Coaching

Elushion

Hi, I am currently looking for a coach and was wondering what recommendations you guys could give?

Heres a little about me:
I am currently 16 year old and next year (2010) will be racing as a junior. I rode the start of this season (2009) as a junior; doing a 5 races, before being told I was too young and moved down to an U16. Since then I have recorded some PB's (10: 23.42, 25: 58.24 - These both on a road bike). I also did a few of the U16 races, doing well. On top of that I have won a senior club race and placed 2nd overall in the club league.

For next year I am looking to do well in the junior ranks and for that reason I would like a coach to be able to help me with a structured plan and advice.

So post if you know a good coach and hopefully I will get sorted!

Percy Vera

Great to see you have the sense to look for a coach, I wish I did at your age!

How much have you got to spend per month on one?

Elushion

As much as it takes really, I am not looking to spend large amounts of money, but I understand how much work goes into coaching and that needs paid well.

Splottboy

I'm a Coach. Ex Asst National U23's Coach for 4 yrs.

For God's sake...just ride!!!!

Enjoy it. Message ends.

hopper1

Splottboy wrote:

I'm a Coach. Ex Asst National U23's Coach for 4 yrs.

For God's sake...just ride!!!!

Enjoy it. Message ends.

Nice... Very helpful, I'm sure chap!
I expected to read something a little more constructive, from someone of your caliber.
He's a young guy, keen and looking for advice, the attitude and advice he receives could be crucial to his development, or lack of it.
If you have nothing helpful to say... Say nothing!

jgsi

If you are close to Limerick, you may want to drop into Quay Leisure.
Have a word with Brian McKenna ... he is a SPINNING coach and I know he has good contacts in the cycling fitness world who might be able to sort some quality advice for you.

Splottboy

It was helpful, it'll focus him on his "Life", School, Girlfriends, Socialising, etc...

I've seen dozens of youngsters get their dreams shredded by the "System" ie, get Talent Team recognition, Junior races, camps, fitness testing etc.
Then, they aren't good enuff or their face doesn't fit, and they get left behind.
It's Soul destroying for them at a critical time of their mental/physical development.

Our National Coach at the time said, "If there's a kid you haven't seen or heard of, and he's good, I want to take them onboard."
Maybe this youngster IS that rider...

He also said, "Coaching won't turn a donkey into a race horse..."

Just ride, enjoy it, and if he's good enuff he'll be spotted.

Percy Vera

I disagree with Splottboy.

If the coach is good enough they will take into account the guys age and everything that is going on in his life. Sure there are plenty of coaches out there who are clueless with young ones and burn them out, and that's why you have to be careful when choosing a coach.

The 'System' - is it tailored to the individual? Or is everyone lumped together? As I am sure you realise different athletes need different types of training.

Splottboy

Agree: But...some of the coaches I've met seem to push riders for their own ego's.
They tend to live their lives through their riders, and parents are the worst.
( Eg, rider fails to win event. Father makes them ride 60 miles home, in the rain.
Just a tale told to me about a famous riders treatment by their family.)
Yes, Child Protection issues are raised here.

At the higher levels of coaching, it's race results, not kids GCSE's they are concerned about!
Their jobs depend on performance and medals. Who's gonna get the smelly end of the stick?

Having been there-done that-got the tee shirt, I can only speak from experience, not looking as an outsider. I too was Idealistic, but came away from it totally jaded...yes, and bitter!

No "System" is perfect, and it can be tapered to riders levels, needs, time constraints, but this is in a Perfect World. Unfortunately, we all live in the Real World, sorry to say...

Percy Vera

Splottboy wrote:

Agree: But...some of the coaches I've met seem to push riders for their own ego's.
They tend to live their lives through their riders, and parents are the worst.
( Eg, rider fails to win event. Father makes them ride 60 miles home, in the rain.
Just a tale told to me about a famous riders treatment by their family.)
Yes, Child Protection issues are raised here.

At the higher levels of coaching, it's race results, not kids GCSE's they are concerned about!
Their jobs depend on performance and medals. Who's gonna get the smelly end of the stick?

Having been there-done that-got the tee shirt, I can only speak from experience, not looking as an outsider. I too was Idealistic, but came away from it totally jaded...yes, and bitter!

No "System" is perfect, and it can be tapered to riders levels, needs, time constraints, but this is in a Perfect World. Unfortunately, we all live in the Real World, sorry to say...

I agree with that, but this is 1 to 1 coaching we are talking about and not 'the system'. Obviously, nothing can be done about idiot parents. The OP would be better off if he was given some direction/coaching rather than just going out and riding.

