It is easy to coach by work ethic – but the question is will the athletes ever realise their full potential through hard work alone?

The work ethic approach assumes that tough training is the answer to everything, e.g. the belief that as the athletes get fitter and stronger (physical), they grow in confidence and self belief (mental). I am all for hard training – there are no short cuts to winning at high performance level – but taking an uncompromising, determined, committed approach to achieving optimal performance does not mean just training until your legs fall off.

I hope coaching has progressed from the simplicity of the work ethic based approach to something a bit broader, smarter and more intelligent. It’s like people still using an abacus to count – sure, it works – but there are many many better ways of doing it.

Thanks again.

WG

http://excelsiorgroup.blogspot.com/2010/01/roy-williams-hard-work-book-review.html

There does seem to be an emphasis on the puritan work ethic amongst Coaches in the US- which may translate to what they want from their athletes.