As human coaches (including parents, teachers, and others), we are constantly working with incomplete data. In any given event with any specific person, there are invariably unknown or undetected factors at play. Certainly, the complexities of a person’s life outside of the practice or competition setting can never be entirely understood.
Returning to our previous point
Just because something isn’t visible to us doesn’t imply it isn’t important. What is easily quantifiable tends to be given more credence, which is an extension of the ‘what you see is all there is’ fallacy. The less concrete characteristics that are difficult to record or assess are sometimes demoted to a lower priority or ignored entirely. In actuality, it is typically these intangibles and difficult to measure aspects that make the difference.
The ideal monitoring mechanism
According to a wise acquaintance and colleague coach, is a coach who pays attention. This is when the human side of coaching comes into play. When external events or unrelated stressors are taking their toll on a performer, being aware of both verbal and nonverbal indicators is the best clue. We can better assess a situation and respond accordingly if we become alert to daily fluctuations in the individual’s state of mind.
Finally, and most significantly, including the athlete as a key component of our data collection is critical.
By definition, the person in question is the most valuable source of information on their mental and physical state; after all, only they can register how their body is feeling and only they have access to what is going on in their head! Sharing this information necessitates a level of trust that must be built over time, and the individual ultimately decides what and how much to disclose.
It is also a continuous practice to help the athlete become more aware of their own body (what practitioners refer to as ‘body awareness’) so that they can better distinguish and report what is going on. When the coach is not present, the performer will be better able to control and govern themselves if they are more informed and equipped.