Becoming a triathlete coach is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Just like the athletes you train, you need to keep improving, and these coaching tips might be just what you need!
With the rise in obesity in recent years, the role of triathlete coaches as mentors and positive role models has become more important than ever.
If you want to be a great coach for someone interested in becoming a triathlete, there are several ways to improve your coaching skills.
First, while motivation through fear is easy, it can lead to resentment and disloyalty over time. Incentives can be strong motivators for some, but they don’t last long. Instead, focus on motivation through purpose. Help your athlete change the way they think about their goals. If they can see their own personal growth, it will be easier for them to stay motivated in the long run, making training more effective overall.
Get to know your athlete as a person. Understand why they want to run a triathlon and what reasons you can give them to work hard. They are only athletes for a few hours a day, so understanding who they are outside of training can provide key insights into what will drive them forward.
If you want to be the best coach you can be, it’s helpful to understand what your runners are going through. You don’t need to run alongside your athletes, but having your own triathlete background allows you to speak from experience. This not only keeps you in an admirable and authoritative state but also helps you develop creative training techniques that your athletes will find useful and strengthening.
Learning from those who are already good at what they do is crucial. Triathlete coaches should seek out their own coaching mentors. If you have the chance to shadow coaches you respect, you can gain invaluable knowledge that will help transform you into a better coach. Reflect on your own training experiences to identify what worked well and what didn’t.
Education is a valuable asset in coaching. There are many educational paths you can take to become an effective triathlete coach. A degree in exercise science is very useful, as is an online master’s degree in coaching. Coaching certifications from respected organizations like USA Track & Field and the Road Runners Club of America can also help you specialize and optimize your training methods.
Being a great coach doesn’t stop with school. The triathlete community is always updating what’s cutting edge in training. Keep up by reading magazines and exploring online resources to stay current with the latest developments in training regimens. Aim to learn and develop faster than your athletes and even their competition. Success is a moving target, and you should constantly improve yourself to remain a valid and trustworthy mentor.
Honesty is critical in your relationship with your athletes. If they ask you a question you don’t know the answer to, don’t be afraid to admit it. You can always look up the answer and get back to them later. Focus on what you do know to help them stay motivated.
Your athlete knows the difficulty and scope of training for a triathlon, but that doesn’t mean you should take it easy on them. Coaching is the time to push past any limits and challenge them with a demanding regimen. If they train hard enough that the process becomes easy, the actual goal should feel more achievable, not like a next difficult step.
Training runners can be incredibly rewarding. You can start right away by volunteering at a school or running a program in your community. If there isn’t one, consider starting one yourself to experience the joys of coaching.