Being Coachable
4 Traits You Need to Be a Coachable Athlete
All of us have the opportunity to learn more and can benefit from being coached. Even professional athletes hire coaches to help them improve their weaknesses and maximize their strengths
There is always more to learn, and everyone lacks at least one facet of proper strength training. For an athlete to perform at their highest potential, everything they do inside and outside of the gym matters. One must possess discipline, consistency, and compliance to be a better, more coachable athlete.
Discipline
Discipline is one of the most important traits when trying to become a better athlete. Having the discipline to listen to your coach and stick to the program when they program your weight, which you know you can easily do more of is paramount. Having the discipline to stick to one's diet, training program, and sleep schedule will continue to help the athlete's progression in both training and recovery. Strength sports and sports, in general, are about training for longevity. It is vital to have this trait as a means for one to listen to their own body and their coach for a more optimal training environment.
2. Consistency
Being consistent in one's training, diet, and recovery can make or break an athlete. It can be extremely challenging to stick to your program without the added accountability of a coach. Being coachable means being accountable. Staying consistent over time is the single most significant determinant of success. An athlete will have to consistently execute the plan prescribed until it becomes a habit.
3. Compliance
Compliance means setting aside your own preconceived ideas and listening to your coach. This can be particularly challenging in a new coaching relationship. Therefore, trust is the most crucial factor in a coaching relationship. Building a relationship based on mutual trust between a coach and an athlete takes time and is not always easy. Our coaches take time to evaluate your goals and create plans that will help you achieve them.
4. Understanding
The coach needs to take the time to truly understand an athlete. What their goals are, what their tendencies are, and their relative strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, the athlete is charged with relying on their coach's judgment and feedback. Sticking to a healthy diet instead of eating junk food or lifting weights programmed rather than going as heavy as possible will make the difference in how much fatigue will play a part in one's training.
Having a coach means you have someone who will help you build strength, aesthetics, and improve health in the long run. Everyone from novice to pro should have someone in their corner, keeping them accountable in their training. It is essential for an athlete to continue being a sponge and always address any concerns as they arise with their coach.
Ben Rosenbaum