Quality Control Coaching

Much of my time is spent teaching athletes how to train (it's part of my job right). Everything can look good on paper, but then...

-How to approach drills.
-How to finish them with the right level of effort, all the way through the finish.
-How to raise and lower their bodies at the right time.
-How and where to direct their feet.
-What the ground contacts should feel like.
-The posture their spine should be in.
-Where their eyes should be looking.
-Subtle movement tweaks that make giant differences.
-How to 'attack' weights.
-How to use serious internal fortitude to 'fight' through a difficult strength set.
-The intent needed at different parts of certain movements.
-What the athletes should be doing between sets.
-What's the necessary frame of mind to maintain speed in a conditioning exercise.
-Optimizing tension and relaxation at the correct times.
-How to "listen" to their bodies and what feedback to look for, and what action if any is necessary.
-If and when an athlete needs to feel their body and when they don't.
-Discussing options for putting together a personal schedule that is condusive to recovering.
-Strategies for how to ready themselves for a good night's sleep.
-Developing nutrition knowledge.
-Educating on the pitfalls that can sap an athlete's energy.

To sum this, what is only a short list, up; teaching athletes how to train and recover.

And for me to foster these things...

-Develop relationships.
-Educating the "why" of all that we do.
-Living out the values taught to the athletes.
-Making sure my feedback is given at the right time and in the right tone, or knowing when to just keep my mouth shut.
-De-emphasizing certain things; "don't sweat it".
-'Opening' my ears up to be able to listen.
-When to submit to requests and when to hold ground.
-Understanding when it's time to scrap what's on paper and when I should 'follow through'.
-Feeling, more than knowing, when and what to say.
-Knowing when to make eye contact or when I should look away.
-Discerning when to allow certain mistakes and patiently let the athlete figure things out.
-Who needs a little 'lashing' and who needs an 'arm around the shoulder', or a combination of the two.
-Managing my attention on a large group; who do I focus on more, who less, or is it equal.
-Understanding when I have done my job and it's time to turn the athlete loose...

The challenges and teaching are endless; and with all this being said, teach the bare minimum necessary to optimize performance.

AS