What does it mean to be an “effective” running coach? According to Côté and Gilbert (2009) coaching effectiveness is defined as, “The consistent application of integrated professional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal knowledge to improve athletes’ competence, confidence, connection, and character in specific coaching contexts.” Let’s break down what that means in the context of developing your knowledge as a trail and ultramarathon running coach.
Types of Knowledge
Professional knowledge
The most obvious form of knowledge required is ‘professional knowledge’ – this is simply your knowledge about trail and ultramarathon running. An effective coach needs to be a ‘student of sport’, and can develop their professional knowledge in various ways:
Continuing Education: Enrol in advanced coaching certification courses focused on trail ultramarathon running. You’re already taking this course, so that’s a great start!
Workshops, Seminars, and Podcasts: Attend workshops and seminars led by experienced coaches and sports science professionals. There may not be many trail and ultramarathon specific opportunities yet, but there is already a wealth of podcasts available as a convenient substitute.
Mentorship: Seek mentorship from experienced trail and ultramarathon coaches. Learning from mentors can provide valuable insights into effective coaching strategies and your career development.
Networking: Join coaching associations, clubs, and online communities dedicated to trail running and ultramarathoning. Networking with peers can facilitate knowledge exchange, collaborative learning, and professional opportunities.
Competing: Compete in trail and ultramarathon races. Experiencing races firsthand can deepen your understanding of the challenges your athletes face and this can lead to more empathetic and practical coaching strategies. While the best athletes don’t necessarily make the best coaches (and vice versa), it still can add to your credibility if you’ve run the same (or similar) races as the athletes you’re working with.
Research: Try to read some of the latest scientific research in sports science, nutrition, psychology, and physiology (as they apply to trail and ultramarathon running). Reading peer-reviewed journals and following reputable sports science social media accounts can enrich your knowledge base. Don’t just focus on the latest research though – reading widely can provide breadth of knowledge, and help provide context for the latest research.
Technology Proficiency: Become proficient in using the latest sports technology tools, such as GPS watches, heart rate monitors, power-metres, continuous glucose monitors, lactate monitors, and training software. Understanding how to analyse and interpret data from these tools can help with training program design and athlete monitoring. While it probably won’t be feasible for all athletes to use all types of monitors (and new types will constantly be hitting the market), you need to decide which ones are worthwhile to recommend to your athletes.
Feedback: Regularly seek feedback from athletes and peers. Constructive feedback can highlight areas for improvement and new learning opportunities.
Self-reflection: Engage in regular self-reflection and assessment of your coaching practices. Identifying your strengths and areas for growth can guide your personal development.
Cross-discipline Learning: Explore knowledge from related sports such as cycling, cross-country skiing, triathlon, ski-mountaineering, and orienteering. Insights from these sports can offer unique perspectives and strategies beneficial to trail and ultramarathon running.
Interpersonal knowledge
Athletes don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Effective coaches need to be able to connect to their athletes before they can begin to optimise their athletes’ performance. There are various ways a coach can develop their interpersonal knowledge:
Active Listening Training: Enrol in courses/workshops that focus on active listening skills (or simply aim to practise these skills in everyday life). Learning to listen attentively and understand your athletes’ perspectives can improve communication and trust.
Conflict Resolution Training: Understanding how to manage and resolve conflicts effectively is crucial in coaching. Training in conflict resolution can equip you with the tools to handle disagreements constructively.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Development: High EQ is essential for coaches to recognise, understand, and manage their emotions and those of their athletes. Reading books, attending seminars, or taking online courses on emotional intelligence can significantly improve your interpersonal skills.
Psychology/Counselling Basics: Gaining foundational knowledge in sports psychology or counselling can help you address the mental and emotional needs of your athletes. This knowledge can be acquired through formal education, online courses, or self-study.
Seeking Feedback: Implementing structured feedback mechanisms, such as regular one-on-one meetings or anonymous surveys, can provide insights into how athletes perceive your interpersonal skills and what areas you can improve on.
Mentorship and Peer Review: Engaging in mentorship, either as a mentor or mentee, and participating in peer review sessions can offer valuable perspectives on interpersonal interactions and coaching practices.
Cultural Competence Training: Understanding and appreciating cultural differences is crucial in today’s diverse athletic landscape. Training in cultural competence can help you be more inclusive and sensitive to the backgrounds and needs of all athletes.
Reflective Practice: Regularly reflecting on your coaching interactions and experiences can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses in your interpersonal skills. Keeping a journal or discussing experiences with a mentor can be part of this reflective practice.
Intrapersonal knowledge
Probably the most overlooked form of coaching knowledge is ‘intrapersonal knowledge’ – a coach’s self-awareness, self-motivation, and ability to self-regulate. By knowing yourself better, you are able to better help your athletes, as this will come through in how you interact with athletes, and how you handle pressure. You can build your intrapersonal knowledge in multiple ways:
Self-Reflection: Regular self-reflection allows you to assess your coaching philosophy, methods, and interactions with your athletes. Reflective practices, such as journaling or meditation can help you identify your personal strengths and areas for growth.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practising mindfulness and meditation can improve your concentration, emotional regulation, and help with managing stress. These practices help you stay present and responsive rather than reactive under pressure.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Development: Similar to what we discussed in relation to interpersonal knowledge development, building EQ improves self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation.
Seeking Feedback: Proactively seeking feedback from other coaches, mentors, and athletes can offer valuable insights into your intrapersonal qualities. Openness to feedback is crucial for personal growth and development.
So far, we have focused on the coaches’ knowledge, and so we also need to look at the athlete outcomes we are developing. These can be best summarised as the 4Cs.
Competence
This is the athlete outcome that tends to receive the most attention. Athlete competence is about the skills and understanding required to perform successively. This encompasses both the athlete’s fitness and ability to then utilise that fitness in races.
Confidence
A runner’s confidence stems from trusting in their training and ability to perform on race day. An effective coach will also help contextualise that confidence so that it can hopefully spill over into other facets of life.
Connection
Not only will an athlete develop a connection with you, but also the wider trail and ultramarathon community, and potentially even with nature as well. A strong athlete-coach relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and understanding, will enhance communication between both parties. Connection with the wider community can improve general well-being and help provide a purpose to running beyond oneself.
Character
An effective coach instils and demonstrates integrity, respect, and responsibility. Doing so helps athletes learn to navigate the highs and lows of training and racing, as well as how to show respect to their peers.
Putting all of this together, there is clearly a lot more to being an effective coach than simply getting athletes to run faster! By taking this more holistic approach, we set up both ourselves, and our athletes, to have a more meaningful experience in the sport. This growth in the domain of running can then transfer to many other aspects of life.
Key take-aways
- Effective coaching is about more than just working with fast runners!
- To be an effective coach, focus on developing your professional knowledge, interpersonal knowledge, and intrapersonal knowledge
- Develop the 4Cs in your athletes – competence, confidence, connection, and character
Côté, J., & Gilbert, W. (2009). An integrative definition of coaching effectiveness and expertise. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 4(3), 307-323.