Be Where Your Feet Are

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 30 July '24

"Be Where Your Feet Are" With the Olympics in Paris in full swing and my upcoming involvement as Team Coach for Team USA Paratriathlon in the Paralympics in a month, I thought it a good time to highlight the above saying.

At any big sporting event - Nationals, World Championships, Olympics, etc. - athletes are reminded on a minute-by-minute basis that they're not at a normal competition. There are more athletes, fans, press and demands on their time. This constant reminder of the importance of the event starts to weigh on the athletes, and they start also to lose control of their time.

Even though their sport is the same sport they've competed in for years, everything can seem different. As a Team Coach, I am acutely aware of this and try and prepare the athletes for this dynamic well ahead of the competition. I do this by advising them to acknowledge that the environment they are going into is different. I want them to keep their eyes open and experience the uniqueness of the event. Trying to pretend that everything is normal or trying to ignore everything and hide out isn't effective at all.

Instead, I want them to take it all in, enjoy the moment and understand that they may have to be flexible with their time leading up to the competition. I want them to know that although everything surrounding the competition is different, the event is still the same event they've competed in for years. Once that starting gun goes off, they'll know what to do.

I think this is a good reminder for all of us, whether it's a Championship event or the first one we ever do - enjoy it all, understand that things may not go as planned and know that once the event starts, you'll be fine. In other words, "Be where your feet are". :)

Gratefully,

Mark

CEO Team MPI