My coach sucks

That's wild! - your coach just started his own thread bellyaching about you. Maybe you two should just talk with each other?

That sucks to hear, sorry your coach seemingly isn’t valuing your goals. What is your relationship with your coach? Is he putting you in competitive races? Giving you workouts and paces to help you build fitness? Does the coach have this kind of relationship with other athletes?

As a coach, coaching does matter, but you also have to meet the moment with your own effort and follow through on pushing yourself whenever you can.

I'd say he is putting me in appropriate races. I just don't think he really knows or cares what exactly we are doing in the workouts. Like we'll do a tempo and he won't be there at all. We do pretty general workouts. It's just that some of the advice he gives is pretty wack sometimes. Like I don't feel like there's any point in asking him training questions. I don't think he's ever really run competitively.

But, to your point, I think I know what I need to do to be successful. He's devalued other athletes goals too. One of my teammates wanted to break 4 in the 1500 and he said to go for a slower goal. It's just frustrating, like even if you think someone is not in that kinda shape does not mean you should say that, crazy things can, and do happen. I feel like most coaches know this but for some reason they don't.

bump

How long has this person been your coach?

Also sometimes coaches do want and need to be realistic with their athletes about their abilities and what they can do, but not diminish their chances at something great. Have you expressed your feelings to your coach? They may not know that you’re receiving their coaching a certain way.

Has this always been your coach's MO?

If not, there may be things going on in his life that have him overwhelmed. It's hard to guess what it is but consider many adults are wrestling with the issue of not being able to see their older parents who may be in care facilities. There are others who have to manage at home schooling along with their normal jobs. At the D3 level, some if not most coaches have some job other than coaching - if that other income stream has run dry financial concerns could be consuming his attention.

The point is that coaches have lives beyond the team and when their is a change in behavior towards the team it's often these other issues.

If this is a changed behavior and you have a good personal relationship with him, you could ask how he's doing? Indicate you've noticed a change and are concerned for him. Don't go down this path if the relationship is tense - your actions are likely to be misinterpreted.

If he's still getting you into good races, take advantage of them. Workouts are what you make of them. "Standard fare" workouts done properly could be exactly what you need. There is a HS team here in Ohio that regularly wins XC state championships and pretty much does minor variations on two workouts once the competitive season begins.

It's a shame your coach isn't the person you need him to be at the moment, but don't let that hold you back. Seek out other encouraging people in your life. You can still achieve your goals.

i haven't read anything specific that the coach is doing wrong yet, though I don't doubt he has shortcomings. What is the speed of the kid trying for a sub 4:00 1500? What has he done in the past for that event and others? Where are you as far as your 5k goal?

You can't just come up with goals out of thin air. Though I think if the coach does not agree with said goals, they should probably talk to you about bridge goals and the process it will take to get there.

Pr3fontain3 wrote:

Should I transfer?

It doesn't sound like you're very invested at your current institution.