Thoughts From Coach Meg

….. Can be a good thing. And the advantage of doing so, is that it creates perspective to change to what you like or don't like.

After my move to the south coast of MA, several course changing events occurred which brought me to different cross-roads to pursue different venues of coaching including field hockey and swimming. In this, I learned how much I love the game of field hockey, how much I miss track and coaching track athletes, and while I enjoy swimming, I am not passionate about it. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a YMCA year round program. I also realize how much I miss coaching in athletic development or the preparation for sport.

I spent the afternoon watching the Penn @ Brown softball games. One of my former athletes, was playing. I am fortunate to have developed a relationship in which I am able to see her play softball on the collegiate level. She will be representing the USA in the Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer. I was humbled to think I have been part of the steps to help her get to where she is now as an athlete.

And…… This journey has led me to where I am now. Preparing to follow a new path, a new direction, and go the way I need to for myself. I am looking forward to the adventure.

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I have often heard and said, for that matter, that a wish is not a goal until it is written down.

And I can then cite the number of times I have written something down, anticipating this new goal or objective with absolutely NO Thought on how to achieve said goal. My goal may then be left by the wayside as I continue to focus elsewhere, until the thought revisits and I wonder what ever happened to………?

The truth is it needs to go beyond seeing it just written down. It needs to be written in a way to develop a plan.

In reading The Gamble, by Thomas E Ricks, General Patreus asks pointed questions that help determine the direction of the goal.

– What are we trying to do? That is….what are our key goals?

– How are we trying to do it? That is…..what course of action will we pursue?

– Does that course promise to achieve those goals?

– What sort of resources — people, time, money — are likely to be required to reach those goals?

In answering these questions, a plan can be developed to make your goal a reality.

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After reading The Speed of Truth, by Steven Covey, I realized that people and businesses need to reinvent, redefine and recreate themselves every 3 to 5 years. Wow. Perhaps this is why I feel stagnant at times, like I am standing still and NOT moving in any direction. I have been plodding the course and not sure where to go. I am trying to continue to do what may not have been working. What worked in NYC, may not apply to my new home. Mind sets and lifestyles are different.

I started with my résumé. Some stuff needed to be kicked off the page, others rewritten to show the direction I wanted to travel. It was challenging to sort through experiences to draw out what I want to accomplish professionally– where I want to go!

I also have spent the last year developing as a coach– actually, coaching swimmers and field hockey players and now working with more runners and tris/multi-sport athletes. I am learning more about programming and tapering and laying foundations. I am becoming a better teacher.

I have been developing ideas to look beyond the confines of a box or self-imposed block of time. I understand restrictions of time and space, but I am not permitting my thoughts to be confined to imagined limitations.

My field hockey team is grasping the need for strength and working on developing foundations before they arrive for the season this fall. These girls are keeping me focused on the team goals, and what we need to do to achieve those.

I am increasing my educational base and relearning/reviewing applicable skill-sets and I am not afraid to borrow ideas from others. I am no longer too proud to admit I do not know everything and there are still things I need to learn. I am reading more and taking several free courses this year. I am reading professionally as well as for enjoyment. I am focusing on my health to ensure I can orchestrate my goals. I am training and racing!

I have found a new focus here on the south coast of MA, and I am looking forward to the new direction which I will travel professionally. I am not certain where the journey will take me, but I know where I need to go!

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It astounds me…… While it shouldn't…… How many athletes with an intelligent thought process allow themselves to succumb to a mindless training protocol. A woman in a spin class wants to go hard all the time, to have someone kick her butt, because she is more interested in calories burned and not improving her overall training. Athletes run to video programming, various military-style training, fitness gurus to gain all those latest fitness buzz words……. And many of those coaches sought out provide programming that is one-size-fits-all. Every program is identical. There is no creativity, no flair, no personality, no problem solving…….. If you ask me……BORING!!! For the athlete and the coach.

It amazes me that athletes who are SO serious about training, choose to accept trends and cookie cutter programming for themselves. They are essentially leaving the foundations to chance.

I refuse to accept that for myself and my athletes. It does take more time to plan. It is easier to create a single program and be finished. Part of the excitement for me is solving the problem. The athletes has deficiencies in single-leg strength– how do I program to enhance that so the athlete can meet the demands of the sport? Granted, not all problems are that simple. But it creates a challenge and some excitement to create the program.

While some programs will have similarities because of me the programmer– each program is written for the individual. The athlete. The person who has set out to achieve a specific goal.

Each program is individual and unique.

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