Undoubtedly for an athlete to improve, he needs to overcome himself – his discomforts, his pains, his fears, his thoughts. In my opinion, improving in a physical sport does not only necessitate time and effort spent in training, the development and nurture of the mind is also important. Even simple knowledge of adjusting boat parts to better suit yourself, repairing boat parts when damaged, or responding to situations during trainings or competitions are of utter importance, in the absence of such it may just spell the difference between a medal finish and a non-medal finish. Such knowledge and wisdom comes from experience, and I believe I can more than safely say cannot be found in greater volumes than in a person who has participated in competitions of the highest standard in the world and won. Such knowledge and wisdom would be lost if not passed on to the next generation of athletes.

However, I believe that personal experience and success is not all that defines a good coach. A good coach needs to coach. This statement might seem rhetorical, but it also defines what is needed in a coach. Yet, a good coach in my opinion not only coaches, but finds the best way to coach – finds out the best ways to bring out the best in the people he is coaching. In my years in the sport, I very often notice coaches who merely watch as the people they coach train. But our coach is different. Save for programs of easy-paddling, he always paddles alongside the team, pointing out ways in which we can improve our stroke and even going the distance to illustrate by example.

One such occasion which remains strong in my memory was during our preparation for the school nationals this year. Our program was simple – warm up, and then do a single sprint length at our race intensity, one-by-one. Simple, but only for us. Coach sprinted alongside each and every single member of the junior team down for training that day, with the very little rest in between our solo sprints.

And I believe it is this very difference that separates a good coach from a better coach: being involved in your trainees’ training, versus being a part of your trainee’s training.