Who Motivates the Coach?

Some time ago I read an article by Jeff Goforth about who motivates the coach. It was well written, made several good points, and set me to thinking about motivation - the coaches’ and the athletes’. Where does motivation come from, how do we build motivation, and how do we affect each others’ motivation?
First and foremost, swimmers are (or should be) motivated by their goals. Swimmers each set their own goals and each swimmer’s desire to meet those goals must be the primary incentive for working hard. Motivation must spring from within. Secondly, outside factors can affect motivation. The coach is often looked at to be the motivator of the athletes. The coach prods, pushes, yells, praises, analyzes, suggests, critiques, encourages in an effort to move the swimmer forward on their desired path - the swimmer’s desired path. The coach’s job is to help each athlete pursue their goals. In addition, athletes can be inspired and find motivation from their training partners. Showing up for every practice, working hard on every set, offering encouragement to one’s teammates - all these provide motivation. Challenging oneself is enhanced by training in an atmosphere where everyone is striving to meet high goals.
But who motivates the coach? Coaches, like other teachers in this country, do not get paid great sums of money. Unlike teachers, they do not get weekends off. The more successful they are, the more work they have to put in and the less chance of a vacation due to those August ending Nationals. So how do they stay motivated?
The personal satisfaction that comes from helping young people develop and successfully pursue their goals, their dreams, cannot be measured in concrete terms. However, much of what motivates the coaches is readily visible. Swimmers that want to “work” at getting better are most coaches’ greatest motivation. Those swimmers that try hard at doing what is asked and try to do it right are the swimmers that most coaches want to work with. They will want to work with those swimmers that are positive and that genuinely want to try to improve. These swimmers listen better because what they are hearing means more to them. They want to use whatever advice they are receiving to make them a better swimmer, a better athlete. They like the hard sets because they know that without them their goals won’t be reached. They challenge themselves and like it when they are challenged. They know that hard work is the only way to really improve, to really make the next level, and it’s a challenge to try to get there. They ask about the next practice, the next set, the next test. They race their teammates at practice and enjoy the race - not who wins or loses, but the racing itself. They know that it is easier to get better together than it is alone and so they support their teammates’ goals. They never miss unless they are really sick or injured. If school work is extra heavy, they conquer that work before making weekend plans so they are ready for Monday morning workout. In other words, they make it their responsibility to do their best every day. And this is why they are easy to work with. They want it. They show they want it and they take an active part in pursuing it. They make themselves responsible for the outcome. They want to be part of the process and work for their desired results. They respond to coaching.
Things that motivate coaches: full attendance, everybody on time, tough workouts completed successfully, training partners helping each other and cheering each other, smiles at 5AM, breakthrough swims, a new skill learned, finding new drills that work, great sets, happy swimmers, college kids home for holiday, alumni returning to say “Hi,” athletes getting to practice early just to hang out or help with lane ropes, good communication between coach and swimmers, older athletes helping younger athletes, good swims that are well done.
So reflect on your motivation and also your contribution in motivating others. Get rid of all the “have tos” because you don’t have to. Say, “I want to” or “to get better I need to ...” or “I choose to ...” Life is all about choices. Choose to do the things that will help you reach your goals. Choose to. It’s your choice, make the best of it. -TJ