What to Expect from Your Endurance Coach: 6 Essential Factors

As an experienced endurance performance coach and a coached athlete myself, I have gained valuable insights into coaching styles and the expectations athletes should have for their coaching experience. 

Establishing clear expectations with your coach regarding the services covered by your monthly coaching fee is crucial. In this article, I will highlight key characteristics that athletes should expect when working with a coach or searching for the right one to help achieve their athletic goals.

Responsiveness

One of the most common complaints athletes have about coaching is that coaches do not promptly respond to their questions. 

While most coaches are clear about their communication style, indicating the timeframe for responses (e.g., 24-48 hours), consistent delays may indicate an issue. If you do not receive timely answers to your questions, speaking up and addressing the matter is crucial.

Timeliness

Timeliness is crucial regarding the programming side of coaching, such as training plans and schedules. Coaches typically build out their athletes’ training schedules 1-2 weeks in advance, with Monday marking the first training day of the week. However, some athletes have experienced waking up on Monday morning to find no workouts scheduled for the entire week. 

To ensure a smooth training experience, athletes should have a sense of the “big picture” of their training for the season and receive their weekly schedule at least a day or two in advance. If you must continuously ask your coach for your workouts, that’s a big problem.

Clarity

Unclear workout instructions can be frustrating for athletes. While coaches may use different styles when writing swim, bike, and run workouts, clear instructions without ambiguity are essential. 

Just as you wouldn’t want a prescription from your doctor that confuses the pharmacist, your coach should provide clear workout instructions of what is expected. If any questions arise, do not hesitate to seek clarification.

Professionalism

Professionalism may seem like a no-brainer, but it is worth noting. As an athlete, it is reasonable to expect your coach to demonstrate professionalism in person and on social media, if applicable. 

Endurance coaching is a respected profession, and athletes invest significant money in their coach’s expertise, trusting that their coach has their best interests at heart. 

As an endurance performance coach, I consider it an honor when athletes trust me to guide them toward their athletic goals. I believe my athletes expect and deserve professional conduct from me. Anything less would undermine their trust and disrespect the sport.

Problem-Solving

While no coach can be an expert in every aspect of endurance sports, a good coach should never run out of ideas. Many coaches have established networks of professionals or coaches specializing in various aspects of the sport. 

If you encounter difficulties in areas such as nutrition, bike fitting, or swim mechanics, your coach should assist you in finding solutions and connect you with others who can help. They may recommend another professional with expertise in the specific area to ensure you receive the necessary support.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Confidentiality and privacy are critical in coaching, just as in other professions. 

Athletes should be assured that their coach will maintain confidentiality regarding their training details and refrain from comparing athletes. The coach’s work with each athlete should remain confidential unless mutually agreed otherwise.

As a coach, I never assume that my athletes are comfortable with me sharing information about them on my coaching social media platforms. I proactively seek their permission before posting any information, as I understand that many athletes prefer to keep their details private.

Final Thoughts

Communication is the key to any relationship – especially between the athlete and coach. Both parties share accountability, so if you feel that your coach is not meeting your needs, it’s important to address the issue proactively before it persists.

Better Triathlete is your ultimate online resource and community for triathlon and endurance sports, devoted to fostering the growth and longevity of athletes and coaches alike. We equip athletes with insightful information, enabling them to enhance their training and make informed decisions about relevant products and services. 

Our unique Coach Match program bridges the gap between athletes and professional coaches, offering guidance, support, and accountability throughout their endurance journey, regardless of the direction or distance. Let us know if you wish to connect with an expert endurance performance coach to assist you with your goals. Fill out our contact form, and we will reach out right away.