Picking a coach: 2 Lessons from fatherhood

Depending on how closely you follow sports, you must have at one point or the other noticed that some of the greatest sportsmen have (or had) their fathers as their coaches. Take one- golfing legend Tiger Woods. Woods had been trained at swinging by his father- Earl Woods- right from a tender age of about 4 years old or thereabouts. Today, his name is synonymous with golfing legend. Robert Easter Jnr. An American Lightweight professional boxer always has his father and coach Robert Easter Sr. in his corner when fighting. His professional fighting record is 21 wins and no losses. Baseball has countless Father-son duos like this: from Ken Griffey Jnr and Ken Griffey Snr. to Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonds among a host of others. Fathers have consistently provided inspiration, coaching and support for their sons’ careers.

The idea here is not to suggest that the road to success in sports is by having your father as your coach. That would be hilarious and even fatuous. Rather, what we will do is try to draw out 2 major lessons from fatherhood that will help in selecting the best coaches.

• Strength: While this view may be somehow stereotyped, the fact remains that we associate our fathers with immense strength. As kids, we believed our dads could beat anyone who wanted to hurt us. We believed they could fix any broken toys. We believed they could put us on their shoulders, stand on their tiptoes and lift us high enough to touch the moon. Your coach should be someone in whom you find strength. Your definition of strength may vary from that of others. Strength for you could mean prior career success or a stable personal life, steady work out routine or a perfect fit body. Whatever strength means for you, you should be able to see it in your coach.
• Love, Discipline and leadership: Fathers are often extra-committed to their sons’ success. This is because there is a personal relationship. They do not just see your career as a paycheck, rather they believe that your success reflects on them personally. Despite In line with this feeling of love and affection, they are able to sternly discipline you when you go wrong. They realize that you need as much discipline as you need love to achieve success. In finding a coach, you should look out for someone with whom you have a personal relationship. Someone who is interested not just in his monthly payments and allowances. Someone who believes that your success or failure translates into his/her success or failure. Someone who loves you enough to want you at the top of your game. But who will at the same time not be too indulgent or timid to correct you when you veer off the path of achieving your career goals.

The quality of your relationship with your coach will go a long way in influencing your success in sports. You can’t afford to make a wrong choice in selecting a trainer.