Comments on: How to Be Your Own Coach

By: Annette

Annette — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:29:02 +0000

Good stuff that I need to apply to myself. Nice read!!

By: Kiashu

Kiashu — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 06:43:30 +0000

“Like everyone on the Internet, your technique is brilliant and you work harder than 10 normal trainees put together.”

Classic, and so true

By: Pat Hodgson

Pat Hodgson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:36:13 +0000

Lyle,
yet another great article, thanks!
There’s an old saying “Don’t do as I do, do as I say…” usually said just before something’s about to get bodged! – may be the answer’s been there all the time!

By: lylemcd

lylemcd — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:21:49 +0000

While I don’t disagree that a coach shouldn’t bother with athletes/clients who skip training, that’s not really what I was talking about.

Lyle

By: Ty

Ty — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:31:56 +0000

I don’t think a coach should try to be a motivator. If you can’t be bothered turning up to train, the coach shouldn’t be bothered taking the interest in you.

By: paolo27th

paolo27th — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:17:35 +0000

Nice writeup. I like the second method especially. Had I followed it last week I wouldn`t have had to take 2 extra days off for being completely burned out.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:30:53 +0000

Lyle,

This is a great article. Thank you.

By: lylemcd

lylemcd — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:06:20 +0000

First off, yes to your last statement. My own coach has said how he enjoyed often lettings someone else be in charge, just showing up to skate and letting someone else do the thinking and tell him what to do.

In my own specific case, it was a function of
a. knowing nothing about ice speedskating
b. the sport being so godawful technical that it can’t be learned without constant feedback

Given those two things, regardless of my own background or what I think I know, it was imperative to find someone who actually knew what they were talking about.

Lyle

By: Mike Capshaw

Mike Capshaw — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:49:44 +0000

Lyle,

It seems like a coach taking on a coach is one of the ways to return to a somewhat intense and “tunnel vision” style approach to training that is akin to what beginners may often experience. Beginners lack a lot of the practical knowledge to maximize training, but they tend to bring (perhaps I am making far too broad of a generalization) a lot of effort and enthusiasm to the table. On the other hand, seasoned coaches often have so much knowledge (similar to how you describe Dan John getting sidetracked due to the sheer volume of knowledge he’s accrued over the years), that they get caught up in trying to get every last detail in their program perfect.

The irony is that we’d all say to a client “You’ll never have THE perfect program and things are always changing, so don’t get hung up on the notion of perfection or tinkering with minutia.”

Sometimes you just want to go an autopilot, let someone else hash out all the details, and then bring the effort when you get in the gym. As with objectivity, the big picture focus is often harder to use when dealing with yourself. Suddenly all the little stuff you advise others to steer clear of focusing on or over-thinking rush to the forefront.