Hiring
a Coach
by Justin Maguire
III
So
you're thinking about hiring a coach, but you just don't
know where to begin. It's a
big expense, and there are so many different ones. They
all seem to have "THE
WAY". How does one navigate the banner ads, books,
and testimonials to pick the right coach for themselves?
After some measure of success this year, I've received
quite a number of inquiries about who I'm coached by,
how I picked this person, and what I do and don't like
about this person. As a result I've been brooding
on this topic for some time now. So, I thought I'd jot
down some thoughts on the subject.
Knowing
what you need
The
first thing you need to do when thinking about hiring a coach
is a "come to Jesus" moment with yourself. When you
hire a coach it should be for a reason. the impetus may start
from a statement as broad as, "I want to get faster" or
be as specific as "I need to improve the catch phase of
my swim stroke mechanics". Either way, there are a few
things you need to do before you start evaluating coaches.
You're going to need a pen and some paper. Turn off any outside
distractions, get yourself a cup of something warm w/ a bit
of sugar to keep you awake and on target, and get ready to
get up close and personal with yourself. Your ability to find
a coach who truly meets your needs will be, in large measure,
based upon your ability to be honest with yourself as you answer
these questions:
- What
are your goals:
- For
your next "A" race
- For
next season
- For
the next 3 years
- For
each individual sport (swim, bike, run)
- Why
do you train? Is it racing, or is racing a side effect?
- Why
do you race? - what are your motivators?
- How
do you perceive your body - fat, slow, fast, lean..
- What
aspect of each sport do you think you're good at?
- What
aspect/s of each sport do you think needs improvement?
- What
you expect to get from a coach - is face to fact time
important? is it just a schedule? Are you looking for
a teacher?
- What
is your financial commitment for the year for sport -
this includes races (entry & travel), gear, and coach.
- How
much time can you spend each week training?
- How
do you take direction? Bobby knight style, or kid gloves
and subtle direction?
- what
inspires you - what makes you dream big?
If
you are married, or in a committed relationship of any
kind, you need to review this document with your partner.
They need to weigh in on just how much time and money
will be spent in this other relationship. Once that is
done, you've got a document that will help you find a coach
that can help you. Additionally this document will be a
great way for your coach to get a baseline on you. It should
be noted that this is an exercise that you should do for
each season as this list should change over time, just
as you will.
Who
shouldn't be considered?
Alright,
let's get a level set on who should not be considered, as knowing
what you don't want is almost as important as knowing what
you do.
Your
friend/s. A
coaching relationship is much more like a parent/child
relationship than anything else. While it's important
that you like each other, you need someone who can
provide impartial positive and negative feedback.
The "tip
o' the month" guy. Your
coach's advice should be built on reliable information
that is built from both coaching, research, and personal
experience. The guy who's full of neat information
he just read about in this month's issue of triathlete
isn't bringing a unique perspective to you... you could
just have easily purchased that magazine and read it
yourself.
Your
spouse. Like
your friend, this person will have a hard time unbiased
and impartial in the advice/direction they provide.
unlike your coach, your spouse is (ideally) forever.
:)
Selection
Criteria:
When looking for a coach, you should not look for another you. You've already
got you! Instead, look for someone who brings a unique set of experiences/skills/insight
you don't have. You will be best served when you use specific coaches for specific
problems or challenges. This also means that the coach who is right for you
this year, may not be the coach who's right for your next. It's ok to move
on... remember, this about helping you grow.
1. Do
they believe?. The
coach has got to believe in you. Nobody likes to work
for a dead cause, so they must see potential and believe
in you. 2. Do
you believe?. For
you to believe, it's important for you to see your coach
as someone who provides a unique service. Information
is only reliable and available to those who are trusted
by others. My father once said to me, You are judged
first by what you look like, second by what comes out
of your mouth, and third by those who choose surround
you. Apply this same reasoning to your coach.
3. Can
they be both teacher and student? Does
this person have a true love of helping others to grow
and learn? Do they view you as a learning opportunity?
Are they secure enough to be challenged? Does this person
have the patience to "teach you how to fish" as
opposed to handing you all the answers?
4. Is
there a desire to see you succeed. A
coach is your biggest fan. Period. The reasons aren't
important (money, self interest, reflected fame, etc.).
If at all possible, your coach should try to make it
to one race... to see how your deal first hand, to be
the fan, and share in your success.
5. Gut
instinct. If
everything else seems in line, then it comes down to
your gut. They may make sense on paper, but if your gut
says no, then it's no. period. You are entering a partnership,
you'd better be comfortable with this person.
Your
part of the "contract"
So
you've taken the leap. You've found a coach who meets all of
your needs. Now you're done! That coach is going to "make
you faster, better, stronger...". Think again. There are
five major things you'll be responsible for in this relationship,
and they're much harder than you might think. 1. Give
it a year: Your
first year will be about you and your coach establishing
a baseline... for communication, trust, what your body
can handle and how it responds. This will take a season
at minimum, so be patient.
2. Build
trust: Work
hard to develop a deep level of trust with your coach.
You are placing your season, your hopes, thousands of
hours of dedication and work in their hands. If you can't
trust this person it's a waste of money and time on both
sides.
3. Follow
the plan: If
the coach has you doing something... then do it. This
is closely related to #1. If you feel like you don't
want to do it ask yourself why. If it's just motivation
on that particular day for that particular sport then
be strong and get through it. If it's because you don't
see the value in the workout or don't understand why
you are doing it, then get on the phone to your coach
and get answers fast.
4. Over
Communicate: I
once had a discussion with someone who was being coached
who said, "he's just pushing me too hard. I can't
get through all my workouts, and I'm feeling dead. The
plan doesn't seem personalized to my needs and schedule." I
said, "Hmm... that's not good... have you told this
to your coach, or asked him to work with you to modify
the plan to meet your needs?: He looked at me... shrugged,
and said, "no". UM... DUH! You and your coach
are essentially performing ongoing experiments with your
body, and your are the ONLY way he/she can evaluate the
results of the experiment. YOU MUST TELL YOUR COACH WHAT
IS GOING ON. You are paying for his/her attention...
so use it. I call my coach all the time. Sometimes to
tell him I'm freaking out, others that I'm tired....
others seeking a little smack in the ass, and still others
about how great my last workout went.
5. Focus: It's
important that you keep yourself and your coach focused.
If you feel as though you've gotten the help you initially
needed, do you still need your coach? Are you now just getting
a series of workouts without specific intent? Each time you
write a check out to your coach, ask yourself what the focus
of that pay period is. It's both your jobs to define these
and keep yourself growing. See my thoughts on the
value of experimenting.
That's
all for now... I might come back and update this based
on my second season, and as I continue to learn & grow.
Good luck in your decision.
Cheers,
-Mag3
Justin
is a friend of Counterpart Coaching and can be reached
at justinma@microsoft.com or
visit his website: www.magthree.com
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