Coaches- Choosing the Right Athletes

Choose the Right Athletes 

 There is a lot of info out there for helping athletes choose the right coach. If you are a new coach, you might be wondering how it works to find the RIGHT ATHLETES for you as a coach.

Yes,you as a coach have a choice of what athletes you work with. Hopefully, as a coach you have gone through your own process of understanding why you are a coach, what your fundamental beliefs and principles are, and you know exactly what your goals are as a coach. 

• Like the people you coach

• Be sure they share the same values

• Be sure they respect your program

You will be interacting with your athletes a lot. Be sure you like them as people. If you are going

to have them take up a lot of your time, energy, and focus, you’d best make sure you really like

the person, not just as an athlete, but as a human. There is no amount of talent or money that will convince

me to work with an asshole.

These athletes will be representing you and your work. Be sure they have the same values as you

with social media, on the race course, when they train, and how they approach things. You don’t

have to see exactly eye to eye on every matter, but you want to make sure when your athlete is

out there representing you and your program, you are extremely proud of them and agree with

how they handle themselves.

Your athlete has come to you because they believe you as a coach have the tools, knowledge and

what they need to achieve their goals. Be sure you completely have their respect for your

program and your knowledge. If an athlete starts disrespecting your program or you as a coach

with doubt, it might not be the right fit.

I work with athletes I believe in and like. If you like the athlete, you believe in them and you

have a commitment from them you feel good about, I think any goal is achievable. Always be in

coaching for the right reasons and know your fundamentals that are important to you, then

surround yourself with athletes that are the same.