Why I Quit Coaching (And 3 Lessons I’ve Learned)
Just before I went on vacation, I resigned from my coaching position (at my former high school). Sad, but necessary.
A scathing expose on my experience both growing up and coaching in such a (suburban) town would be entirely appropriate here, but I’ll save that for the book.
So why did I leave? Let me put it like this:
Change can be very difficult, and is, at best, slow. Especially if possessing a golf ball sized consciousness (See #3 on my list).
However, before I close the door on that chapter of my coaching career, I would like to give my Vote of Confidence to the current Athletic Director. He’s an honest guy. An upfront guy. His primary concern is the kids, not politics. And I respect that.
I just hope he recognizes that, in order triumph over the firmly entrenched status quo, not only will he have to excel in his current position, but he’ll need to be equally as effective in the field of Oncology.
Last week, as I floated down the (45 degree!) Colorado River, I had some time to think about some of the things I’ve learned over the course of my coaching career. And I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Nonetheless, the lessons I’ve learned will help you become a better coach, no matter how long you’ve been coaching.
See the eagle over my left shoulder?
#3. Golf still isn’t a sport.
“If you have a golf-ball-sized consciousness, when you read a book, you’ll have a golf-ball-sized understanding; when you look out a window, a golf-ball-sized awareness, when you wake up in the morning, a golf-ball-sized wakefulness; and as you go about your day, a golf-ball-sized inner happiness.
But if you can expand that consciousness, make it grow, then when you read that book, you’ll have more understanding; when you look out, more awareness; when you wake up, more wakefulness, and as you go about your day, more inner happiness.” – David Lynch
Let’s apply this to coaching. Coaches with a golf ball sized consciousness can’t comprehend an approach or school of thought beyond the one they, and those they surround themselves with, possess. They fear new ideas and those that bring them, even if it makes their programs and athletes better. It doesn’t make them bad people. Just bad coaches.
Don’t get mad. Or frustrated. Logic and reason are beyond their current frequency range. The only way to force their evolution is to boil the frogs slowly. What does that mean?
The ‘Boiling Frogs’ principle says that if you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out. But if you put that frog in cold water that is slowly heated, it won’t perceive the danger and will be cooked in the pot.
Like I said, change doesn’t happen overnight.
But back to my original point: The most revered coaches have a beach ball sized consciousness, regularly investing in and evolving their programs with cutting edge training methods. And, more importantly, providing a rewarding experience for our athletes, independent of on field success.
Think about yourself and the coaches you know. The ones that coach your kids. Take a look with a new set of eyes, at yourself and others, and, pretty quickly, you’ll figure out where on the spectrum they fall. And where you fall. What you choose to do from there is up to you. I recommend filling a pot with cold water.
But don’t start patting yourself on the back because you invest in new resources or go to clinics a few times per year. Compared to some coaches, our beach ball sized consciousness still looks an awful lot like a golf ball.
#2. Stop running a Groundhogs Day Program.
#2. Stop running a Groundhogs Day Program.
#2. Stop running a Groundhogs Day Program.
#2. Stop running a Groundhogs Day Program.
Seeing the same thing over and over again starts to get annoying, doesn’t it?
Reminds me of the classic Bill Murray film ‘Groundhogs Day’ where the main character keeps reliving the same day over and over again. In the movie, however, Bill Murray’s character eventually figures out that if he makes changes to his routine, and keeps track of the results, he starts to get…better results.
Don't drive your program over a cliff.
Sounds pretty obvious. But I find that too many coaches in too many programs keep running the same program year after year. Same speeches. Same workouts. Same drills. Same glazed over look in the athletes’ eyes. And, in most cases, the same stagnant times and performances by senior year.
Some coaches will tell you, “I’ve been coaching for 15 years.”
No. You’ve coached one year, 15 times in a row.
These coaches usually defend their laziness with, “But we have a successful program.”
Sure you don’t. Problem is, a perennial 7-2 dual meet record with no team championships to show for it doesn’t make me a good coach or mean I run a good program. Too many coaches kid themselves into believing otherwise. I could give a monkey a stop watch and, after a few years, he’s going to end up with some champions. It’s called The Law of Probability. Every team has athletes with talent who succeed on pure ability. (Take my word for it, I was one of them. To the point that I was a healthy red-shirt as a freshman in college because I lacked the biomotor skill needed to compete effectively at that level.)
