HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT SPORTS COACH Part 1

When shopping around for a sports coach, it is not enough to settle for someone who just understands the sport, it goes much deeper than that. Communication, understanding and to some degree a deep experience in the particular sport. With so many coaches around and so many rules, where does one start? This is part 1 of a 2 part series on how to find the right coach.

GOALS

Ask yourself, ‘What is it that I want to achieve?’ Is it fitness, Am I training for competition purposes? Do I want to improve on a certain aspect e.g strength, speed, endurance etc? or maybe just for leisure? This will determine the coach you get to finally pick because a coach teaching a beginners class might not be exactly equipped to coach an elite sprinter aiming to shave off 0.01 seconds in the Olympics.

EXPERIENCE

The question of the coach’s experience is paramount but not the first go to question. Instead of being excited or disappointed about the number of years the coach has under his/her belt, the question should be, ‘Do you have experience with athletes with similar goals or expectation as mine?’ For example, ‘ Coach, am a leisure runner but from time to time compete in family fun and charity runs. Have ever taught similar runners?’

QUALIFICATIONS.

Perform due diligence on matters qualifications on a particular coach Does the coach hold up-to-date licenses or accreditations to coach the particular sport Are the certifications recognized either regionally or internationally to practice coaching? Does he or she continuously upgrade or seek new up-to-date certifications through clinics, pro bono services among others? A good example would be in swimming, the coach must be proficient in life saving and first aid skills and recognized by the country’s Federation.

written by Aguta Onsando aguta@sported.co.ke