A cookie cutter plan, can be purchased on line fairly cheaply, but a custom, thoughtful, performance oriented plan begins with the coach getting to know the athlete. Interviews by phone calls or meetings in person are needed before any plan can be created. You can't be your best, if your coach does not know your weaknesses or strengths.
The most important element to any training plan is honesty. Others may rank this lower on the importance scale, but I don't. Honesty comes in many forms:
Is the athlete honest with the coach?
Is the coach providing honest feedback to the athlete?
Has the athlete performed the training?
Has coach promised too much?
The coach/athlete relationship is a very important one. There is an very important ethical demand that once founded with trust, honesty and integrity, the athlete can prosper.
The most important element to any training plan is honesty. Others may rank this lower on the importance scale, but I don't. Honesty comes in many forms:
Is the athlete honest with the coach?
Is the coach providing honest feedback to the athlete?
Has the athlete performed the training?
Has coach promised too much?
The coach/athlete relationship is a very important one. There is an very important ethical demand that once founded with trust, honesty and integrity, the athlete can prosper.
The Process
After an initial consultation and an agreement is made between athlete and coach, several surveys are completed. The purpose of these surveys are to determine an athletes strengths and weaknesses. A good plan's foundation begins with that information to best guide the coach and athlete in improving performance.
The amount of time an athlete can commit to training is also determined. Balance is very important as an athlete must balance. school, work, family, relationships, friendships and more.
Depending on fitness levels, some testing may be suggested and results obtained would be incorporated into any plan that is developed.
The amount of time an athlete can commit to training is also determined. Balance is very important as an athlete must balance. school, work, family, relationships, friendships and more.
Depending on fitness levels, some testing may be suggested and results obtained would be incorporated into any plan that is developed.
Once the surveys are complete and any other assessments are done the coach offers a macro training plan; a high level plan that displays the entire year broken out by hours/week. The athlete and coach again consult with each other to ensue that the high level plan is reasonable and obtainable. It is very easy to think you have more time to train than you actually have. A good coach recognizes this and suggests edits to ensure that the training plan is reasonable.
After the macro plan is completed, the real daily plans are generated. The coach will provide a monthly plan broken down by day that has specific times, types, and intensity; each with a purpose to help the athlete get faster, as efficiently as possible.
Once received, the athlete can now begin the training sessions. The coach may provide descriptive individual workouts as required. The coach will follow the athletes progress through the plan with frequent communication to ensure that the plan meets the athletes needs. Periodic testing is also suggested, and adjustments to the plan are made according to fitness improvements.
Once received, the athlete can now begin the training sessions. The coach may provide descriptive individual workouts as required. The coach will follow the athletes progress through the plan with frequent communication to ensure that the plan meets the athletes needs. Periodic testing is also suggested, and adjustments to the plan are made according to fitness improvements.
As you can see, by the descriptions provided, the overriding theme to a successful athlete/coach relationship is communication. It must be two way, supportive, honest and occasionally frank. There are many ways to get to the end goal but success won't come without communication.
