For those who don't know, I'm a big Eric Lagerstrom fan - if for no other reason that that his efforts in video and data sharing give regular mortals and aspiring elites the opportunity to get "inside" elite races, and develop a better understanding of the efforts and strategies being enacted.
Share this with your aspiring young triathlete so they can have an inside glimpse of the "big show!"
Eric Lagerstrom - Stockholm WTS 2015
Happy Labor Day!
Coach Morgan
Parents,
I think we all know that feeling when we're watching a kid play sports and it is clear that they don't have a thought or worry in the world other than pursuing the competition out of sheer enjoyment. A lot of us probably wish we still experienced sport that way - and hopefully some of us still do. It's something I try to actively pursue in my own training.
What is happening during that journey from childhood to adulthood that is causing us to lose that joy, that "power of presence" in our competition? As a coach, I see more and more pressure being placed on youth athletes as they age - to place better, get a scholarship, etc. (I maintain that most of this pressure is unintentional, and can come from a wide range of sources, not just parents).
The problem is that the success they find has to be from a focus on the process, not on the outcome. This is a key tenet of sports psychology. A focus only on the outcome will eventually lead to one thing - burnout. For this reason, I spend a lot of time, especially with teenage athletes, brainstorming ways to keep that presence in their training and racing.
I encourage all of our parents to read the following article, and think about how we can help our athletes maintain their joy of sport, and therefore their presence, especially in competition.
The Power of Presence - Jasper Blake, Training Peaks
Wishing you a wonderful Sunday,
Coach Morgan
Parents and athletes,
I've added this new page to our website as a means of sharing tips, articles and other resources for parent/athlete education with you as we find and develop them. The posts will not be long (though the articles may be!), and the goal is to keep everyone engaged in the positive culture of our programs!
Check out our first suggested read:
Six Tips for Swim Parents About Letting Our Kids Take Ownership
Have a great Friday!
