SHOULD I GET MY KID A COACH?
WE'RE THINKING OF GETTING OUR 13 YEAR OLD a coach. So began a recent email asking for my thoughts. The short answer is Yes. But, Maybe is the...
... longer more thoughtful answer.
Coaches can be awesome when the timing is right.
Growing up, I had a tennis coach. Trust me, I needed all the help I could get. I was weak, undersized, and slow. The only chance I had was...
... improving my skills.
Our kids had coaches...
- Swim
- Track
- Dance
... as part of the teams they were on.
When they were small, I found it almost impossible to teach them how to ski and snowboard. I was proficient, yet clueless as to how to transfer the knowledge to a young child.
They did ski school, and I got in a few runs on my own. Win, win.
When we picked up motorcycles, my pal Larry knew everything and was very patient with us.
Coaches can...
- speed up the learning process
- teach proper technique
- help avoid injury
But, with this caveat...
... the kids love it, and want to improve.
Things can go off the rails quickly if...
- our kids aren't totally into it
- are being pushed too hard
- are doing it to please us
... I did the tennis thing, to please my mom's boyfriend. He loved me, I loved him. I didn't love tennis and never played after high school. It wasn't my passion, it was his and it gave us something to do and I loved him for it.
Did it matter that I never played again?
A little, because it was something we could bond over.
What we don't want, ever, is to get so wrapped up in our child's success that our passion overshadows our child's well-being. We see this sometimes, parents living through their children. It ain't right.
When our oldest got into road racing, we got him a coach.
She was perfect.
- Fun, crazy, inspiring.
- Set up his training program
- Helped him see what he was capable of
This time was, without a doubt, the most fun I've ever had training. We spent many awesome hours on the bike together talking about life and racing.
Final answer...
... if the kid loves it, do it.
Get a coach who is talented and knows how to have fun, with the goal to improve and be good at something
Remember, PRs > KOMs...
... and be prepared to get smoked, I loved that part the most.
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162.5
8ish hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
