How to talk about getting a new coach with my current coach

I did it and it destroyed the relationship with the coach and eventually resulted in him doing power moves so that I had to chose him exclusively or to never race for the school again. He had a huge ego, so I think your results here will directly correlate to your coach’s ego. But do note that he was completely cool with it at first, but when the reality of the situation set in he started to change things until it resulted in an ultimatum. Note that I chose to no longer be on the team and stick to my private coaching, but I did lose out on some good experiences. There is always the middle road option which is to train behind his back as much as it works, but this can be difficult in terms of time and logistics.

From a coach's perspective, I would not allow somebody to run for our team if they are not working out with the team. It absolutely destroys team dynamics in most cases.

your coach might see it differently. good luck.

I also think if you are somebody who really understands what you need out of distance running, you can get what you need by working with the team AND on the side

I think if you are honest with him with your goals and the reasoning behind it along with the way you say it, it shouldn't be terrible. I'm sure it definitely stings for a lot of high school coaches when their athletes seek third party coaching. However, most realize that their athletes who are serious about the sport want to get to the next level. He wants you to succeed and get to that next level and if that means you consulting with a private coach while also working with your current one, it'll benefit the athlete which is really the whole purpose. Just don't pull a tincan elite

Bythebay12 wrote:

I did it and it destroyed the relationship with the coach and eventually resulted in him doing power moves so that I had to chose him exclusively or to never race for the school again. He had a huge ego, so I think your results here will directly correlate to your coach’s ego. But do note that he was completely cool with it at first, but when the reality of the situation set in he started to change things until it resulted in an ultimatum. Note that I chose to no longer be on the team and stick to my private coaching, but I did lose out on some good experiences. There is always the middle road option which is to train behind his back as much as it works, but this can be difficult in terms of time and logistics.

And are you now an elite and/or scholarship runner?

Thanks for all the responses. I really just want to get the most out of my training and run my best. I’m a bit nervous but I’ve been thinking about this for awhile and I believe it is finally time.

If you value running with your team (and there is definitely value to this, not everything in life revolves around running your fastest time), then getting a private coach is not the best idea. If your own running success and training to your potential is what is most important, then try to find a private coach.

It's funny I worked with a family friend who coached me in the summers and winters when I wasn't working with my hs team, and my college coach actively encouraged me to work with him in the fall because I wasn't doing xc. Every coach is different with regards to their attitudes on this.

I wasn’t elite but I had a teammate who did the same thing regarding private coaching. He was elite and went to a top program, and we kind of had the same experience with it so I don’t think someone’s ability level matters. I suppose he had the added pressure of making sure he ran fast so he could secure his scholarship. Ultimately I think it’s a factor of how bad the team coach is and how much potential is being left on the table, versus how much someone wants to see their potential realized. You only have high school career, and you want to run as fast as you can. At the same time, those experiences at the meets with teammates are also something you only get once, and you can jeopardize that if you are kicked off the team

So as a coach who has been relatively successful I have had experience with kids doing this. Personally, I think you need to talk to him about your thoughts on what you may be lacking in training and see if its something you guys can work together on. That would always be the best option because maybe its a similar feeling for many of your team mates and something the coach can improve on.

It also depends on your goals, if your goal is to run in college, then first understand that the reality of being a scholarship athlete is about 60-1 for boys and 40-1 for girls per NCAA. So I would put enjoyment of the sport in a greater value than getting a scholarship. I think most coaches would say that if you don't train with the team ie attend their practices then you are not on the team... that to me is very understandable.

Also, private coaches are sometimes be good or bad, just like high school coaches. make sure you do your research... Most of the private/club coaches around here come recruit at our jh and high school athletes that are already good because they wan to say they coach that athlete and get more people to pay them. All it really takes in most of these club programs is a weekend certification or less to be "qualified"... I am lucky however that my kids at least have no interest in it, however when they do I make sure to hear them out and let them know the pitfalls of going to someone who may or may not have their best interest at heart...

help473747 wrote:

Hey everyone. My track szn is about over and I’m beginning to think about next year xc. I am thinking of getting a private coach because I don’t believe my current coach’s training is good for me. The problem is I rly like the guy and I go to a very small high school so I will still see him often and things like that. I also still want to run for the team but don’t know how that’ll go. So does anyone know how to come about this? Anyone else done anything like this before? Thanks

Run summer track with a club. Worry about next school year when it gets here.

