Athletes are not born, they are made. It sounds cliché, but it couldn’t be truer. There are many theories about how to train a high-performance athlete, but what is clear is that whatever it is, it is a long process. No matter how qualified the athlete is, without guidelines and follow-up, all the potential is useless.
Among all those involved in the training of a high-performance athlete, the coach is undoubtedly the one with the greatest responsibility. According to journal of strength and conditioning research, Velocity-Based Training (VBT) and the importance of measuring the athlete’s performance through a precise VBT device.
Not all of the devices are as reliable as Virtue’s and as the journal of strength and conditioning research proves, Vitruve is one of the most reliable. As well as coaches must ensure that they organize their time so that their attention is not solely on this or that athlete.
You Are The Coach
Many fathers and mothers have ‘birds on their heads’. Hearing “My son has to play the most, since he is the best” or “My daughter will train more, since she is not enough with what she played today” are more frequent than it seems today.
In many cases, it seems that parents know more than coaches and you have to do what they say. Nothing is further from reality. The coach is the one who knows the specific fundamentals of each sport modality and plans each session and competition based on the moment of the season. Likewise, the coach is with the athlete every day and is the one who knows their needs, motivations and state of mind better than the parents.
These parents lose focus on what the real goal of playing sports is: To have fun. That the athlete finds himself in a pleasant environment and has fun with his teammates is more positive for his personal / sports development than the mere fact of focusing exclusively on training and improving performance. These kids usually end up hating the sport and do not reach their sports goals (or in most cases, the sports goals imposed by their parents).
Don’t Be Afraid To Advise Them
Even when it comes to outstanding athletes who seem to have mastered all the fundamentals, don’t be afraid to share what you see. You may think that the athlete sees things better than a coach would, but high-performance athletes probably want to hear advice and other points of view. Of course, try to make the suggestions in a way that the athlete can accept, reject or adapt them. They most likely want to hear as much information as possible and develop their own methods.
Focus On Positive Reinforcement
According to numerous investigations, positive reinforcement has been shown to increase the appearance of response to any action. That is, if we reward an action of an athlete, it will be understood that he has acted correctly. This helps to consolidate the action or response, improving performance and actions.
In sports, the most used reinforces are social reinforces. Athletes find praise reinforcing in the presence of others. However, there will be some who are uncomfortable with this situation. It is essential to know each athlete and be able to manage reinforcements productively. Remember that the key to how to train a high-level athlete is always in the domain of sports psychology.
Don’t Forget The Rest Of The Team
Coming from players or fathers and mothers, it is not uncommon for coaches to be accused of playing favorites. However, they are not the ones who have to dictate how to train a high-performance athlete. Training them is a big responsibility and it is you who must make sure to organize the time so that your attention does not seem unbalanced. It is about maintaining a positive environment where everyone can learn and continue to improve.
If It’s Better That He Goes, Let Him Go
This point is very difficult for the coach, but, in many cases, the material resources, knowledge of the coach, and the environment of the other athletes are not ideal for the athlete to continue evolving at a sporting level. Depending on the sports modality, the most recurrent alternative will be different.
While in football and basketball teams it is usual for the athlete to sign for a great team or a first division subsidiary, in sports such as athletics and triathlon a very common option is to enter a High-Performance Center (CAR).
CARs are sports facilities where high-level athletes train and prepare for international-level competitions. They were created as a result of the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, and since then, they have been expanding throughout the national territory.
Ultimately, this step must be agreed upon by the coach, the athlete, and their parents. This decision greatly conditions not only the sport’s future of the athlete, but often his life takes a turn. Change your place of residence, friends, and study method. Not all athletes are psychologically prepared for this change. Do you have any high-performance athlete in your club? Tell us and we will help you make the best decisions.