There’s a reason I see the same names posting in the blog. The same names repeatedly investing in their kids whenever we run a promotion or launch a new resource. Because as soon as you start investing in your kids by investing in your coaching education, you get addicted to the results. Not just the results on the track or in the field. You’ll get addicted to the way your kids respond to better coaching and training.
You don’t have to overhaul your entire program every season. Pick one area to upgrade (the warm up, the weight room, how you teach speed drills, how to break down running form, progressions for plyometrics, starting blocks, take off mechanics, etc.) and work it into your program.
I turn out State Champions every year. And this year I’m making near universal upgrades to my progressions *and* teaching some young coaches my system at the same time. So just changing your warm up routines or learning some speed drill progressions shouldn’t cause you too much psychological discomfort. Don’t get overwhelmed with all the possibilities.
We coach our athletes to avoid ‘paralysis by analysis’. We need to do the same by only taking on as much as we feel comfortable with. This season, pick *one* thing. And invest in getting better at it. (…and yes, you may actually have to spend some money!)
Your athletes are begging you not to teach the same stuff the same way this year.
I, on the other hand, hope you do the same old crap. Because winning is fun. But abusing people is even *more* fun.
#1. Never Outshine the Master
From ‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene:
Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.
My mentor, Kevin Murphy, a Hall of Famer in my state, had no Ego. He took pride in my success. He encouraged it. He gave me credit for results whether I deserved it or not. He had me call in all of our results to the newspaper and, therefore, get all of the quotes. He is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met. And he spoiled me.
Outshine me, you will not.
Because I didn’t realize this was the exception to the rule. And it caused me a lot of problems.
In one prior coaching situation, I thought to myself, “I know these coaches attach much of their identity to being the Head Coach of these teams. So I’ll slide in, help the sprinters and jumpers break a bunch of records and win a bunch of titles. The team will win titles and take home more hardware. The kids will have a better experience than they’ve been having (since they and their parents have approached me for years asking for help since they weren’t getting results in the Dinosaur Program that existed before I got there). The Head Coaches get to take all the credit, so they’ll be pretty damn excited about my bringing the program to the next level. And all will be right in the world.”
Ahh. So naïve, I was. In fact, the opposite happened.
You don’t need a Doctorate in Psychology to figure out how it went down. I got such good results so fast and had such a powerful relationship with my kids that I stole peoples’ thunder. And therefore their sense of identity. People started equating me with the track program and that led people with a golf ball sized consciousness to react in a painfully predictable way. Since my name is not Toby, and I have a myriad of coaching options, I decided to leave for greener pastures. Because sometimes you just have to play the Big Time Card. And that is what I did.
So what’s the lesson here? Most people are average. That’s why it’s called average. And the nail that sticks up gets pounded down.
The biggest question I get these days is some variation of “How do I get my coach/kid’s coach/the head coach to change their training methods?”
If you can’t leave to work with more evolved coaches, the answer ultimately depends on just how fragile the ego of the coach you’re dealing with happens to be.
But understanding the 3 lessons contained in this article is the key to doing what is best for your athletes. Because that is the primary goal and purpose of any program. Well, maybe not all of them. But it should be.
Just remember: People feel threatened by other peoples’ success. It’s why we love to see celebrities in scandalous situations. It makes us feel better. It’s why we root for the underdog. Because most people aren’t dominant at what they do. It’s why we hate on rich people. Because most of us aren’t wealthy.
If you’re working with coaches who simply have less knowledge, talent, skill or commitment than you do, boil them slow and, if you want to avoid watching adults act like spoiled little children, never outshine the master.
To your success,
Latif Thomas
Complete Speed Training 2: How to Build Champion Sprinters
Complete Program Design for Sprinters
P.S. Don’t forget to follow my daily thoughts and updates on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/latif_thomas
September 8th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Latif,
Great Article. I tried calling you regarding the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Clinic that I spoke to you about last spring. We would like to have you be a sprints and hurdles clinician for us on Friday, February 11 and Saturday the 12th, 2011. As I stated in an ealier email, you came highly recommended by our friends at the Illinois Clinic. Let’s talk soon and get this nailed down.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I truly enjoy everything that you are saying because after coaching for over 28 years I find myself out of coaching. Somehow the good ones get burned out and unappreciated. I enjoy reading your articles and have used somethings I have learned in seminars with HS coaches.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Enjoy all your training material. Sorry to hear your leaving but if you want to move to southwest there is a job opening at mayfield high school in las cruces nm.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Latif,
I would like to thank you for raising one of the most if not the most pressing issue in todays youth coaching arena. Onward and Upward is where our focus needs to be.
