I'm delivering a session this morning to my interns at Northumbria Uni and we are going to be exploring the 'art' of coaching and what special characteristics you need to be able to cut it out there working with athletes and teams. The biggest thing that I found when I left Uni (way back in the day) was that the text books didn't tell me how to cope with the ever changing demands placed upon me by the coach, athlete, governing body, institute etc.
Everyone wants you to do the best for them and at times it can be tricky. You become overwhelmed by the constantly changing landscape!
A good coach needs to be adaptable and able to roll with the punches, adjusting to the situation that you are faced with and making the best decision given the current circumstances. Remember, chances are that what you are asked to do today will change tomorrow!
This clip will bring a smile to your face and you should keep it on standby for those days when everything you had planned for has just been turned upside down by the coach. Listen to this clip of Billy Connolly - believe me when I say that I've had meetings like this! (if you are easily offended you may just want to read the transcript!)
'We want this! And that! We demand a share in that, and most of that, some of this, and f**king all of that! Less of that, and more of this, and f**king plenty of this! And another thing, we want it now! I want it yesterday, I want f**king more tomorrow, and the demands will all be changed then so f**king stay awake!'