Getting a Kick Outta Coaching

I get a kick outta coaching! I'm one of the lucky ones! Not many coaches out there are privileged enough to coach the cream of the crop, the National and International heroes, the Olympic hopefuls! By the time I meet these athletes, they are already heading for greatness, they have it all... genetics, potential, motivation, ability.. the whole she-bang!

I had the great privilege of spending some time with some coaches last weekend who are the 'preliminary creators' of this type of greatness. What the UCI and CSA classify as the 'level 1' coaches. Our children's first coaches and mentors. They are the ones that either 'make or break' a child. They can build a kid up or break their spirit with a simple word or action. Ultimately, they have the power to either break their confidence or build them up to become capable confident sportsmen and women. It struck me so clearly that these are the most important coaches we have! They are the builders or breakers of our nation and are therefore accountable for who and what ends up at the top of the pyramid.

Clearly genetics plays the biggest role in determining how far an athlete will go, but the attributes that are required in parallel with that potential are learned. Where and when are they learned? By an athletes first teachers, level 1 coaches and parents. Those messages given to a child as they progress through the various levels in sport (and life) will determine whether they have the will, discipline, motivation, courage, determination and confidence to get to that next level. I shudder to think of the talent we may have missed/ lost because a coach was disinterested, distracted or told a child he was 'useless, pathetic, too big, too small (slot in negative message here)'. I am not condoning that a coach lies, but rather that he or she steers a child. Direct them toward the things in life they love and you'll be directing them to what they are good at, and have the potential to excel at. Inspire them!

So, when it comes to the base level coaches, they are the unsung heroes who lead our children to greatness. I get to work with those athletes who have been that lucky to have had the best teachers/ coaches/ parents and mentors.