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I'm not sure how this is viewed within the track and field community. In other sports it can be highly controversial as many sport federations are fairly small. I'm not asking about any particular individual just trying to gain an appreciation for these dynamics. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts, experiences and insights.
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Re: Athletes changing coaches
Just as an observer over the last 30 years, I'd say there are several primary reasons why athletes change coaches:
1. Athlete has plateaued and is looking for new ideas.
2. Athlete's personal life changes which necessitates a move (physically or psychologically).
3. Coach fires athlete for attitude.
4. Another coach 'seduces' athlete with promises of improvement.
5. Old coach has given everything he/she has to offer and urges 'trading up.' Very rare.
I bet there's lots more. -
Re: Athletes changing coaches
>I'm not sure how this is viewed within the track and field community. In other
>sports it can be highly controversial as many sport federations are fairly
>small. I'm not asking about any particular individual just trying to gain an
>appreciation for these dynamics. Thank you in advance for sharing your
>thoughts, experiences and insights.
I was flipping through Nepolitan's book "Training Profiles: High School Boys Distance" and found this quote from Kevin Sullivan(which I was surprised to see in print actually):
"Name of your HS coach and thoughts about him/her:
"Doug Whistance, good knowledge of the sport and helped to take me very far as a high schooler, but I needed something else beyond being a great high school athlete. The ending was civil on both parts, but Doug was not happy with me leaving for the United States and has done some bad mouthing of my training and racing in the years since I left him behind my back."
Keep in mind that he coached him to a 3:39.11 as an 18 year old-not sure if he was still coaching him when he went sub four later on at the end of his HS career but the 1500 is superior in any event-3:56.78 equivalent.
I do recall that Whistance was calling for Kevin to be the next Coe when he was about 14 in 88. Pretty lofty goal given the number of "Coes" since Coe but, in actual fact, he was closer to predicting his career than a lot of Whistance's naysayers who predicted he would burn Kevin out and he would be just another age group phenom.Comment
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Re: Athletes changing coaches
>>I'm not sure how this is viewed within the track and field community. In
>other
>sports it can be highly controversial as many sport federations are
>fairly
>small. I'm not asking about any particular individual just trying to
>gain an
>appreciation for these dynamics. Thank you in advance for sharing
>your
>thoughts, experiences and insights.
I was flipping through
>Nepolitan's book "Training Profiles: High School Boys Distance" and found
>this quote from Kevin Sullivan(which I was surprised to see in print
>actually):
"Name of your HS coach and thoughts about him/her:
"Doug
>Whistance, good knowledge of the sport and helped to take me very far as a high
>schooler, but I needed something else beyond being a great high school athlete.
>The ending was civil on both parts, but Doug was not happy with me leaving for
>the United States and has done some bad mouthing of my training and racing in
>the years since I left him behind my back."
Keep in mind that he coached
>him to a 3:39.11 as an 18 year old-not sure if he was still coaching him when
>he went sub four later on at the end of his HS career but the 1500 is superior
>in any event-3:56.78 equivalent.
I do recall that Whistance was calling for
>Kevin to be the next Coe when he was about 14 in 88. Pretty lofty goal given
>the number of "Coes" since Coe but, in actual fact, he was closer to
>predicting his career than a lot of Whistance's naysayers who predicted he
>would burn Kevin out and he would be just another age group phenom.
Does anybody know where I can get this book? I have heard about it but have not found it yet.Comment
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Re: Athletes changing coaches
Does anybody know
>where I can get this book? I have heard about it but have not found it yet.
It's pretty good actually. For some reason, it just got mailed to me along with about 25 copies of a track magazine(American something or other) that I get periodically for some strange reason-25 copies every time. I don't know why I get it. I think it might be somehow related to Walt Murphy.Comment
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Re: Athletes changing coaches
I'll bet it's from these folks:
http://www.american-trackandfield.com/
They send them to coaches all over to give to their athletes.Comment
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Re: Athletes changing coaches
>I'll bet it's from these folks:
http://www.american-trackandfield.com/
They
>send them to coaches all over to give to their athletes.
That's the mag and that's what I thought but I'm not a coach. Glad I got the book though. Magness, who posts here once in a while, is in there.Comment
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Re: Athletes changing coaches
Yes, they do.
And most coaches appreciate getting them very much, thank you, folks.
Lots of pictures of IAAF CC and the kids love them.Comment
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