By PCG Elite Coach Bill McLaughlin
Great coaches strive to do right by their athletes - treat
them well, motivate them to succeed, and provide support and guidance to meet
their individual needs. This is very often easier said than done because
coaching takes time, skill, and careful planning.
While I don’t presume to have a fool proof plan since there
are always new challenges to face, I have developed a series of techniques that
have proven beneficial to me as I continue to work to bring out the best in my
athletes.
The following “tips” are my ‘not-so-secret’ 5 secrets to
successful coaching.
1.
Successfully develop a relationship with your athletes.
Learn their goals. Learn what they feel their strengths and limitations are.
You need to know how experienced a rider/ racer they are. Discuss their life
outside of cycling, and where cycling training fits in. It's important to know
other stresses: job, family commitments, and when do they have down time to
relax. Ask questions, listen and guide the goal setting. I also try and relate
with personal stories, and I praise ALL achievements.
2.
Cycling workouts are really just one facet of training.
As a coach, you need to be ready to refer them to other specialists that can
also help them reach their goals. I won’t hesitate to suggest a sports
nutritionist to specialize their diet, to improve weight management, or proper
fueling to optimize their training. I will recommend a good bike fitting as
well.
3.
Athlete input when scheduling training is necessary. I
prefer to have a block of workouts built up in advance to allow for them to
review. We discuss changes due to life events (travel, work, family.) I know
consistency is key, but things happen, and as a coach, you need to be able to
adjust the plan to keep them on the best track to meet their goals. You need to
be flexible, and be willing to work with your athlete, when making any
modifications to the plan.
4.
Keep reading! A coach has to keep learning and stay up
to date with all advances in coaching. Read coaching advice and techniques from
successful coaches, and not just in cycling. Learning about what is happening
in other fields and sports helps me bring a fresh approach to the work I am
doing for my athletes.
5.
Remember YOU are an expert in your field, surrounded by
other experts! The great advantage of working with Peaks Coaching Group is in
the network of coaches. There are 50+ coaches that you can reach out to and
bounce ideas off of. Our athletes have the benefit of not only us as their
individual coach, but also a vast coaching knowledge base, second to none, with
the common goal of helping them succeed!
