Finding the Perfect Coach…FOR YOU

It’s that time of the year when many are setting goals and looking at race calendars and thinking “Maybe I need a coach?” Hiring a coach can be a big financial commitment, but it can also yield exciting results if you find the right fit. So how do you know if a coach is right for you?  Choosing a coach requires great care and consideration, but if you have never had a coach before, you might not even know where to start!  We have created a step-by-step guide to help you in your search for the perfect coach:

First, if you currently have a coach and are thinking about making a change, it’s helpful to answer the following questions. This can identify reasons your current relationship isn’t working for you and help to find a better fit going forward. 

• Why are you thinking of changing?
• What specifically are you dissatisfied with?
• What do you think the coach could do to get you back onboard and moving forward?
• Have you had that conversation?

Breaking up with your current coach can be tough, especially if you have been working together for a long time. Any coach should be highly invested in your success and supportive if you feel like you need a change. Having an honest and open conversation about what you think might have gone wrong or what you could have done better can benefit both you and the coach.

When you’re ready to look for a new partnership, OR you’re hoping to find your first coach/athlete partnership, we recommend starting by answering the following questions:

• What have I done well in the last several+ years? We all have things we do well with- coaches want to know that!
• Where am I at right now? Reflect on race results, metrics, illnesses, injuries, etc.
• What have been my greatest limiters or setbacks in the past (e.g., failure to achieve said goal for unknown reasons, injury, lack of motivation, issues outside of my control, etc). Identifying items within our control vs. out of our control is important.
• What do I see as my greatest limiters in reaching my goals moving forward (these can be metrics pace, HR, power, knowledge around training protocols, time constraints, etc)? Again, be specific and identify what you believe to be within your control vs. out of your control.
• What is my motivation for training/racing? What is my motivation to achieve stated goals? Essentially what drives you? Is this something you have struggled with in the past?
• What is the timeline that I have for my goals? Is it short-term or long term? What am I willing to sacrifice to achieve my goals?
• Where do I see myself in a year? In 5 yrs? In 10 yrs? In this sport? And In life?

Now that you know who and where you are as an athlete, think about what type of coaching relationship would work best for you? What type of relationship do you envision? These questions can help you think through your needs:

• What level of accountability do I need? Daily? Weekly?  Monthly? What does that accountability look like? (e.g., comments on workouts, chats with my coach, 1:1 training session, etc)
• Are you looking for a coach that will also be a training partner? A friend? Or do you prefer to keep it mostly coach/athlete professional relationship?
• Are you looking to learn about what works for you? Or are you looking to follow a pre-determined “it works for everyone” plan?
• How long of a coaching relationship am I looking for?
• What do I hope to gain out of this coaching relationship? How important are reaching your goals under this coaching relationship?
• What is my price point? And this is important from your own budget perspective, but it also helps you determine what level of coaching you can reasonably expect. So, break this down into hours you *think* you’d need from your coach weekly (e.g., weekly personalized plans, feedback on data/training, calls, 1:1 coaching, etc).

Next, it’s time to think about type of coach you want. Coaching relationships are unique to each athlete and not every coach is a good match for every athlete. It’s good practice to have a few names on a short list. You can get this list from asking friends or teammates, or even other coaches you know for recommendations. (We know a lot of great coaches so ask us!!) Ask about pricing up front, the coaches you consider should be transparent about pricing. Remember the more communication and feedback you want, the higher the price point will likely be.

• Do I want a coach that is a PRO? KQ? Multiple time IM podium finisher? These accolades speak to the quality of athlete they are and likely translates into knowing how to get you to your goals.
• Do I desire an educated coach? Do certifications matter? What about years coaching? How many athletes have they coached?
• Are you looking for a coach that is part of a team? How important is a team to you?
• What do I expect of my coach from a social media presence? Do I need to be included in social media?
• Does the coach need to be a cheerleader for you or more of a mentor/guide? What sort interactions matter to you? (e.g., continual positivity vs. supporter who is realistic, etc)
• Are you looking for someone who has the plan? Or are you looking for someone that is looking to help make YOUR plan?
• Does the coach have experience working with athletes of your gender, age, background, experience?
• How does the coach accommodate personal schedules and other life obligations? What is their view on overall life+ training stress?

Once you have completed the steps above and have a short list of coaches, we recommend you interview each one and go through the questions below (and any others that are important to YOU!) We recommend you talk to at least 3 different coaches to get a feel for their communication style and to ensure you find the best fit for you.

• Always ask for references, either current or past athletes. This will ALWAYS give you a much better sense of what it is like to work with the coach you’re interviewing.
• Ask the coach how many athletes they are coaching. Many coaches hesitate to divulge this information but if you are looking to invest, it’s fair to ask how many athletes they coach and how many hours per week they anticipate spending on you and your training.
• Ask for a resume or curriculum vitae. A professional coach should always have this ready to provide.
• Ask the hard questions: Athletes that have left unhappy- why? Injured athletes- what happened? Frequency of turnover- why do the coaches suspect the rates? How often do athletes reach their goals? KQs, podiums, PRs, who do they work best with? What kind of athletes are the hardest to handle?
• Ask the coach what they are looking for in athletes.  (Then take a step back and assess your strengths and weakness, do they align?)

There is a TON of sparkle and flash on social media. But there is so much more that goes into a healthy, happy, and productive coach/athlete relationship. We encourage you to take some time to reflect on where you are, where you want to be, and what that coach and coaching relationship looks like tomorrow, in a year, in 5 yrs and maybe, if we’re lucky- in 10!