Hey Coach!

In the U.S. they call you "Coach".

This isn't typically the case elsewhere. To be called "Coach" (with a capital “C”) means more than just "coach" (with a lowercase "c"). It carries with it a burden of responsibility while also affording many benefits, not least the opportunity to call coaching a career. It speaks to the value of coaching in society and the expectation that coaching will deliver - deliver quality experiences, quality development, quality performances, quality results.

As coaches of athletes we believe coaching will deliver on those things. Whether we explicitly state it or not, by being in a position to be called "Coach", we are saying we believe in the power of coaching. The ability for coaching to help those performers that we work with achieve more and get their faster than they would without us by their side. It then naturally follows, if we believe in the power of coaching, who is coaching the coach?

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It's not just how good you are now, it's how good you're going to be that really matters. You are never done, everybody needs a coach. Everyone. The greatest in the world needs a coach.

- Atul Gawande, Want to be great at something? Get a coach, TED2017

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I have been very fortunate throughout my coaching (of athletes and teams) journey to be work with a number of excellent coaches of coaches - whether that be through the Loughborough Coaching Club with the likes of John Trower and Alan Olive, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee National Team Coach Leadership Education Program under the guidance of Christine Bolger and the excellent crew from People Academy, or, working closely with Craig Parnham and David Faulkner during my time at USA Field Hockey. While varied in scope, all of these experiences centered around connection. Connection with yourself, with others and with ideas. They were practical, embedded in the environment I was working in and individualized in a way that other development opportunities cannot be - we worked on things that made the boat I was in go faster. They were at times challenging but ultimately supportive and I am a better coach because of these experiences.

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Coaches roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. They don’t just believe in our potential; they get in the arena to help us realize our potential. They hold up a mirror so we can see our blind spots and they hold us accountable for working through our sore spots. They take responsibility for making us better without taking credit for our accomplishments.

- Bill Campbell, Trillion Dollar Coach

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I am well aware that I have been very fortunate to have had these great coaches of coaches join me on my coaching journey. Individualized coaching is not something that is easy to find for coaches who believe in the power of coaching. Through the Coach2Coach program we aim to change that for curious coaches of all sports, at all levels. So, if you are a coach who believes in the power of coaching check it out today and next time your hear "Hey Coach!", smile! 

Happy coaching,

P.S. Path Coaching Club kicks off in August. Use code AMERICA24 to save 25% (offer good through 07/12/24)