BANZA May 2016 Issue | Page 97

SPORTS Few months separate us from the big event that we all have been waiting. We have all crossed our fingers and have talked about it without ceasing. Well, with this August, every craving for the Olympic games will be satisfied, and everyone will witness the great competition that will take place. Meanwhile, many athletes are training hard, many are getting prepared, and many are in qualification competitions in the hopes of getting a ticket to Rio. But to do so, athletes must have robust interactive and interchanging relationships. After all, coaches are the athletes’ guide in their pursuit of high achievement and excellence. Before drawing this conclusion, I had immersed in the wonderland of endless questioning and only my career as a swimmer has helped me get a gratifying answer. I want you, for this reason, to think about how an athlete can improve with a coach and about the impact of the coach on his or her performance. YOU WILL BE AMAZED. Together in this article, we will dive into the details of the athlete-coach relationship. Recent research has proved that coaches have a significant impact on the athlete‘s experience and career. They are an influential element of the competitive experience. As we all know, coaches are there to help the athletes improve their skills, develop a strong character and gain confidence. They are also responsible for pushing the psychological, emotional and physical limits of the athletes. According to David Benzel, there are three kinds of young coaches: The Great Coach Dedicated to making a positive impact on the athletic and life journey of a young athlete. The great coach is committed to making a change in the lives of young men by building champions, not championships. He/she can lead a young athlete to bigger and better things in sports and life. The Good Coach Dedicated to making a positive impact on the athletic journey of a young athlete. The good coach lacks the 360-degree view that the great coach has for each child. Being a great athlete isn’t just about a child’s athletic ability, it’s also about their attitude. The great coach helps guide young athletes toward becoming well-rounded individuals while the good coach’s goal is to win championships and give athletes the skills and experience necessary to play at the next level. In this context, sports, not the life journey, is the center of the universe. 97