Are unathletic coaches capable of coaching?

Yes. They know more than you do.

Weight is not the only variable here to determine if you should listen to them.

What is their history? Are they an older individual who competed in the jumps and hurdles in their younger days and now put on some weight?

Just because they didn't do the event does not mean that they can't coach or teach it as well. Sure it helps, but with technology nowadays someone who didn't compete in any event can learn it, master it, and coach it.

My college cross country coach consistently had nationally ranked teams and track qualifiers. I don't think he ever ran a sub 5:00 mile but yet he could train us to run faster than that for 5 miles.

Kjell wrote:

Yes. They know more than you do.

How are you sure? How does a History teacher know more about track than an actual athlete about their event?

Fat camp wrote:

Kjell wrote:

Yes. They know more than you do.

How are you sure? How does a History teacher know more about track than an actual athlete about their event?

Can you watch yourself jump in real time? No? Than I guess you need someone else to critique your form, otherwise known as a coach.

I would say your subject line is more accurate than your message. I think weight is irrelevant. But being unathletic might be a deal breaker.

Many coaches who do not look like runners may have come over from another sport and have never done a sport in their lives. But they still understand the concept of maximalizing performance. This is not always true.

But I think that an unathletic coach has a lesser ability to help athletes because there is such an unfamiliarity with competing in any level or sport.

Kjell wrote:

Yes. They know more than you do.

ie; Frank Gagliano (a former football player)

Tomato Tomato wrote:

I would say your subject line is more accurate than your message. I think weight is irrelevant. But being unathletic might be a deal breaker.

Many coaches who do not look like runners may have come over from another sport and have never done a sport in their lives. But they still understand the concept of maximalizing performance. This is not always true.

But I think that an unathletic coach has a lesser ability to help athletes because there is such an unfamiliarity with competing in any level or sport.

Winner. thank you

Gags Guy wrote:

Kjell wrote:

Yes. They know more than you do.

ie; Frank Gagliano (a former football player)

Peter Coe (engineer)

a cut above wrote:

Gags Guy wrote:

ie; Frank Gagliano (a former football player)

Peter Coe (engineer)

Colm O'Connell (missionary)

Yes they can. First off gags as an example.

The science behind physical training can be learned by anyone who desires to do so. The ability to inspire and to encourage isn't limited to athletes or those who have been athletes.

Can having an athletic background provide advantages? Sure, but one person's approach to athletics doesn't mean it is universally good for every athlete, so that athletic background in a coach can also be a disadvantage for some of their athletes.

My experience is that the best coaches are those that can develop meaningful relationships with their athletes that allow them to understand the fears, motivations, etc. of the athlete in such a way that they can draw out the optimal performances/efforts at the right time. There are many roads to Rome and they include paths for unathletic coaches, too.

0/10

Arrigo Sacchi, the great soccer coach who never played professionally himself, said: "You don't need to have been a horse to be a good jockey." Pretty much sums it up.

FatCamp wrote:

Should we really listen to the 285lb coach about being a jumper? or doing hurdles?

Have you ever seen Glen Mills?

He only coaches Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake - the fastest 2 human beings who ever lived.