> The best coach I ever had was Robert Budd, my high school coach and DC > high school basketball legend. He knew nothing about running, but > everything there was to know about coaching and motivating athletes. > They teach that at those expensive coaching junkets?
For once I am in total agreement with Malmo, especially when it comes to high school athletes. One of the best coaches I've encountered was my own high school coach - Al Shaler. His training methods were nothing too great (I learned later), but he knew how to motivate like few I've ever seen. There IS a place for coaching education, but it is certainly not a requirement to be a good coach. It's been ten years since I went to USATF school, but my recollection is that motivation was not a part of the curriculum. It's something that is difficult to teach, because the ability to motivate athletes is tied to something internal for the coach. - Ed Parrot
