Coaching and aspiring coaches, you must read this piece on Frank Dick

Training Advice/Discussion General

2 weeks ago 05/13/2024 4:59pm EDT

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this AW piece on Frank Dick, who was the British Athletics Federation’s Director of Coaching for 15 years and also the personal coach to two-time Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson.

athleticsweekly.com

Coaching conversations with Frank Dick - AW

The former UK Athletics Director of Coaching talks about his philosophy, the role of the coach and why people skills are becoming a key tool

Link:athleticsweekly.com/performance/coachi...

I loved how he:

1) Is always trying to learn more.

2) Realizes the technical aspect is not the only part of coaching.

Dick said :
I think one of the things that maybe has been missing in a lot of coach education programmes in the past has been, not the technical stuff, it’s the people stuff that we’ve got to look at far more. Do we really take time to know our people?
Do we really make time to know their stress signatures? Do we take time to work out: ‘Am I getting my language right?’ Because not everybody hears the same thing from the same word and I think all of that conflict resolution, how to deal with leadership, how to deal with being a member of a team, these things we don’t often talk about when it comes to coach education. But I think that’s paramount.
We’ve also got to be careful that being focused is not the same thing as being blinkered. You can be focused, but you’ve got to be able to scan all the time.

3) Talks about how learning how to deal with success is just as important as failure.

Looking back on it now, two of my best athletes were INCREDIBLE as juniors in college but it was hard once they were king of the mountain.

2 weeks ago 05/13/2024 5:17pm EDT

re: rojo

Ah, wise one share story of Frank Dick, coach like wise old tree, roots deep in running world. His words, like wind through leaves, carry wisdom for all who listen:

Coach not just teacher of skill, but creator of space for growth, like gardener tending to young plants. Help athlete take ownership of journey, not just win race, but win at life.

Philosophy simple, like pebble in stream: be better today than yesterday. Not just for young sprout, but for mighty oak like Usain Bolt. Focus on performance, not scoreboard, like archer aiming at target, not worrying about crowd's cheer.

Learning never stop, like river always flowing. Even great coach like Alex Ferguson know this, seek wisdom from others. Share knowledge, build network, like village sharing harvest, everyone benefit.

For new coach, be curious like child, ask questions like thirsty traveler seeking well. For old coach, keep open mind, like seasoned farmer always learning from changing weather.

Mistake of past, focus too much on technique, not enough on heart. Coach must understand athlete, like parent understand child. Know their stress, their language, their dreams.

Lesson from history: not just train athletes, but train coaches too. Like planting many seeds, some grow tall, some not, but all contribute to rich harvest. Competition good, like wind pushing sailboat, but cooperation also needed, like crew working together to steer ship.

In end, coaching not just about winning medals, but about love for sport, like love for family. We all in this together, like runners on same track, each with own pace, but all sharing same goal: to reach finish line with joy in heart, knowing we did our best, gave our all.

2 weeks ago 05/13/2024 5:22pm EDT

re: rojo

He sounds like a dick

2 weeks ago 05/13/2024 11:17pm EDT

re: rojo

So many great coaches past and present. One of the greatest I believe is Joe Vigil. His book Chasing Excellence is the best running book I have ever read and I have read many in my 43 years of running. ROJO WEJO and Johnathon Gault it would be great if you could interview Joe Vigil. He is in his 90s now

2 weeks ago 05/14/2024 4:23pm EDT

re: Jao Bing Li

Jao Bing Li, I love your posts, your writing and thoughtfulness.

2 weeks ago 05/14/2024 4:32pm EDT

re: rojo

rojo wrote:
Looking back on it now, two of my best athletes were INCREDIBLE as juniors in college but it was hard once they were king of the mountain.

you were a coach for two years like 15 years ago. move on

2 weeks ago 05/14/2024 4:34pm EDT

re: as real good living inthe past

as real good living inthe past wrote:
you were a coach for two years like 15 years ago. move on

Where was he a coach? Never gets mentioned

1 week ago 05/15/2024 3:50am EDT

re: rojo

rojo wrote:
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this AW piece on Frank Dick, who was the British Athletics Federation’s Director of Coaching for 15 years and also the personal coach to two-time Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson.
Link:athleticsweekly.com/performance/coachi...
I loved how he:
1) Is always trying to learn more.
2) Realizes the technical aspect is not the only part of coaching.
Dick said :
I think one of the things that maybe has been missing in a lot of coach education programmes in the past has been, not the technical stuff, it’s the people stuff that we’ve got to look at far more. Do we really take time to know our people?
Do we really make time to know their stress signatures? Do we take time to work out: ‘Am I getting my language right?’ Because not everybody hears the same thing from the same word and I think all of that conflict resolution, how to deal with leadership, how to deal with being a member of a team, these things we don’t often talk about when it comes to coach education. But I think that’s paramount.
We’ve also got to be careful that being focused is not the same thing as being blinkered. You can be focused, but you’ve got to be able to scan all the time.
3) Talks about how learning how to deal with success is just as important as failure.
Looking back on it now, two of my best athletes were INCREDIBLE as juniors in college but it was hard once they were king of the mountain.

Thanks for sharing Rojo. The trolls that downvoted are just a bunch of klowns who have never and will never coach anyone.

1 week ago 05/15/2024 12:07pm EDT

re: rojo

Excellent article, thanks for sharing. The coaches that need this the most are the ones that aren't willing to learn so they won't read it anyways.

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