The Coaching "Crisis": Your Opinions on US "coach" credibility.

I think (and know) way too many people who have invested time and money with a "coach" only to later find out the person they were paying had little or no education or experience and was doing little more than doling out a canned planned in monthly intervals.

While individuals should do research before hiring a coach, because of the lack of a comprehensive credential system, its way to easy for someone to sell themselves as a coach (I'm sorry a weekend long seminar from USAT and a take home examine do not make someon a coach) especailly to a newer participant in the sport. 

You know what- to a degree I agree with you. I purposely put that in the headline to call attention to the thread.

Guilty.

However, that- in my opinion- does not minimize the relevance of the issue. I interact with "coaches" every week in my job. They span the spectrum of credibility from gifted and well educated with formal teaching and coaching qualifications specific to triathlon, to a drawer full of Ironman medals and a nice website but no formal, educationally/academically based credentials.

I've had coaches ask me questions like (I am not kidding), "What difference does heart rate make?" "What is the difference between a road bike and a triathlon bike?", "What should people wear during a triathlon?" One gym had a sign on their door that read, verbatim: "USA Triathalon Certified Coaching". Ooops. Lesson one: how to spell the word "triathlon".

I have plans on becoming a coach, but plan on taking a good long time with my education before taking on athletes and calling myself one.  I've increased my knowledge significantly over the years, but at still hesitant to offer advice in areas that I'm not sure are grounded in science and have a factual basis. 

I've been shocked to see how many completely ignorant people call themselves coaches.  To me, the credibility of US Triathlon coaches is pretty low.  IMO, more work needs to go into ensuring that the USAT coaches are educated and aren't just looking for ways to make a quick buck my offering fast easy solutions to new athletes. 

Edited to add:  There's more to coaching that providing training plans to people.  There should be a minimum level of technical knowledge.  That includes things like training w/ power, bikes, swim technique, run form, diet, nutrition, etc. 

You raise a valid counterpoint: What about a "mentor" or other person with valuable insight into the sport that could benefit others- but does not have a Master's in exercise physiology?

The sport is new in the U.S. (relatively): Many new athletes simply need the basics: What do I wear? Where do I put my bike at the race? How does the swim work?

Is there a place for a "developmental" coaching system that starts with people being licensed through USAT as an "athlete advocate" or some other preliminary title?

I don't like excessive regulation and licensure any more than the next lad, but this may be a case where something more could be better than what we have now.

There are definately some problems with tri coaching in the US, buuuuuut...

I have a problem with this site:

http://www.coachmetriathlon.com/

I've heard way too many fast local AG triathletes giving bogus advise and workouts that will and have straight-up injured athletes who are not at the same level as themselves.

At least with a USAT Cert (and I'm not saying that it's enough) you have been exposed to a lot of good information though for the most part the coach would need to do a lot more research.  They also have access to the USAT coach's Yahoo Group wich is a huge resource for newbie coaches. 

I guess I am a bit of a reason for more strict rules.  I went to a USAT lvl 1 clinic and got certified.  I don't have a lot of experience, but due to me having 1/2 a brain I was able to pass.  Now I don't coach people, my wife and I opened a tri-shop / training center and I wanted a better base to be a more knowledgable business owner. 

My wife however has an ex-phys degree along with a decade in the sport and a couple decades of coaching various levels of swimming.  She does coach people, myself included.  She is continually reading and researching to keep up on the latest science and techniques.  After another year of experience at Lvl. 1 she'll be attending the Lvl 2 clinic, which I hear is a great course.

First of all, as far as I know, a credentiallling process DOES exist though it is not required. I'm certain someone else can speak more to this but there are USAT Coach Levels and there is a process that goes with those.

That being said, there is no crisis and there is no need for credentialling or more regulation. The best regulator is the consumer, if you hire a coach without asking any questions about their experience or training then, well, you get what you bargained for. If you do ask, and you're easy enough to be won over by someone who has simply won an AG at an ironman or is a local hot shot...then whatever floats your boat. Others may yet be happy to go on a friend's recommendation. Everyone has their criteria and how stringent they are and the market works itself out. If one of those criteria is having a credential, that's fine too. We have this same argument each time someone asks about a non USAT race.

Additionally, having a credential is not the same thing as being intelligent or having integrity and it's also not the same thing as being a good fit (which is very important for a coach). Frankly, plenty of idiots have degrees or pass useless certification exams and many smart people don't bother to get a degree or pass a certification exam.

All certifications or credentials do is serve to weaken people's desire to investigate and understand themselves, figuring "oh if they are certified' then they must be good. The poster above me mentioned financial planners. Plenty of unscrupulous financial planners have made the news over the years and plenty more that have lost their clients quite a bit of money despite their 'credentials'. If you have a coach (or a financial planner) and you never have questions about how/why they are recommending something to you, then you're not doing it right. There are certainly some things where licensure is necessary (like a doctor) but it has to be a high threshold in my opinion.

While I can see how education or certification could add value, those aren't the only paths to gaining knowledge.  I'm speaking generally, not just for coaching.  I work in the software industry.  I have my degree, I've done research and I've been part of patents.  Those all factored into the job I do now.  At the same time, I have a co-worker on my same level who never graduated from college but rather was mostly self taught and built up his skills through work experience.  We're both qualified to do the work but arrived from different directions.

I don't see where coaching needs a special gold star to say you're qualified.  It's not like a cell-phone contract that's locking you in for 2 years.  If the coach isn't providing you with a tangible benefit, then you move on to a new coach.

Disclosure: I do not use a coach.

In my limited knowledge/experience, most "accrediting/licensing" bodies are just money generators, with little legislative authority over those whom they license.

I think one of the greatest ironies of all is that it take six months to get a license to cup somebody's hair, but you can become a Realtor (being in charge of most people's largest financial decision of their lives) in just one weekend.

"First of all, as far as I know, a credentiallling process DOES exist though it is not required."

Correct. However, the first level of USAT "coach" is arguably rather rudimentary for a person to bestow upon themselves the omniscient (in many eyes) title of "coach".

Additionally, as you correctly point out, it's voluntary. The last entry level coaching certification seminars for USAT filled up literally like online registration for a big US Ironman; in minutes. Everybody wants in. I'll suggest more for the calling-card value of the "title" than the depth and breath of the curriculum.

Of course there's a credibility issue with "triathlon" coaches in the US.  It's a fringe sport with no opportunity to make any money. 

I do not have a coach but I have shopped for one, and decided it was better to go it alone and spend the money on Masters swimming.

There's a big 'money grab' for coaching much like there was with Realtors years ago.  My guess is there are alot of triathletes that want to do what they love, so they opt out of their career and coach.  It seems the default career for every retiring pro out there. 

There's a ton of coaches out there that want 100+ a month to send you a training plan marginally better than what is offered here on bt, and only accept emails.  I don't considering that coaching.  Any knowledgeable triathlete can do that.

I do think a good coach is worth their weight in gold, as they have to be a nutrition expert, running expert, cycling expert, and swimming expert.  To truly get all that and to have a person with the right personality to coach is rare.