As first published on chasingtradition.com, a web-site following national level teams on their way to the NCAA finals in Terre Haute
All the Wrong Words
By Dwight Estey
Cross country coaches are noted for being motivators, humanists and humorists. They craft words in ways that ignite incredible human machines. Not unlike pouring nitro into the carburetor of a dragster, their words are the juice that helps the runner push the limits of performance.
At the same time, coaches help to bring rational thought to irrational people, the cross country runners. The coach who is tuned into the athlete can verbalize a much-needed perspective, constantly crafting and expressing a game plan that brings the athlete's unbounded enthusiasm into sensible parameters.
And finally, coaches can be just plain funny. At least they think so, especially at the end of a hard workout when there is a captive audience too tired to walk away. What are coaches thinking about while their studs are blasting out 70-minute runs? They're tweaking that one-liner that will make the team choke on Gatorade. (Example Coach Piane's "I really like to stress the short recovery. It's so important during cross country. You know, because I gotta get to dinner..."
There is no doubt – NONE – that the genius of a coach's communication is the key to a successful program.
So answer this. Why do they say such incredibly inane things during the heat of battle?
I know you've heard them. “Catch that runner in front of you!” Duh. If you've been in more than one race I think you've got that strategy figured out. Yet, as coaches we feel we have to say something. After all, we've seen the runners' transcripts. Maybe you forgot!
Yelling any strategy to a runner in mid race is often a poor idea. One of the worst is, “She's dying, go after her.” Meanwhile your athlete is thinking, “If she's dying I must be dead.” And the runner being chased is thinking, “I'll show that #$%^!! coach!
Another ill-timed reminder is, “Don't forget to open it up with 800M to go” or “GO NOW!” That's just the information that the rest of the pack will be thanking you for at the end.
Poor advice also comes in the running form department. I know one coach who's always yelling a rising cresendo of “arms and legs, arms and legs, ARMS AND LEGS.” If only I'd thought of that.
I'd like to poll the athletes. I have a sense that, “Pick up your knees”, “Use your arms”, “Open your stride”, and “Run tall” (not advised for anyone under 5') fall on deaf ears.
The saddest of comments to overhear in a race is sarcasm. It is rarely funny and has no purpose. More often it will just build a wall between the coach and athlete. “Did you forget this is a race” and “You're not out for a jog” fall into this category. Number 1 on my list of all-time worst is, “You're embarrassing me out there.” Just once I'd like to see an athlete take off the shoes, hand them to the coach and say, “Then you do it!” (northrunning advice :This is not recommended if you are on scholarship.)
I admit that sometimes I revert to coaching strategy and form advice during races. My excuse is that at the high school level there can be immediate, meet altering results from the younger runners. Even then, like a well-timed punch line, coaches have to deliver it only when the audience is ready. Just last week during a high school boys' race I overheard a coach. “Focus, focus!” he implored. The boy was dead last and running a 5K at over 25 minute pace. All I could think was that if the boy had a gun he'd be thinking “Aim, aim.”
Over the years I've learned by looking into the eyes if they are ready for comment. The eyes tell if they are still in the race. Sometimes the race is so good or so bad that they just need to be left alone. Coaching girls makes it even easier. They'll give you ‘the look'. Boys are harder to read. But when girls give you the, “I'm having a bad day and I know I'm doing terrible and you're probably really disappointed in me and please don't say anything because I'll just stop right here and cry until you feel like a jerk” look – it is better to silently melt into the background.
With veteran runners I try to limit my racing comments to encouragement and focus. I'll throw out a lot of “Good job”, “Looking strong”, Keep it rolling” and maybe even an “Eyes on the runner ahead”. I'm afraid they'd think I didn't care if I didn't say anything. But in the end, having faith in a runner and letting them learn to listen to their own body and mind is better than yelling for the sake of yelling.
Coaches don't always limit their; well lets call them what they are, STUPID COMMENTS for race time. Pre-meet advice can be just as ill-crafted.
Back in my days at UCONN we had an indoor track win streak going. Most of our meets were in the old Yankee Conference and we hadn't lost since I'd been there. But URI (NE-haha) was bringing a strong group to Storrs. Our assistant coach thought it was important to pump us up. So, for the first time ever he brings us into this classroom, tells us about each of their athletes and tells us what he expects from each of us. He ends with this quote. “If they think they're going to beat us they can – they can - s--t in their hat!
The room was silent. We were dumbfounded. What did that mean? Why would anyone want to do that? It is 33 years later and that's the only thing he ever told me that I remember. I've never used that one.
Coaches have to know their audience. “I want everyone to give 110%” is probably poor advice to give to math majors. And American Studies and communication majors wouldn't get it anyway.
“We want it more than they do,” though often incorrect seems to have some receptivity. “It is our destiny”, is a bit to stilted for today's crowd and “You owe it to yourself” is too capitalistic. “Don't forget how hard you worked for this” might remind them how pissed off they were that you added an extra 1000M repeat because you thought they were dogging it.
When my daughter was at the top of her game and going for state titles, the last thing I'd tell her is “Go have fun”. Ah. If we really believed that was what it was about. What we were both thinking is, “This is war, inflict pain and take no prisoners”.
In summary class,
As a former athlete I'd give coaches this advice. Your silence is soon forgotten but stupid quotes live on forever.
And as a coach, a word for the athletes who think their coaches say dumb things. If the coach really had a way with words he'd be writing books and if he was funny he'd be pulling down the big bucks at SNL. And sometimes he can't tell you what he really thinks. But don't forget. We're what you have to live with. So, pick up those knees, give 110% and deal with it, or go s—t in your hat!