As a former high school athelete I felt that it was only right to try and help our local youth sports association by volunteer coaching. I didnt want any recognition but had hoped to contribute to their growth and development while helping them to develop a love of sports, competition and friendship. After 3 years at the PeeWee/Middle school level I was asked to move up to the JV level and act as the assistant head coach. 3 years and 3 district championships later I was urged to move up to the high school into an open position. I applied and waited on a call. It never came and I wondered why.
Each and every year that I have applied since then, 3 years in all, I have failed to receive even one call. I asked around and no one could tell me why but a friend suggested that I ask the AD at the school. I approached the AD while he was off duty and away from the area one day and he gave me the same insight that you have shared here. The head coach at the high school, who is a fixture in our small town, told him that he didnt want any outsider coming in and taking over his program and that if I was hired he would quit.
Latif, this was never my goal and I only wanted to contribute to his program. Please help to spread the word far and wide. In order for us to effect change it must be done from within and in some cases almost secretly. We have to do this for our kids and for youth sports in general.
Thank you again for all of your efforts.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Latif
Good for you and too bad for the kids, the school and the program. Don’t look back because when they realize what they let go they will be coming back for you. I have been there and done that with insecure people in Suburbs and if you are like me, you must feel like you have been paroled. Did the river this past summer and I must say there is nothing like the altitude and activity in GOD’S country to cleanse the soul.
Best of luck in your new endeavors my friend.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Latif,
Some things will always be the same. The kids will miss you. Keep doing what you\’re doing. Some people just have a myopic mindset. Let\’s just call them the MMs. Thanks for helping me become a better coach. Look forward to hearing about your next coaching job.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Let me say something on this brah and believe me I can read between all the lines. Your name is not Toby it’s Latif the name means gentle and kind. It also means fire. Sometimes fire is needed to burn out the impure to create purity. I’m not on some David Carradine “King Fu” philosophy but it’s clear where you were at out there wasn’t meant for you. I know like most people who view your advice that you definitely know what you are talking about. I respect that. I’m sure wherever you go you will do well. Keep me on your email list. If you ever come up here to Des Moines, IA let me know. I will look out for you. Stay strong. The difference between you and those folks you are dealing with is that you have a warrior spirit. A warrior doesn’t see obstacles as a hinderance he sees them as a challenge.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
most coaches are cementheads and the louder thy yell the better the coach they are observations of 60 years of organized hockey
September 8th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Great article. I just got done reading the 48 laws of power. I have been following you for over a year now and have learned more from you than I have throughout my education and years of playing and coaching. Everything you preach is logical and that’s what training should be, logical and simple. I am in the process of starting my own speed camp in my hometown of Santa Barbara, CA using primarily step over drive down because no one teaches that there (I know from experience). That along with your coaching philosophies such as those in this article are the major factors that separate the good coaches from the great ones.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Latif,
This is exactly what I went through as a new coach a few years ago and I have seen a change in both my XC and Track teams as a direct relation to CST. Keep doing what your doing. Great article.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Latif,
Interesting article,in the course of my business and coaching careers I’ve come across this situation many times, when you are a young fellow charging boldly forward is very attractive,you tell yourself that might makes right. However, so many times the situation blows-up in your face because the people your challenging feel uncomfortable with you upsetting the status quo.
My answer to is this, if you feel absolute about your position, then go boldly forward in your beliefs. Things some time take a while to unfold but you will in the long run achieve your goal by staying the course and being true to your beliefs. Finding the right institution may or may not be the way to go for you. I decided to start my own Club so I could make those decisions that drive the type of program which I felt best suites my kids.
I know that this is just a small bump in the road for you, your coaching talents, insights and drive will lead you to many new opportunities and new choices.