Is JS popped up already? 😄

Well......I pop up now. ))

Just one question first. What makes you believe that your current coach isn`t good enough for you?

Yea, really?

Do you know that you are a potential elite runner with the right coach? Why do you think you need a new coach?

The cream rises to the top, if you ain't getting it done, maybe it's because of you?

Have Connor Winters call him up and tell him for you

I'll respond without reading anyone else's comments so mine are not biased by such. First of all, I don't think you'll have anything to do with the official school-sanctioned team if you go this route. I have to think others are weighing in with this opinion but my take is different from theirs. I know they consider this to be a negative. I don't. So, here's how this goes.

The track season ends. Don't say anything to the track coach. He knows nothing until track begins next year. Don't say anything to the XC coach either. If he doesn't know you exist, all the better. You must, however, talk to the new coach. This is the only person involved other than you. I feel the fact that track and XC are 2 different sports and the length of time betwee them makes this socially easy.

I made the mistake of running for the school's XC team sophomore year. I already ran, trained, raced, every, before that so suddenly being on a school-sponsored team was disappointing. By the end of high school, I certainly wasn't involved in that whole thing anymore, but there was never an awkward moment with the coach. The season only went for 2 months, so even if I ran every year, there's 10 months I wouldn't have seen the guy. The track coach didn't know who I was - we never met - so it was not socially difficult around that scene and I wasn't expected to participate.

Problem is, these guys at your school may know who you are and approach you. You may not have the lack of social pressure that I had. Here's what you do. When the XC coach approaches you and says, "Hey, practice starts next week! Are you ready?"

You say, "I'm looking into other sports. Been thinking about this all summer."

See, they assume you've still been running the whole 5 months or whatever between seasons. By track time again, if you again imply you quit running, they'll figure it's been like a year since you've run a step. They won't ask you again after that. You'll be off the hook. I mean, does the track coach go up to every fat, out-of-shape clown on campus as say, "Track's starting!"? Of course not.

You'll be doing your own thing and not be hassled by anyone at school. You'll be just another non- runner to them. It works. I did it.

help473747 wrote:

Hey everyone. My track szn is about over and I’m beginning to think about next year xc. I am thinking of getting a private coach because I don’t believe my current coach’s training is good for me. The problem is I rly like the guy and I go to a very small high school so I will still see him often and things like that. I also still want to run for the team but don’t know how that’ll go. So does anyone know how to come about this? Anyone else done anything like this before? Thanks

First,

Is this the future of writing? Are we going to see more and more text language rather than correct spelling and grammar?

Second, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

Saying that, you must realize, many schools are in need of coaches. Many. And, it is not unusual for a VP to go to a teacher and ask them to help out , even if they have no experience in that sport. So don't rush to judgement. And, if you get a private coach, you may or may not progress into a better runner. In distance running, anyone can progress by doing their own workouts and long runs.

So, quit whining and start trying. set an example of good, not bad.

Being part of the team was always important to me. So I couldn't imagine leaving the team to train with a private coach. Honestly, I needed my teammates to train with and keep me accountable. I would have never achieved what I did training alone.

My advice, do both. Stay with the team. Train with them. And supplement as needed during the off-season and even in-season (extra key workouts). That would have worked fine at my high school. But we had very little oversight.

Only make this move if you are willing to accept he may not allow you to compete for the school. If you are okay with that, then do it.

The OP hasn`t answered my question yet, but the more I think about his situation I think it´s best to stay with his current coach and the team until summer vacation starts and don`t tell the coach of a planned summer vacation different training to see if he can improve during 2-3 months with my SOJS ( summer of J.S ) program . If it goes the same way as last summer with my then coached Kansas HS kid I think the OP`s coach will be surprised in the fall and ask OP what he did during the summer. Maybe a win win for OP and his coach? I will of course coach you for free OP if you want to try my system during the summer months.