Over the past three issues of the Performance Menu we have examined critical components to the advancement of an athlete’s performance development. Step one is a belief in the benefit of the training process. The next step is to evaluate the current status of the athlete and determine the best path for development. This is traditionally accomplished by a battery of assessments and is followed up with a specific goal setting session. The coach and the athlete mutually agree upon the goals to be accomplished. Finally the tools for the job are important in the success. You can have great knowledge of what is to be accomplished but your outputs can stall or be muted with inappropriate program design and inadequate tools.

With the table set, so to speak, it’s now time to go to work. The final question becomes, Is the athlete committed to the plan? In short, is the athlete coachable?

The coach is obviously invested at this point, but there is a large psychological, physical and financial investment required by the athlete. This final installment will focus on the athlete’s coachability. This writing could easily fit next to step one. Collectively, the contract between parties could be cut off prior to participating in a lengthy evaluation process.

I am particularly passionate regarding this commitment component. I am (was) as an athlete blessed with few natural athletic gifts. Fortunately, I didn’t realize it for much of my earlier years in athletics. I somehow out of fear of failure developed a lot of “want to”. The minutia that went along with the journey thrilled me. I was determined to get as many of the details correct. In part, this is why I fly heels first into talented athletes/clients who fail to embrace the commitment to the course.

THE OTHER 163

I see the largest majority of athletes/clients only five hours per week. Some I see even less but never fewer than twice. So if at best I see some clients five hours that means that during the other one hundred and sixty-three hours they are solely responsible for execution of the other components of training.

The greatest coaching, elite programming, Eleiko barbells and plates cannot overcome sloppy training practices outside of the training hall. I constantly remind my clients of this fact. I ask for and demand accountability for these other 163 hours in the week.

For some situations there should be accountability checks. This is easily accomplished with the training journal. Certain on-line tools also exist for quick access to data. Athletes will respect what coaches inspect. How many athletes/clients have fallen short of their potential due to poor management of the other 163? I contend that more fail here than with the time in the training hall.

TOUGHNESS

Related to THE OTHER 163, is the athlete’s mental toughness and tenacity. The word toughness gets tossed around all too often and is liberally applied to certain individuals and situations. Some people like to wear a tough exterior in hopes that everyone else will think of them as cool or tough. This is not tough in my view. Real toughness is not revealed by a tattoo or an exterior. Toughness is revealed by behaviors, choices and acts.

Toughness is choosing the more difficult or less popular path. Toughness is having demonstrated pigheaded determination and discipline even though your decision might not be popular or what the crowd is doing. Athletes demonstrate toughness by doing as their coach has specified. The committed athlete makes the correct choices when they are alone and nobody is there to witness the behavior, choice or act. Now who’s really tough?

A PROBATIONARY TRAINING PERIOD

In my own practice, I employ a probationary period. There is no promise beyond three training sessions. At the conclusion of these three sessions we can decide if there is a good fit. Sometimes it’s not going to be prudent to continue. I’ve fired myself more times than I care to count. I’ve trained my senses to sniff out potential problems. I would encourage all coaches to do the same. Your ability to maintain a portfolio of coachable athletes will make you a happier trainer. What will benefit you more? The coachable athlete/client who shares their success or the unaccountable career trend hopper who whines around the community?

While my trained intuition has rarely failed me, in certain cases I have asked the client to complete an inventory of questions. The motive is to help them determine if they are committed to the course of action. I cannot always drop the hammer I prefer mitigation. Coaches could consider such an inventory until they too have developed their intuition about a particular borderline client.

1. I am willing to make the coaching process an investment in myself. I view it as a long-term approach to creating changes in my life. I am not looking for a quick fix.

2. I am ready to do the work necessary to get me where I want to be, and I will let the coach do the coaching.

3. I am willing to change any self-defeating behaviors that are creating a barrier to my success.

4. I accept responsibility for my actions and will not expect the coach to “fix” me, because I know I’m the only one who can make it happen.

5. I have adequate funds to pay for coaching and will not regret the investment. I view coaching as a worthwhile investment in me, not an expense, and I will not allow finances to be a barrier to coaching.

6. I am willing and able to be completely truthful with my coach, and I’m ready to hear the truth from my coach even if it is uncomfortable at first.

7. Coaching is the appropriate process for the changes I want to make.

8. I am able to commit the time needed to make and keep scheduled coaching sessions and to do the fieldwork that my coach asks of me.

9. I’m open to trying new things when my coach asks me, even if they aren’t completely comfortable or I’m not convinced they will make a difference.

10. This is the right time in my life for me to accept coaching.

Now score yourself: If you answered “no” to two or more questions, you will need to make some adjustments, either in your lifestyle or in your expectations of coaching, before coaching will be fully effective.

Having a coachable client makes the processes much easier for the coach and allows for the athlete to realize all of their training objectives.