Best of Luck,
A. Berardi
Heights Unlimited
September 8th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I neither have kids nor coach high school athletes but always enjoy reading your insights on coaching track & field. Yes, one has to be flexible and try different things if something isn’t working. Then one has to analyze one’s results and ask why is a certain result different than one might anticipate. After over a year and a half of frustration I took a look at those few areas of success within my business and tried to examine where those results were coming from. I then applied those observations to other areas of my business. I am finally starting to see results.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Short and sweet, Latif, your a great coach. Problem as when I started doing this 35 years ago is that people will not and do not accept change. I always change my mode every year. Adapt to the new kids and up the ante for the older ones. All the other coaches in this town always did ultra miles for kids running 1 mile to 5K. Sometimes 70 miles a week. I had my kids doing 25-30 at most. It is my secret training call SPOWER, speed, strength and power. Fast and efficient no slop,. just geterdone workouts. All speed work changed every time we hit the track. I now do adults for the past 4 years and have the fastest 5k, 10k and 15k masters in the state of Fl that run for me. Using my old elite runners workouts. At 47 mile 4:20, 5K 15:21, 10k 32 flat and 15K 52: 52:01. All on 30 miles a week. People could never understand why I was so fast. I ran against the best pros as an amature and had fun. I only ran for my times I did not ever care who was there. I taught this to my kids just run your race for the day and if you win good or what ever happens as long as you met the goal that day rock on. So by changing and changing and evolving I became the man for middle distance here. Now all the coaches run for me off season. So I have the pleasure of training all the kids, but not having to be there. That is the plateau you can achive with your expirence. Use it wisely and go for broke as Audey Murphy used to say. Good luck in your future endoversCP!!!!!!!!!!!—-
September 8th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Latif,
This article makes me rethink so many things. Thank you for everything you’ve done. This isn’t a goodbye, just an acknowledgement of your hard work. And reading this, I realize what you said *is* the reason why we root for the underdogs or frown at other’s success.
Good luck!
P.S. As Halcyon said “the good ones get burned out and unappreciated.” I don’t disagree, but these coaches are also the most remembered and revered.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Latif,
I am just a Dad helping his 14 year old daughter. She will be a State Champion here in Michigan because of your ability to teach. Kids are constant. Your impact is constant. You out “treadmill” any ignorance in your way and show all how to do the same.
Thank you.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Wow! Great news! I can’t wait to see where you will end up! World, get ready !!!!
September 8th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Great article! There is so much I could say, Coaches all have strentghs! Coaches have to loss their EGO most have no reason to have them ,confidence yes but loss the EGO’s.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Dear Latif,
I know this is a lit to ask, but our school is in desperate need of a track coach. Our previous coach quit for almost the exact reasons that you are leaving your school and we are in serious need of a coach. We may not be able to run a track program without one. If you are interested plead respond to this message or email me at ezragd25@gmail.com
September 8th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Well said Latif!! You have just put into words what alot of people think about the old guard and how detrimentle it is to kids!!!!!You just keep on keeping on and let your light shine, because thats what insperational people DO!!! Thanks for helping me w/some old wounds.
September 8th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Wow, amen brother. Been there done that, and any other cliche you can add to that. More power to you,go where your mind and heart takes you. Not to be overly dramatic, but the chosen few have always been persecuted and hated on.
Can’t even begin to share all of my experiences.
Peace, be well.
September 8th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
LT, I am well aware of your circumstance with respect to reasons for quitting coaching. My question is why didn’t you stay on as an assistant. You accomplished great things with the athletes you coached. Things that go beyond records and championships. The school where you coached still has the same coaches doing the same thing. They all know they lost a top-quality coach when you left. My advise is to absolutely “Outshine the Master”. I bet the small-minded coach made it a living hell for anyone who had a good relationship with you. I will never understand why coaches who have a “My way or the highway” mentality always get their way. More coaches that are as committed to their craft as you, need to be bold and hang in there long enough to be an agent of permanent change.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
mAX RESPECT, its easy to stay in a comfort zone, but to push to the next level takes guts!
Max Respect
September 8th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Latif,
Sorry to see you experience what many of us have over the years. Somehow you hope it changes. It is the kids that lose. Athlete centered, Coach driven, Adminstratively supported! Stay in the rest of the game.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Latif, hey bro, BIG congrats on ALL the success as I’ve known you for MANY years. I’m like you bro, I LOVE being IN the trenches, working with athletes, sweating it out.
It’s tough to let go and move on, kudos to you for doing what is right in your heart. Talk soon brutha!
–z–
September 8th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Your article is describing what I’m experiencing this season. I also coach girls’ volleyball and it seems that I’m on a different page from the other coaches. They fear new ideas and better ways to train our athletes. It’s very frustrating. Your article is so refreshing and keeps me inspired and motivated to keep me educated so I can be a better teacher and mentor to all my athletes.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
As Bruce Lee once said, “In Jeet Kune Do, one does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity. In building a statue, a sculptor doesn’t keep adding clay to his subject. Actually, he keeps chiseling away at the inessentials until the truth of its creation is revealed without obstructions.”
“Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own”
September 9th, 2010 at 12:15 am
Latif, you’ve peered over the edge of the cliff and jumped! Good for you. There will be a big soft cushion to catch your fall because fortune favours the brave.
Your articles always provide inspiration and I look forward to them every week, so thank you!
Last week I ran in a road race against a competitor I really wanted to beat. The whole way round I was thinking of your article/Will Smith clip re “dying on the treadmill”. Repeating in my head “I will beat him or die trying”. Guess what? I’m still alive and he was nowhere! Ha!
Wishing you every success.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:15 am
DEAR LATIF – I AM A FORMER ATHLETE AND A UK ATHLETICS SPRINTS COACH FOR SALE HARRIERS IN MANCHESTER UK AND COACH PRO RUGBY ALSO. I HAVE READ YOUR ARTICLES FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS OR SO AND LOOKED AT WITH AN OPEN MIND AND LOVE TO TRY OUT NEW INOVATIONS AND I AM ALWAYS WILLING TO LEARN FROM OTHER COACHES, ”IT IS A MUST OR WE DO NOT PROGRESS”. I HAVE TRIED SOME OF YOUR SESSIONS AND DRILLS WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS IN ATHLETICS AND OTHER SPORTS LIKE PROFESSIONAL RUGBY AND BOXING ALL ATHLETES SHOWED MARKED IMPROVEMENT. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND YOUR ARTICLES VERY INTERESTING AND HAVE TAKEN YOUR POSITIVE ATTITUDE FORWARD WITH AN OPEN MIND HAVING BEEN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE PAST WHEN A BARRIER TO CHANGE FROM HEAD COACHES WAS IN PLACE.
IF YOU EVER GET TO U.K. YOU WOULD BE MADE VERY WELCOME TO VISIT TO THE ATHLETICS CLUB AT SPORTS CITY WHERE I WORK UNDER HEAD COACH JOHN SMITH WE MET TYSON GAY IN MAY AT THE TRACK AND HE WAS OPEN AND HELPFUL AND SPENT TIME WITH OUR ATHETES EVAN THOUGH HE WAS OVER TO BREAK THE WORLD 200M STRAIGHT LINE THE NEXT DAY.
JOHN FROM SALE HARRIERS LIKE MYSELF IS A FORWARD THINKING COACH WILLING TO LEARN AND TRY NEW IDEAS. I HAVE BROUGHT SOME OF MY IDEAS FROM PRO RUGBY EVAN THOUGH HE HAS 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND IS A TOP LEVEL 4 SPRINTS COACH HE WAS WILLING TO TRY WHICH IS A GREAT COACHING SITUATION – HE NOW HELPS ME COACH PRO RUGBY PLAYERS AND IS REALLY ENJOYING THE CHALLENGE.
REGARDS KEITH
SPEED COACH
September 9th, 2010 at 5:48 am
I can only imagine you are an awesome coach. I have bought complete speed training one and two and love them both. I would love to spend a week watching you coach, if you ever get toward Florida, shoot me a email.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:26 am
Latif,
Must be a MA thing. We hired a boys coach from Bishop Feehan and he is very stuck in his ways. I have tried to talk to him, make some suggestions but his response is “this is how we did it there and we won there so this is how we’re going to do it here.” Of course by win he means dual meets, and our school isn’t at the level of Bishop Feehan. Luckily I am the girls coach so it doesn’t affect my team but it always surprised me how insecure this man is. He wanted to establish “his” team and that meant things were going to be done his way. I would watch as he tried to cram a square block into a round hole. I just never got it.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:46 am
Wow, you hit the nail on the head. I enjoy reading your articles and using some of the techniques you suggest. This is a huge problem with youth athletics and it disturbs me that people who say they care about the kids(pay lip service only) keep doing the same types of things every year and acutal expect different results. Last time I checked that was the defination of insanity. I believe most coaches start out their coaching career with high expectations but after a couple of years of attending clinics where they learn very little of anything they can actual use they fall into a rut. Dealing with administrators who don’t care about anything beyond perserving their job which inturn creates an enviornment for little if any innovation to occur and a lot of coaches convince themselves that they can still be successful without making tactical changes or in some case total changes in how they do things. As you said the law of averages works in favor of a tenured coach.
