Qualities of a Trisutto.com Coach
At the conclusion of the course requirements the Trisutto Coach will be able to guide, direct and prescribe training programs for individual triathletes of varying ability and maturation levels to progress to the elite level. In addition the Trisutto Coach will have the skills to improve, enhance and fulfil the potential of their triathletes they are coaching.
Qualities of a Trisutto Coach
“Whether coach or athlete you must build belief in what they are doing or delivering. Such a large time investment can be wasted if one does not fully believe in their direction. I have found over the years one of the most effective policies to guard against the wrong direction is 100% belief in the direction they are taking, right or wrong. Diminishing the grey area of doubt is always a positive”. (Brett Sutton)
Leadership
The goal of great coaching is to guide, inspire and empower an athlete to achieve their full potential. A great coach, thus, should also be an exceptional leader. A leader has the ability to motivate their athlete to want to win and who teaches the skills that enables them to win.
Knowledge
A great coach should have in-depth knowledge of the sport they are coaching. This does not necessarily have to come from personal experience, but a coach needs to have an understanding of the fundamental skills to advanced tactics and strategies involved in the sport.
Motivation
Coaches need to be able to convey passion to their athletes, to inspire them to get the most out of their performance. A successful coach will possess a positive attitude and enthusiasm for the sport and the athletes. That in turn inspires athletes to excel. Motivation might also involve keeping the practice session engaging and challenging.
Knows the Athlete
A key to successful coaching is being aware of the individual differences in your athletes. There are some coaching tactics that work better on different personality types so it is important to tailor communication and motivation based on specific athletes’ personalities. To achieve this, a coach needs to pay attention to the athletes’ emotions, strengths and weaknesses. Knowing the athlete also involves having empathy for the athlete. Coaches need to care deeply about their athletes and a coach needs to be willing to be a mentor and counsellor, as well as a coach.
Consistency
If a coach wants to change an athlete’s attitude, or improve an athlete’s skills, a coach needs to be consistent in the message they are trying to deliver. Athletes will learn by hearing the same message constantly and consistently.
Effective communication skills
Needless to say, a great coach will possess exceptional communication skills. An effective coach is able to set defined goals, express these goals and ideas clearly to players, give direct feedback, reinforce key messages and acknowledge success. Listening is also a part of effective communication, so a coach should be a compassionate listener who welcomes athlete comment, questions and feedback.