Coaching - Do you need it?

We are all about developing the next generation of racing sailors and an important facet involved with this is providing them with coaches.

But do you just assign one coach? Can one coach provide all the requirements needed for the successful development of a young sailor?

Personally I feel that you can’t get everything you need from just one coach but require an array of talented and intellectual minds to enhance knowledge and assist with obtaining new skills to get over the line in first place.

But are there enough coaches out there? What makes a good coach? Do you feel that a coach is beneficial or do you prefer to rack up with your mates or go it alone?

It’s a topic that always seems to be at the pinpoint of an argument. When coaches are supplied some parents or students themselves often feel that another is subjected to more attention than they are and that coaches, regardless of how much they confirm it doesn’t happen, are seen to pick favourites and focus their attention on the sailor who they feel is more competitive and has a better chance of claiming a title.

I have seen it happen. A young sailor, without an endless supply of funds and often on the outside of the in crowd be completely overlooked by a coach because he was an unknown. This unknown totally blitzed a regatta and wiped who were considered the “elite” sailors out of the water.

“Who was that guy?”

“Where did he come from?”

“Who’s his coach?”

Assertiveness, dedication and sheer commitment was what got this young guy over the line in an effort to be noticed and accepted as a competitive sailor. After this, coaches were buzzing around him in an effort to claim the success.

But what do you think? Do you need a coach? What can a coach offer you that you are not already getting from just being on the water racing?

Can you be a champion without a coach?