Enjoy your articles and your videos are great also. Changes creates innovation.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:11 am
Latif,
You have been such a giving person with great expertise in running, conditioning and speed training. Over the course of some 15 years you have worked with my 9 children; our many baseball teams (from LL – Babe Ruth- American Legion)so very unselfishly and with a passion.
You will be missed, my friend, and sincerest thanks for all you have done.
I look forward to seeing where you end up.
Respectfully,
Tom Howard
September 9th, 2010 at 9:31 am
I live amidst a glut of these fragile ego coaches in an ocean talented youth athletes. I’ve experienced what you’ve written in every area of life I’ve attempted to excel in; education , sports, music, drama, church and just leadership in ANY capacity. I thought myself an abject failure because although I could impact a group I was always swept aside for approaching situations to render a successful outcome which require change and flexibility. Good to see I’m not totally nuts!!
September 9th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Latif,
You have created a TRIBE with visionaries ready to take on status quo everywhere starting with the self. Your followers are permeating glass ceilings throughout youth sports. Although I used to run competitively, my coaching passion is in soccer,… where it is just as loaded with bureaucratic stagnation and insecurity as is running and other sports. I can relate first hand to your experience and those of the coaches above. I live through innovation and challenge like what you constantly challenge us with. Keep challenging yourself and “Keep Playing, Keep Sharing!” Vicky
September 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I would like to echo Mark’s request. Although I am a throwers coach in Wisconsin, I still would like to hear you because of philosophical points that you bring up in most of your articles. The Wisconsin clinic is excellent and I think it would be great
September 9th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Wow, Latiff well said. Seems like this follows me. However I must also tell you that even if ’stoke; the “master’s” ego, envy or ‘whatever’ will still raise its ugly head, as the athletes will start talking about how great you are, thereby making HIM/HER mad all over. Thanks Geoff, share your pain. Used to wonder ‘why me’ but not anymore.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Hi latif,
put simply, if the Americans can’t look after you, come to Australia!
We would love to have u. We are open to new ideas, actually we love them and search for them.
Thanks for all your past advice, please keep it comming
September 9th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Latif,
Kevin Murphy sounds like an exemplary mentor; he deferred credit to you and allowed you to do your best for athletes without his interference. I would also think that you emulated him by regularly giving credit — verbally or otherwise — to the head coach who entrusted you with a portion of his program. If an assistant coach demonstrates that he is supportive of the head coach (and not attempting to usurp authority) while implementing beneficial innovations, problems between them can be minimized. It is my belief that, until an assistant is in a position to leave and run his own program, he should devote just as much energy to the head coach / assistant relationship as he does to the coach / athlete relationship. If a head coach trusts a person enough to appoint him as an assistant in the first place, the chances are good that the relationship can remain a strong one if both parties defer credit to the other and do not allow athletes, parents, or others to create a power struggle by preferring one coach over another within the program. Others need to perceive that there is a collegial relationship among the coaching staff, and that coaching innovations are the result of staff collaboration. In this way, one coach will never run the risk of outshining another coach. Good luck in your next venture!
September 9th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Coach Thomas,
Great post. Good luck in your new endeavors. I listened to Martin Rooney at the perform better summit this past year and he talked about how he learned so much from his high school coach. He then went to college and learned way more in the technical sie of his sport and came back to resent his coach because he didn’t learn the stuff that he now knew that could have made him even better. He came to realize that his high school coach was a “genius,” for his ability to communicate and get his athletes to perform at their best. I feel this post falls in the same line. Be humble and realize you have to have others help you to get where you want to go. That usually comes by respecting and listening to what they have to say.
September 11th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Latif…my young friend; I could have told you that…it’s not new I have my club….just need to keep them away from some high school so call coach…that do it for the money
September 12th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Latif,
I want to thank out for challenging me with your website and postings to be a better coach, and most of all my athletes thank you! I look at coaching in a whole new world or as you stated once in the “Matrix” Keep the postings coming and I wish you all the best in the new challenges you take on.
