Weekly, Henry and I talk about performance development of Lauren and others he trains watch being trained on our team. What is best what coul improve,how he can improve. A few real answers but lots more questions and thoughts. Here are a few random thoughts I have been mulling over the past few days.
Mental toughness and physical toughness have to go hand in hand .One without the other is counterproductive.
Case in point: Does your athlete think he can do a certain thing but physically (not there yet or not probably going to get there anytime soon) cannot? An athlete can become discouraged because of unrealistic expectations. Yours and his own.
Does your athlete think he cannot not do a certain thing but absolutely can physically and does in practice routinely but in a meet doesn’t live up to his practice expectation?
Many think that more physical training is the answer for the problem of mental toughness acquisition …Wrong more and over training can only be a slippery slope that can lead to nowhere good.
Lauren told me recently at the Mt Sac Relays she wanted to run on the Elite Ladies team with Allyson Felix and the rest, She knew she wasn’t as fast but one day she would be and just wanted to see where she was at.
That was a good example of an athlete who understands her physical limitations as they are now , but the mental toughness to give it a try that would not in any way diminish her as an athlete in her own mind. Winning here wasn’t the goal trying to do her best was foremost in her mind.
It is in part a coaches responsibility to coach,motivate and direct in a positive, honest way the athletes development and full athletic potential. Training a youth athlete always needs to have some element of fun while being a catalyst to performance growth.
If Coaches remove the fun before the “Love” the sport can fully mature and become a part of the youth athletes experience they may lose a great track athletes before the real “fun” begins
An athletes (and his parent) have to be able to fully trust with all confidence the coaches direction ,instructions and understanding of the athletes ability to perform to his highest capability. If a parent talks disparagingly about the coach it can be a train wreck waiting to happen on the track, with unfulfilled expectation due to a thread of distrust being sewn in the household when the coach isn’t around. The next step the immature youth athlete begins playing it out on the track with lack of effort and enthusiasm.
Lastly, Like I always say….Track teams are like Churches, You can find one in every big city practically on every corner..Find the Jesus of your faith or of the Track and Field world you can live with, be faithful to grow and be lead. Be content with knowing no church or team or coach is perfect. I am not,you are not and nor are they.
Until Next Time
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