Quick Thoughts
Posted by Ethan Barron on Saturday, May 8th, 2010
Wow, this is a crazy life we track coaches live. Thursday/Friday/Saturday meets on 4 of 5 weekends is a tough one. I guess I bring it on myself by having decathletes. Speaking of the decathlon, I realized yesterday exactly how much of a love-hate relationship I have with that event. If anything is going to give me an ulcer, it’s going to be the decathlon. The consistent stress of making first attempts in the HJ, LJ, and PV on top of getting your first SP and DT in, is enough to make me scream. Add to that the chance that any of 10 hurdles could just jump up and bite you at any moment. Sometimes I just want to go take a walk and clear my head.
In the end, it’s great practice for controlling your emotions. You’re insides feel like they’re doing the equivalent of back flips, dry heaving, and screaming all at the same time. Think about it. That’s some serious stuff. But on the outside, you have to have a face of calm, control, and togetherness. It definitely wouldn’t help my guys if I was burying my head in the sand like an ostrich. That’s probably why I cheer so much more in the decathlon than in other events. I have to purge that energy as soon as they make a good height or put a good throw out there.
You also get to experience so many different coaching styles in the decathlon. This weekend was the best example for me. I won’t get into details, but there was definitely a full spectrum of coaching techniques at work this week. Feel free to find me sometime, I’ll be more than happy to share a few stories with you.
Filed in My Approach to Sport, Random Stuff |