Why are te bag carriers called Olympic Coaches?

Most of the team event 'coaches', are coaches. True, that they are acting as more of a liaison, but they do help oversee workouts for the group they are working with. Their main function is as a manager, making sure the athlete is at the right place when they need to be, etc. If there is an issue, the team event coach serves as the first line of judgement. Some team coaches have an athlete competing... some don't.

It's an honorary thing, a way of saying thanks for their years in the sport.

Their only real duty is to glad hand and pose for pictures.

No, it's not.

teenage wasteland wrote:

Their only real duty is to glad hand and pose for pictures.

been around wrote:

No, it's not.

teenage wasteland wrote:

Their only real duty is to glad hand and pose for pictures.

Yes, it is.

See how easy it is?

If you're referring to being a complete douche... sure. Good job, douche.

been around wrote:

If you're referring to being a complete douche... sure. Good job, douche.

Thank you, thanks a lot!

So far you've done nothing to prove me wrong; you've just insulted me. That's typically a sign of desperation. I'm wearing a skirt made of radishes.

I am insane now.

Ironic... you've insulted a number of coaches who have worked hard to have the honor of serving an Olympic team. They don't view their role as "glad handing" and "posing for pictures". They view it as making sure the athletes that they are assigned to assist, don't screw up an opportunity to compete in biggest spectacle in our sport.

You are insane.

Yep, wejo... you better ban me. As they say, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

Total bag-carriers.

Think about it this way: Six days before the 10,000 final, Salazar wants Rupp to do 1000-800-600-400-200 cutting down from 10,000 pace. Olympic "coach" wants 3x1000 at race pace with a hard kick finishing each. Which does Rupp do?

A smart bag-carrier collects the money and the resume line, while shutting up.

Relays are the only exception (and even then the 4x100 is the only one where coaching means anything).

I find it pathetic and many athletes feel the same way.

Yes it is a meaningless title.

My coach has turned down positions on many National Teams because of how it appears.

Usually guys that can't let go but think they are still important.

Olympic track coaches are like the celebrities that throw out the first pitch at a baseball game. That pitch doesn't count as strike one, it's just ceremonial.

Olympic track coach is ceremonial, nothing more. Get a paid vacation, have some pictures made, get some cool gear, go home.

Has served on numerous US staffs, and had numerous US champs, Oly medalists, and NCAA champs. He's comfortable in his own skin.

Pretty sure he views it far differently than you... or your coach.

and would you looky there... the women's head coach of the '04 team getting some camera time. Ohhhhhhh, I almost forgot... she was Amy's coach, as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZGuxAGxwkM

Welp, I'm the internet champ, once again.

Well, some coaches use it to pad their extensive resume of getting dropped by actual Olympians.

So there's that.

Who could forget Beth Alford Sullivan telling Suzy Hamilton not to run the 1500 finals at the Olympic Trials because she was already on the team? Only she wasn't. Is that what you mean by "get out of the way"?

Yeah, those sound like personal issues, to me. I hear some people have them. #shruggingshoulders

been around wrote:

and would you looky there... the women's head coach of the '04 team getting some camera time. Ohhhhhhh, I almost forgot... she was Amy's coach, as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZGuxAGxwkM

Welp, I'm the internet champ, once again.

LOL. What does welp mean? Must be an idiot thing.

Because actually, you just proved the point of the OP.

The only time the so-called "Olympic coach" is of any use is if it's the athlete's actual home coach, as in this case.

Otherwise, the athlete just tolerates the bag carrier and relies on them for appeals and logistics. Any organized track dad could do it.

Interesting to note that you are so insecure in your career, that you have to resort to trashing coaches that served on international staffs.

Also interesting to note, is the fact that you just completely contradicted yourself in the stating that athletes rely on them simply for appeals and logistics. Well, I think it was made very clear in the defense of international team staffs, that appeals, and other logistical components, are exactly the point of these staff members. So, really, you're the "idiot thing" for not recognizing that point.

And one more - "not a resume builder"... you state that your "coach" has turned down numerous staffs for not wanting to appear as a bag holder. Well, perhaps your coach should do a better job of getting athletes to compete Aya high enough levels to make teams.