All the best,
Jay C.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:58 am
Latif,
Unfortunately, I can totally comprehend exactly what you are going through. As a parent, I encountered resistance when I began to implement only some of your training with my son. His Coach flat out told me that my cues (step over drive down) harmed my son and then proceeded to treat myself and my son like crap for the rest of the season. It wasn’t long before he alienated us from the team and othe parents. Then to add insult to injury, he wasn’t satisfied with that though, he then proceeded to make disparaging comments about me and my son and was very satisfied on days when my son underperformed during competition and far less than congratulatory on days when my son excelled. The person above is correct, there isn’t anything that you can do not to stroke the master’s ego. I made sure that I made extra donations to the track booster club. I always volunteered. That wasn’t enough. The fact that my son was able to perform using the techniques that I discovered here was a problem with this coach who told me that any monkey can use a keyboard and find information on the internet.
When my son made state as a freshman during Indoor, he failed to place but told the Coach that he would return in Outdoor and win. The Coach told him that he needed to hope he made it to State in Outdoor first however with every other athlete on the track team he made it a point to speak optimistically about the other athlete’s chances of making it to state. And when my son placed second at State in both the 200 and 400 meter dash, the Coach could barely contain his disdain and was visibly upset when the other parents and athletes congratulatd my son and myself.
Honestly, I have no clue what to do. We can’t afford to move and we are zoned for this high school and will be stuck with this Coach for another three years. My son wants to get a scholarship to college and his Coach has told us already that he didn’t think it will be possible since it is very hard to earn track scholarships. But I’ve looked at the recruiting standards for several colleges and I do believe my son can make those times with the proper training.
I’ve approached the Coach to discuss this personally but that did’t work. Just when I thought we had resolved our difference, the very next day in practice, the Coach retaliated by yelling at my son for not making the times in the repeat 200 workouts. My son had no problem making the times for the first 15 but he struggled after that but the Coach wanted him to make the rest of the second set of 10. This Coach doesn’t think he’s actually coaching until the kids are throwing up in the trashcan and screaming in pain.
I approached the Athletic Director but unless you are a member of the basketball or football team here, the AD doesn’t quite care very much to help you. I was told that I had to try to work this issue out with the Coach first before I could get a meeting. I am training my son right now in the off-season and already there is a problem. The track here at the high school is open to the public after school activities are done. I’ve used this track since my son was in fifth grade however, once the Coach saw me out there with my son, he reprimanded us for using the facilitiy while ignoring the hordes of other people who were running and jogging on the track. So now, I have to take my son to another high school just so we can use the track. You would think this Coach would be happy with the fact that I was willing to train my son in off season so he can be ready the day Indoor season opens in November. Instead, he is resorting to pettiness. He even went so far as to tell me that next year I need to get out of his way.
I really don’t know what else to do and I hate feeling so helpless and I really do not understand why the field of track and field is so complicated.
September 13th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
[...] I begin, I’d like to thank everyone who posted a comment on last week’s article. The support was quite humbling, I must [...]
September 13th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Latif
I am helping coach cross country with a coach who has been there for 35+ years. I can really relate to your point about “The Boiling Frog Principle” and “Groundhog Day.” The only constant in life is change. That is a very had concept for people to accept. I wish you the best.
September 14th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Latif,
I am just a Mom, I have enjoyed your CST program for my daughter and it has helped her greatly. If you are ever in the Silver Spring, MD area please look me up. I would like for you to start personal training with my daughter. Don’t give up what you are obviously very gifted in. Your program works.
You will be missed, I sincerely thank you for all you have done with your program and helping young people achieve success as atheletes.
I look forward to seeing you soon on the horizon.
Let me know where you settle.
Most sincerely,
Diane Jones
Just a Mom
September 14th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Hi Latif,
Great article. I’m not a school teacher at any level, but want to touch on one aspect. Possibly, some of these coaches that dust off the practice “book” at the beginning of a season are the same classroom teachers who haven’t improved what they’re teaching in years also. I still believe many of the coaches are putting in the time to add to their pensions. At least in the public schools.
A couple of decades ago, I was speaking with the Athletic Director of out towns HS. I asked him if a certain coach who I knew in town, played soccer with (O40 at the time, and who had an A coaching certificate applied to coach the varsity team, would he hire him? He said probably not. The old boy mentality. My friend ended up coaching that team under the same AD several years latter and took many teams deep into the playoffs.
Continued success!
Dan Kelly
GBTC
September 15th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Now I understand some of the feelings that I have been having these past few years. It has reached the point that I don’t even want to coach anymore because of the resistance that I feel from the powers that be. Now I know why. I wish you good luck and look forward to your continued comments and training info. It is right in line with some of the stuff that I have been doing for years. you are just more articulate than I am about putting it out there. Latif, your stuff goes back to the initial research done by Remy Korchemny and his athlete Valery Borzov in the 1970’s. That being said; I wish you the best of luck and maybe we’ll meet someday. I sure hope so.
