........ You are human and allowed all those feelings, toughs, and questions to surface in your mind. What i m asking you above all is, what ever doubts, questions, interrogations you might have....you will come back to the essential of the athlete/coach relationship.......you are committed to the program, and i m the one writing the program so ''you do what i say''!
Over the years, i can say athletes that are committed and stick to the program are by far the ones that will improve the most and perform at a the highest level.
Will doubt ever go away as the athlete/coach relationship growth years after years? my experience is never completely, if you challenge your athletes and push them out of the comfort zone at times.....questioning will resurface.....but commitment is there to take care of this and keep them in the straight line!
so, are you committed? ;)
Jonathan Caron / Professional Coach / ironman champions / age group world champions
Jonnyo Coaching
Instargram
That s the word one of my '' high maintenance'' đŸ˜‰athletes wrote by text messages after winning her first ever ITU world championship gold medal a few weeks ago. And my reply to her was ''of course you will doubt me again''.
So i was ask if it bothers me that some of my athletes doubt me at times? Not really. When the going gets though, the hours of training piles in and fatigue become overwhelming, the mind of athletes will always wonders. Second guessing some decision, workouts, past experience, etc. Driven athletes will at times get consume with over analyzing everything and it s very difficult for a athlete to remain objective and neutral.
So how do we process with athletes that will doubt and questions at time, you decisions, workouts, change of plan, race recommendations, pacing strategy etc?
The answer is commitment. That is the most important element a athlete need to give to a coach. When new athletes contact me for potential coaching relationship, it s the first element i will discuss. Are they ready to be Committed to the me and the program.
Commitment to the coaching relationship aka; ''I say, you do'' . I m not asking you to agree with all my decisions, i m not asking you to never doubt or be scare when you see the schedule for the coming week, i m not asking you to not be nervous or think i m crazy when i tell you the pacing strategy we will use at your next big race. I m not asking you to even like me........ You are human and allowed all those feelings, toughs, and questions to surface in your mind. What i m asking you above all is, what ever doubts, questions, interrogations you might have....you will come back to the essential of the athlete/coach relationship.......you are committed to the program, and i m the one writing the program so ''you do what i say''!
Over the years, i can say athletes that are committed and stick to the program are by far the ones that will improve the most and perform at a the highest level.
Will doubt ever go away as the athlete/coach relationship growth years after years? my experience is never completely, if you challenge your athletes and push them out of the comfort zone at times.....questioning will resurface.....but commitment is there to take care of this and keep them in the straight line!
so, are you committed? ;)
Jonathan Caron / Professional Coach / ironman champions / age group world champions
Jonnyo Coaching
Instargram