Above is a picture of the books and resources I've read or referred to in the last 4-6 weeks. Nothing major, just a small cross section of my library. Lots of it is just re-reading for the hell of it, or cross/comparative referencing, or just trying to expand my knowledge base (ie, The Fighters Heart, and the Book of Five Rings (not picured)). However, I also have a degree in Exercise Physiology, as well as 15+ years of experience coaching and as a professional athlete. Plus, at least that many years keeping my mouth shut and learning from many of the best coaches and athletes in the world who I have had the privilege to learn from and work with.
Why am I saying all this? Well, because I am getting (back) into the coaching game. I've interviewed with a few companies and have made myself available for private coaching, see www.jimmyarcher.com.
In considering everything that goes into coaching and/or opening a coaching practice/company my thoughts naturally went to, "am I ready? Am I on top of the latest info, theory, and practice? What needs improvement? and so on". Yet, and this brings me to my point, in researching various other coaching options I am astonished, ASTONISHED I tell you, by the utter lack of education and/or experience in this field.
At least 50% (if not more like 75%) of people calling themselves professional triathlon coaches have no formal education. They simply took USAT's silly course and felt ready to start charging for their "incredible" breadth of knowledge. And it doesn't stop there, look at many of the so called "coaches" writing training articles for the mags or websites. At best most only have a certification of some sort.
It all drives me freakin nuts. If someone can operate a fire extinguisher are they ready to join the NYFD? Because you can use a calculator should you be an accountant? Because you can hold a knife should you be a surgeon? No, HELL no. Yet for some reason hundreds, maybe thousands of people in this country think because they have done a couple of races and coughed up $500+ bucks to USAT (p.s. so some other know nothing can impart their "expertise"), they are ready to turn their MBA into a coaching career.
You know, I did actually learn stuff for those four years I was siting through "colloquium for Kinesiology".
As per usual the Slowtwitch forum and twitter are the cause of this rant.
But seriously people. Put some thought into who you are hiring. Coaching, program design, technique training isn't easy, and if done wrong it can be dangerous. There is a reason for seeking out the truly qualified.
If you are looking to get a coach, please, do some research. Hell, hit me up with questions, I'll direct you to good people (free of charge) if you don't want to hire me. Just don't run off and hire some fool just because they spend time on the Slowtwitch forum or can drop names on twitter. Just put a bit of research into your decision.
That is all,
Jimmy
3 comments:
Jimmy,
Great blog
Not sure what it is about the sport of triathlon but it seems to attract in a big way the "everyone's an expert" crowd in a BIG way.
They then toss all the fundamentals of ex phys for the individual sports out the window and for some reason because its TRIATHLON, it's somehow all different.
Amazing.
SF
As a counter, though, is someone who has gone through formal fire-fighter training more qualified to fight fires than someone who's grown up on a farm and was forced to learn how to do it "in situ"? Formal training is equally overplayed in triathlon. I'm a mechanical engineer with formal training in structural design. Would you trust me or a 3rd generation carpenter with 50 years of experience (but no "formal" training) to build you a house that won't fall down?
There are plenty of good coaches with no formal ex-phys training. And plenty of bad ones with it. There are bad coaches who had great results as an athlete. And good coaches who would struggle to run a mile.
I am not disputing your basic premise - that triathlon is full of loud-mouthed coaches who have no formal - or informal - training, no expertise, and no business coaching. But I think your focus on "formal" education is a bit misplaced. The best mechanic I know - who maintained multi-million dollar race cars driving over 200mph - had no certificate attesting to his skills, no diploma, no formal training. But he had a ton of experience.
Think back the recent real-estate bubble - everyone was a real-estate agent or, unfortunately, a loan officer. Or the dot-com bubble, when everyone was a computer programmer. That's the nature of a capitalist economy. A fool and his money are quickly and easily separated. But I'm not sure it's right to hammer only the taker of that money, and to neglect blaming the fool for being a fool.
I'd agree with that Jordan, but I think what Jimmy is truly trying to say is do some research. The "formal" education could be kenis or it could be the USAT cert, but neither constitute a good coach. Experience accounts for a good bit in the field and a willingness to as Jimmy said "shut your mouth and listen" may be the key.
Post a Comment