Dr Phil Coaching And Philosophy A couple of thoughtS

Dr. Philip Skiba (A couple of thoughtS)

1) The Dalai Lama has said that since Buddhism is concerned with the nature of reality, its religious presuppositions must always be subject to change in the light of scientific discovery.
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2) I once had a teacher who said, "The devil can quote scripture for his own purposes."
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What does any of this have to do with coaching? Particular coaches have a persona and philosophy that they sell. If they have had a former life as an athlete, this often revolves around their exploits as an athlete and what happened to work for them. The problem is that as athletes become better educated about the science of training, they begin to lose credibility. Rather than adjust their philosophy, however, they may choose to attempt to shore up their brand through the creative (mis)use of scientific studies.
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Our goal as sports professionals is not to adhere to some preconceived philosophy or brand image. Our goal is to help athletes achieve excellence in sport. To do this effectively, we must be willing to evaluate what is known of the science of sport dispassionately and objectively, and then adjust our practices accordingly. To adhere blindly to our personal, perhaps closely held and cherished beliefs (or those of our particular "guru") in spite of best evidence and practices smacks of something akin to religious zeal rather than objectivity. It is a disservice to both our athletes and our profession.
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Athletes would do well to consider these points as they prepare to seek professional help in pursuit of their goals. Are you looking for a belief system or shaman, or are you looking for reality?