Entries by Ian King

What’s holding YOU back as a trainer?

Even been in a place in your career where you wonder why you are not getting where you wanted to go as a trainer? If any of the following apply, you probably should be asking this question – I don’t have enough clients; I don’t get paid enough; I am not sure or confident of […]

There is a better way – Part 6: For whose benefit

The coach said to the team – ‘Now I want you to win. Because it makes me look better.’ A few weeks later, in a different sport but with the same athlete, a coach said to the team – ‘Now if some of you are wondering why you didn’t get any game time, I want […]

There is a better way – Part 5: There’s more to athlete preparation than ‘strength & conditioning’

Physical preparation in athlete preparation is over-rated. Its obvious that few share my belief, considering the amount of focus and effort going into physical development globally. I learnt from my professional experience in North America in the late 1980’s and early 1990s that their culture placed a (potentially excessive) premium on physical development. That cultural […]

There is a better way – Part 4:The simple things that can change the way athlete’s view themselves (and perform)

Little Johnny (or Julia) goes to mid-week training. The coach raises the ‘mistakes that cost them’ the last game. During training, the coach says: ‘Let’s go through the whole training session without dropping the ball. I don’t want to see any dropped ball!’ Little Johnny’s (or Julia’s) sub-conscious mind repeats the key words: ‘….dropped ball.’ […]

Coaching in the Fakebook era

If you are a physical preparation coach (strength coach, S&C coach, Personal trainer – call it what you want) who is looking to start, build or advance your career, then you are going to have to make a decision. Do you prioritize creating a perception of your competence; or do you prioritize actual competence? There […]