September 17th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Coach,
My wife happened to read your posting on leaving your job and she at first thought it was a joke because a similar thing happened to me–twice. In each case my positive approach to coaching had a head on collision with what i call negative coaching i.e yelling, berating etc. The athletes began to respond to me and perform accordingly eventually leading to individual state titles and even a team championship for which i received no credit. I even coached a kid to a 4th place in the NON high school championships and the head coach never said a word to me after our return from the meet. At the time my wife’s comment was that this guy’s ego was much more important than the success of the athletes. Unfortunately she was correct. In my second try at this, knowing the potential pitfalls and trying hard to learn from the previous experience I encountered some of the same attitude but made worse by the relative inexperience of the younger head coach. In this case I had more freedom to coach the sprinters and hurdlers and we began to see success quickly. But since the head coach who handled middle distance and up wasnt having anywhere near that level of success a train wreck occurred again. In his statement to the parents about my departure this guy actually was dumb enough to state publicly that I was too competitive and that he was primarily interested in participation. This statement was made 10 min after 5 of my kids had gotten 3rd places at the state meet and none of his even qualified for the meet.Both of these coaches had one other thing in common. They both told me how much they disliked sprinters. Go figure.
The bottom line is that there are many more people out there coaching who are more concerned about themselves than these hard working young athletes.
September 18th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
It’s truly amazing how you skewer the truth. You never were a head coach because you have no patience in building a program. You are a specialist. Which means you just hop from one team to another when there is talent there. Then you ride their coattails and claim it was all because of you. High school is about the athletes not ego maniac coaches like yourself. Coaches are to promote the program, keep up the numbers, push the sport of track, and help athletes succeed. Nobody cares about your sprint clinics or other crap. First become a professional and stop bashing fellow coaches on your whining blog. Coaching isn’t about just winning, it’s about respect, sportsmanship and professionalism. Maybe you should join that clinic and learn a thing or two.
September 20th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Grace and Peace, I have read a few of your documents and I have found them to be informative. I am currently doing a few things of interest to you but particularly coaching a few friends for competition in 2011. I am therefore interested in your athletic submissions. Continue to pursue your dreams even if on a different field and with a new crew. May be consider writing a book or a few on these matters close to your heart. Look forward to personally hearing from you.
Yours truly,
Pastor Dale
Barbados. W.I.
October 10th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I totally agree with you about the 3 lessons you learned.
I’m not a coach, but an athlete with a strong will. My coach and I clash becuz we look at the same picture differently and our wills clash too. Lesson 1 may have been written for another purpose, namely power, but it’s the most important lesson I’ve learned so far.
With the knowledge I acquired from you, I began to seriously question my coach’s qualification to teach and his knowledge of this ‘art’. I began applying what I’d learned elsewhere and I passed it on to others who enjoyed much success too. What I didn’t realise was that in doing so, I pretty much put my doubts in him right out in the open. Instead of retaking his rightful place, he did what I had never expected of someone with such a strong will, he backed down and gave me space to be but also subsided gradually in given feedback and coaching me. He in essence helped me to outshine him. I still don’t think I actually did outshine him, but me questioning his ability to teach clearly hurt his ego and pride. When you want to please someone, never never ever outshine the master and never question him. I’ve taken quite a few steps back and I’m now taking a much humbler approach. I still question him as a coach, but I don’t voice it out loud and I have talked to him. The result of that talk is yet to be revealed. I once did submit to him completely and I injured myself becuz I overloaded my body and still kept pushing cuz he did. I wanted to prove I was strong and I was good enough, it backfired. He didn’t know about it. I talked to him and we settled it. Since then I have not completely submitted myself to his coaching, which I will now. My respect for him runs very deep though my trust in him was shaken. He has authority by his position but never exercises that authority. he really should, cuz it’d prevent people like me threatening his position. I still believe in him when others have given up. On the back of this, I’m going to give him a second chance. And I will never even attempt to outshine my coach again, I’ve certainly learned my lesson and place the hard way, but now I know and wont forget
If you want friends and more importantly want to keep them as friends, don’t outshine them, don’t try, just don’t. It will always backfire. Be humble to those under you and your equals and be humble and submissive to those ’superior’ to you. It’ll pay off.