The Nature/Nuture debate can be left for another day.

mackdaddy

Not sure what the 'system' is for cycling. Although I'm a cyclist myself, I'm a coach for UK Athletics and I don't see any of the behaviours that Splottyboy cites from the coaches I work with and have dealings with. Considering Cycling is du jour in finance terms, isn't the infrastructure in place to support people like the OP?
I must admit, it never fails to surprise me the differences between sports. I am also a football coach and although there is much in this system to dislike (I advise all parents to avoid trials and academies until boys are 15/16 because of all the things Splottyboy talks about in cycling) at my club we have at least one coach per team and all are licensed by the FA.
In the athletics, I work at a small club, but even there, there are 3 of us just working with the youth sprinters, plus others on middle distance, endurance, strength and conditioning etc. Lots of the younger athletes start their coaching license around 17 yo themselves.
How far behind is cycling in this?

ride_whenever

you get idiot coaches everywhere, the issue coaching juniors is that they often can't tell when something isn't right. Take for example one of the very successful juniors who's come up to the womens squad this year, she's injured herself after only the second weekend, she didn't tell me that is was hurting, and she's very experienced.

As someone who's coaching juniors, you really need to be looking out for the slight indications of injury coming on, tension in the wrong places, favouring one side etc. so you can ask specific questions to them, at least they're honest which is more than you can say for some adult athletes!

OP, if you join a local club you'll probably find some of the older athletes will be more than happy to take you under their wing and give you advice for free. There isn't a lot to it tbh, more learning to push yourself. At the end of the day, you're on the start line on your own, no matter how good your coach is they cannot be there with you, all they can do is instill the mentality into you so you can push yourself.

Splottboy

The "system" unless you've already been spotted is:
Talent Team test you at school, cycling or youth club.
You get picked. Attend Talent Team coaching/training courses. No Personal Coaching is done at this level due to their young age...Advice/Assistance only.
Enter Junior races, hopefully kicking arse! Jnr Tour of Wales/Ireland etc.
Get more support as you age/develop.
Get onto Olympic Development programme/Team. U 23's.
Represent your Country, up to Commonwealth Games level, GB at higher level.
Get trained for the track currently, road in the future.
Get onto Continental/Sky team...World or Olympic squad racing.
Become household name, then get Knighted for riding your bike and winning 3 Golds.
Buy Mum and Dad car to thank them for all the years being a taxi/clothes washer...

Elushion

I am in a club currently though it does not have any coaches available to it. I am also living in N.Ireland and racing under a Cycling Ireland license so do not have access to the British Cycling programmes. To clarify why I am really after a coach; is for the ability to have a structured training plan made for me that is not static and can be changed if needed. Also someone to give advice when needed, and to help prepare me mentally for races and events. This is why I am really after a coach, not for someone to spoon feed me, but for someone to help guide me in cycling.

Percy Vera

Where abouts in NI are you?

Elushion

Ballymena, near Belfast

Percy Vera

There's a big shopping centre in Ballymena...hey!

If you still want a coach do a google search for coaches and see what comes up. Then check out their testimonials. I have used Dave Lloyd in the past and highly recommend him.

Or after all the advice if you want to do some self coaching I'm sure Splottboy could recommend a few books to get you started.

Eddy S

Elushion wrote:

I am in a club currently though it does not have any coaches available to it. I am also living in N.Ireland and racing under a Cycling Ireland license so do not have access to the British Cycling programmes. To clarify why I am really after a coach; is for the ability to have a structured training plan made for me that is not static and can be changed if needed. Also someone to give advice when needed, and to help prepare me mentally for races and events. This is why I am really after a coach, not for someone to spoon feed me, but for someone to help guide me in cycling.

Are you looking for a coach on the mainland or in Ireland? Have you tried using the Find a Coach link on the Cycling Ireland website?

Although 'distance coaching' can work very well (it works for me), it might be better for you to have someone based in N.I. But if that doesn't matter to you then it will relatively easy to recommend a few mainland based coaches with good reputations.

The Other McHoy

Seems to me like the lad has his head screwed on. He posted a simple question, and instead of providing an answer if you have one, you are all on here debating the merits of having a coach, The kid wants one, let him decide based on results whether it works for him or not.

Laddie - if you have the chance to get across to the mainland book yourself a session with Dr Garry Palmer of Sportstest. Then you can start properly with a one-on-one and a battery of tests to assess where you are at. The good doctor will then design a training programme tailored specifically for you. Garry is extremely well qualified iin the Sports Science field which I think would work well for you.

As someone else mentioned, Dave Lloyd has produced some good results over the years. His approach is perhaps more draconian than the younger coaches - but it suits some.

Percy Vera

The Other McHoy wrote:

Seems to me like the lad has his head screwed on. He posted a simple question, and instead of providing an answer if you have one, you are all on here debating the merits of having a coach, The kid wants one, let him decide based on results whether it works for him or not.

I agree but the lad got plenty of good information. My final post was recommending Dave Lloyd (answering his question directly), Eddy S answered his question directly, ride_whenever gave good advice in what to look out for, Splottboy looked at from another angle, JGSI recommended someone.

So all in all, I think the lad got great advice and got some more besides. It's good to expand a topic sometimes rather than give one word answers.