Last week I posted about why coaches need to coach with purpose and not for glory and last night while attending a birthday celebration of an athlete, I was reminded during the birthday speech that the journey for athletes is not about chasing youth — it’s about showing up with purpose. Training with intention means every session has a reason, every rest day has value, and every setback is part of the bigger picture. It’s about respecting the body, honoring recovery, and staying endlessly curious about what the body is still capable of achieving. The goal is not to turn back the clock — it’s to move forward with wisdom, grit, and an open mind and to invite friends and family to be part of the journey even if the path might be bumpy with ups and downs…

As a coach, I’m proud of the incredible performances my athletes achieve — personal bests, podium finishes, hard-fought comebacks, and moments of quiet resilience. These are milestones worth celebrating, but you won’t often see me broadcasting their results across social media or using them to boost my own profile.
Why? Because great coaching is not about taking credit.
True coaching is about guiding the process — developing trust, building consistency, and helping athletes navigate the ups and downs with purpose. The results belong to the athlete. They put in the work. They show up when no one’s watching. My role is to be a part of their journey, not the headline.

After attending another large-scale event and connecting with countless athletes and fellow coaches, I’m reminded again that my goal stays the same: to support people in their pursuit of progress — not for public approval, but for personal fulfillment. These experiences reinforce the value of quiet consistency, authentic relationships, and long-term development over short-term validation.

There’s a growing culture in sports where coaches feel pressured to constantly showcase wins to validate their value. But performance isn’t always linear, and success isn’t always measured by medals. A well-supported DNF, a mental breakthrough, or a return to sport after injury can be just as meaningful — if not more so — than a finish time.

Coaching is a profession, not a side hustle or a status symbol. It requires expertise, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and commitment. Just like athletes earn respect for what they do behind the scenes, so should coaches. It’s time the profession is seen for what it truly is — a craft, a responsibility, and a long-term investment in people.

Athletes working with me, know this: I will always care deeply about their goals. Athletes are challenged, supported, and celebrated with them and the team — quietly and genuinely. Because coaching is not about being in the spotlight. It’s about helping the athlete shine in theirs.

A coach, should not just be there to build stronger athletes —
but also to support better humans.

Yes, we train hard.
Yes, performance matters.
But real success comes when we coach the whole person.

Some call it holistic coaching or other names…but it has to include:

– Real conversations, not just race reports.
– Mental health & mindset are part of the plan.
– Recovery is non-negotiable.
– Self-awareness is a skill we build.
– Success = healthy athlete, not just fast athlete.

Burnout, injury, and pressure don’t build careers but balance does.

A fulfilled athlete lasts longer, grows stronger, and carries what they learn far beyond sport at any age.

Let’s coach like that.

We all want what’s best for our children. In youth sports, that often means making tough decisions — about teams, time commitments, and what “success” really looks like. As a sport coach and leader, here some insights to help a parent or other coaches to support a child’s development in a healthy, long-term way.

The Problem: Too Much, Too Soon
Across many clubs, there’s growing pressure for children to:
– Specialize in one sport at a young age
– Commit to intense year-round schedules
– Focus on winning and rankings early
While these choices may feel necessary to “keep up,” they often backfire. In fact, 70% of children drop out of organized sports by age 13, most commonly because they stop enjoying it.

What Really Helps Kids Thrive?
Research shows that the most successful and happy athletes — whether elite or lifelong recreational — share common childhood experiences:
– They played multiple sports growing up
– They had unstructured play and free time
– They had fun and weren’t pressured to win early
– They learned at their own pace, not rushed or burned out
– They stayed active into adulthood

What can parents do:
Here’s what you can do to help your child grow into a strong, confident, and healthy athlete — and more importantly, a happy and active adult:
1. Support Multi-Sport Play
Let them try different sports throughout the year. It builds coordination, reduces injury risk, and prevents burnout.
2. Don’t Rush Specialization
Most elite athletes didn’t focus on one sport until after age 14. Let your child develop broadly first. Indeed
3. Focus on Enjoyment
Ask your child if they’re having fun — not just if they won or scored. Joy is what keeps them in sport.
4. Think Long-Term
A medal at age 10 or 13 is nice, but what matters more is whether your child still loves being active at age 21.
5. Watch for Red Flags
If your child is constantly tired, anxious about performance, or talks about quitting — it’s time to reassess.

Facts:
Early specialization increases the risk of injury and mental burnout.
Athletes who play multiple sports tend to perform better later in life.
Long-term success depends more on skill development and fun than on early competition wins. Many Olympic medalists actually started their sport later in childhood or in their teens — especially in:
Endurance sports (cycling, rowing, triathlon)
Combat sports (judo, boxing, wrestling)
Team sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball)
Winter sports (Cross country, biathlon, freestyle skiing, speed skating)
…

The road to Olympic gold doesn’t start at age 6. For many, it begins at 14, 16, or even 20 — built on passion, persistence, and smart development.

In today’s sporting landscape, many athletes are encouraged to specialize early in a single discipline. However, research and practical experience consistently show that coaches who can train athletes across multiple sports often provide a superior developmental pathway. Their broader perspective enables them to foster well-rounded, resilient, and adaptable athletes who are prepared for both immediate performance and long-term success.

1. Transfer of Skills Across Disciplines

Fundamental athletic qualities—such as speed, agility, coordination, and endurance—are not sport-specific. A coach with multi-sport expertise can:

• Identify transferable skills and apply them in new contexts.
• Reinforce core movement patterns that enhance performance across different environments.
• Provide athletes with a wider repertoire of physical and tactical tools.

2. Holistic Athlete Development

The priority of a multi-sport coach is developing the athlete first, and the specialist second. This approach:

• Ensures athletes build broad physical literacy.
• Promotes balanced physical, mental, and emotional development.
• Creates a foundation that supports peak performance later in sport-specific pathways.

3. Injury Prevention and Long-Term Athlete Health

Exposure to a variety of movement demands helps athletes avoid overuse injuries common in early specialization. Multi-sport coaching:

• Introduces variability in training, which reduces repetitive stress.
• Strengthens different muscle groups, improving structural balance.
• Supports athlete longevity and sustainable performance progression.

4. Adaptability and Coaching Creativity

Multi-sport coaches develop a larger toolbox of methods and strategies. This adaptability:

• Encourages innovative solutions to performance challenges.
• Ensures training plans can be adjusted to athlete needs rather than fixed sport norms.
• Prepares athletes to thrive in diverse competitive settings.

5. Enhanced Understanding of Athlete Psychology

Different sports demand varied psychological skill sets—confidence, resilience, focus, adaptability. Coaches who work across disciplines:

• Recognize how psychological skills transfer between contexts.
• Teach athletes to manage pressure and diverse competition demands.
• Build athletes’ self-awareness and mental flexibility.

6. A Broader Perspective on Performance

Narrow, single-sport coaching often overlooks the bigger picture of development. Multi-sport coaches bring a comprehensive lens by:

• Understanding the interrelationship between physiology, skill acquisition, and tactical awareness.
• Identifying gaps in athlete development that one sport alone may not address.
• Guiding athletes toward balanced and sustainable progress.

Conclusion

The most effective coaches are not solely sport specialists—they are athlete developers. Coaches with multi-sport expertise cultivate well-rounded athletes, safeguard long-term health, and equip individuals with the skills and mindset to excel in any sporting environment.

By embracing a multi-sport coaching approach, we strengthen the foundation of athlete development and contribute to building resilient, adaptable, and high-performing athletes for life.