When the student is ready...
Take home message
WE ARE NOT ALWAYS READY FOR THE LESSON.
For Coaches
Be patient. Seek first to understand, then understood. Try another way and be ready for when the student appears.
For Athletes
If you don’t get it, ask! Coaches don’t say it for no reason. Ask for clarity and trust the process.
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I’ve never really understood this (like many things). Of late, I think I am starting to get it a bit more.
As a senior S&C coach in Perth, I have been fortunate to be sought by up and coming coaches who have wanted to come and “pick my brain” and watch a session or two. The young coach will attend a training session at the gym whilst I am training the squad. They will stand nearby and observe, listen, as I interact with the players during the session. Once the session is over, the observing coach and I will have a few minutes to catch-up, reflect on the session and chat. I will ask, “Thanks for your patience. Any questions?”.
They pause, slowly start to shake their head, shrug and then reply: “Nope. All good thanks”.
Relax coach. Maybe tomorrow they will be ready.
Nope? No questions? None!
Arrogantly, I’m a little floored, thinking: “You’ve just watched elite athletes train, in an elite setting (not to mention the other 15-20 rowers, waterpolo, cyclists, etc sharing the gym) and you’ve no questions, as though you’ve seen this everyday?!” I used to get quite miffed, but I hold my tongue, thank them for reaching out, wish them all the best with their future and if they need anything else they have my details. Of course, I rarely hear back. Ok, I never hear back. Hours ticked off. Done.
But as a sign of my delayed maturity, I am starting to realise that perhaps they are not yet ready to be the student I think they should be. It’s maturity that perhaps I get now as a parent. Parenting and coaching have so much in common.
Again, these moments tend to come in waves when days later at training, an athlete waiting to sub back into a mini-game had a minor vent: “I don’t know why we do drills like that last one. It’s a waste of time, I don’t get it!”.
“That’s interesting. Maybe you should ask the coach” (who a few sessions ago lamented the inability of said athlete to comprehend the purpose of said drill). Another one of those lucky passing S&C moments where as the neutral go-between, we can link people (ie. The elephant). At the end of training, there they are chatting, moving around the pitch, mimicking movements and tackling positions. Following training session, the athlete is nailing the drill and takes the new skill into game play.
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
What’s the lesson? Probably several.
First, as the coach, check the message. Was it the right coaching point? Was it delivered in a way that the message could be heard? Maybe it was my fault the student was not ready. Good chance. So review your role in the information exchange.
Second, I have found that often, someone else needs to be the teacher. Sometimes, a different coach or colleague saying the same thing, their way, reaches the student. Is that a strategy you can use? I have. I don’t care if I get recognised for it or not. That’s teamwork. Everyone has different skills - use them.
Finally, as I find out more and more, be patient. Be ready for when the student appears.
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Thanks again. BA.