And if so, has it worked out well for you? I tend to think of coaches as being very outgoing, motivational, etc. but my xc coach is on the quieter, more serious side. Seems to know his stuff but it's not what I'm used to. Just looking to see what others' experiences have been.
I wouldn't call my past two coaches introverts but neither of them have been particularly loud and motivational. It works fine for me because I don't think a coach should have to be motivational. You should be motivated by yourself.
If you need extrinsic motivation, then you might have a problem
Sorry, I meant for the last sentence to imply that you might have a problem with that coaching situation if you need extrinsic motivation. I acknowledge that not all runners are intrinsically motivated
I am a coach who is also an introvert. My athletes tend to do well.
I have and I like coaches like that. I would also consider myself an introvert so to me it makes a lot of sense. My coach tells me what to do, I give feedback when necessary and it all works out well. It is not necessary for coaches to be outgoing. I think the best coach is a coach who knows what they are doing and is able to make good rational decisions. A lot of people like this are people who think things through and speak when is necessary. The less they say the more important what they say becomes.
Everyone who runs for Colorado has.
North Central High School's (Spokane) head coach is an introvert. They tend to do pretty well.
If your distance coach was a distance runner back in the day, doesn't that make him an introvert almost by definition?
So maybe you're rather have the rah-rah football coach for XC.
Alberto Salazar sure looks like an ISTJ to me...
My coach is very introverted. Training program is one-of-a-kind and has been very successful coaching those of us who are internally motivated and don't need outside pressure or even encouragement to keep moving forward. On the other hand, our team, as a whole, has trouble bringing some of the talented but less-motivated youngsters along. The coach mostly just says splits and nods their head. No yelling, very little encouragement, very quiet and unwilling to show what they thought of the workout. I think this has a lot to do with the coach's inability to motivate these kids to put the work in and care about the team/their results.
So to answer your question, if you need the external motivation maybe you should 1) Look elsewhere like to your parents or peers or 2) Find another coach who can give you the rah-rah speeches, yell during races and practice, etc.
Introverts aren't a real thing, it's all part of the jungian cancer that has crept in contemporary society that keeps itself in existence. Personality is not that static, and seeing him as an introvert just reinforces him acting like that.
lol lol lol lol wrote:
Alberto Salazar sure looks like an ISTJ to me...
Not when he's allowed to stand on the infield and yell out splits.
Most distance runners I know need just the opposite of the firy speech giving type of coach. I don't need a cheerleader. I need someone to set limits so that I don't wear myself down.
As athletes, we are naturally competitive. When that competitiveness gets the best of us, we run faster than goal pace for workouts and we end up paying for it later. I need a coach who will make sure that workouts don't turn into time trials, not one who tries to get me pumped up.
awkward...or not wrote:
And if so, has it worked out well for you? I tend to think of coaches as being very outgoing, motivational, etc. but my xc coach is on the quieter, more serious side. Seems to know his stuff but it's not what I'm used to. Just looking to see what others' experiences have been.
A few good coaches I met where like that. At the end of the day the motivation comes from the running. I like to be more motivational myself and at least act more outgoing than I actually am but no style will suit all runners
There a lot of BS's (fake running times etc) around as well- sounds like yours is a good one
PUMP THOSE ARMS! LOOKING GOOD! FINISH STRONG!!!!