HOW TO BECOME A BETTER TRIATHLETE BY BECOMING A TRIATHLON CANADA-CERTIFIED COACH

As triathletes, we continually explore new paths to improvement, whether we watch YouTube videos to emulate our triathlon heroes’ workouts, purchase the latest aerodynamic equipment or enhance recovery with the latest nutrition breakthrough. That said, one of the most effective ways to become a better triathlete may have less to do with getting and more to do with giving.

By sharing your hard-earned wisdom and expertise as a Triathlon Canada-certified coach, not only will you help other athletes improve, you may very well enhance your own abilities and increase your enjoyment of the sport.

The Coaching Program

Triathlon Canada has long advocated for prospective triathlon coaches to take the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) courses that lead to certification. As a part of becoming a certified coach, the focus of all NCCP coaching programmes is to ensure an accountable and measured approach to coaching, whilst always considering the social, emotional and physical safety of both the athletes and their coaches. The pathway for coaches is very well laid out on Triathlon Canada’s website. As our sport has evolved, so too has the pathway for achieving certification. Some additions from the first iteration of the community course include coaching masters and specific events. As with previous versions of the community courses, the program’s underlying focus remains to educate coaches in providing safe, positive and athlete-centred coaching.

Whether you are interested in developing youth and age-group athletes or working with high-performance triathletes, the first steps to registration include: creating a Triathlon Canada coaching account, completing a criminal record check, completing the Canadian Association of Coaches module on Making Ethical Decisions and completing the Introduction to Triathlon Rules for Community Coaches online lesson. Once these steps have been completed, a coach may register for the NCCP Community Triathlon course. This course is usually held over a weekend. In addition to the aforementioned topics, it focuses on teaching basic triathlon skills and techniques designed to help coaches be effective in their leadership style, as well as following a national Long-Term Athlete Development model.

Observe Others’ Techniques And Improve Yours

As conscientious athletes, we are inclined to pay more attention to our own technique than that of others. A major benefit of becoming a coach is the chance to consciously study other coaches’ and athletes’ techniques. Observing athletes with great form, or those who need improvement, will make you more cognizant of your own skills. Are they over-striding? Are they carrying tension in their shoulders? Are they splaying out when they kick? Are you doing any of these things? Observing another athlete’s technique and correcting it if required, can be just the impetus you need to refine your own technique.

Although we can’t do much about the genetic makeup that may place limits on our athletic performance, there are many methods we can employ to maximize our potential. Becoming a Triathlon Canada Certified Community Coach can not only help you as an athlete, but enhance the performances and enjoyment of the sport for the athletes you train.

Tracey Shelley currently facilitates the Triathlon Community course and is an NCCP coach evaluator. She can often be found on a pool deck or in a kayak, coaching Tri-specific swim workouts.

Kevin Heinz is a coach with Tri-Joy The Spirit of Multisport, and the host of the endurance sports podcast Fitspeek.