I know there are some bad coaches out there, but since when do HS and college athletes know more about training than most coaches do? I would be interested to see a thread "talking to an athlete who doesn't want to listen." This is a far bigger problem in the coach/athlete relationship. Again, there are bad coaches - I am not disputing that, but in most cases, coaches are more knowledgeable many times over than their athletes. It is a rarity to have a team full of well meaning athletes stressing out because their coach won't listen to them. What are they asking for? More days off? Less mileage? More time to go drink with their friends? In my coaching life, I have seen many, many athletes who completely take advantage of a coach who "listens" as a way to avoid hard work and responsibility. Don't feel too sorry for underachieving athletes looking for a pity party, or someone to blame their bad preformances on besides themselves.