Coaching with the perspective that….COACHING IS THE PUZZLE WITH CHANGING PIECES
The puzzle box= Each new season
The picture on the outside of the box= The goal end product at the end of the season
The puzzle pieces= Our runners
THE CATCH:
- The puzzle pieces are changing shape throughout the season. Sometimes the puzzle pieces go missing and then come back, or maybe don’t come back at all.
- The final image on the outside of the box keeps changing.
- You have a limited time to put the puzzle together.
WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN??
Dynamic Nature of our runners: The core idea is that the elements we work with—a runner’s goals, emotions, skills, environment, and challenges—are not static. Unlike a standard jigsaw puzzle with fixed pieces and a clear final picture, the “pieces” in coaching are always shifting, requiring our constant adaptation.
Lack of a Fixed “Picture”: Often in coaching, the final outcome or “picture on the box lid” isn’t immediately clear or may change over time. As coaches and runners we must work together to figure out what we are building as we go, with the vision evolving as new insights emerge.
SO WHAT IS THE STRATEGY??
Individualized Approach: Every person is a unique “puzzle piece”. A strategy that works for one runner will not necessarily work for another because their pieces are different. This requires us to tailor our approach to the individual’s specific needs, values, and learning style. We HAVE to get to know our runners on a relational level. Meeting with them weekly to establish the trust and foundation so that they know we care about them as people. Many touch points and time spent observing and listening/watching more than we speak allows for us to have insight on what each runner needs. Utilizing assistant coaches who also spend time getting to know our runners and can weigh in on what they are noticing, etc.
Patience and Perspective: Solving a complex, changing puzzle takes time, patience, and the ability to step back and look at the bigger picture when stuck. As coaches, we help our runners gain new perspectives, identify “missing” pieces (skills or self-awareness), and recognize when pieces fit—or don’t fit—anymore. Sometimes we have to walk away and give the team space…let the pieces sit or shift a bit on their own before we come back and keep working at it.
We cannot have a fixed outlook on what the season should look like. We cannot force things to happen. We have to provide structure, support and the commitment to the vision that we are putting together this puzzle to the best of our ability but also recognize that it almost always will not look like the picture on the outside of the box, because we come to find out that picture has completely shifted.
Empowerment: A crucial part of the metaphor is that we as the coach do not put the puzzle together for our team. Instead, we provide the tools, guidance, and atmosphere for our team to assemble their own pieces and ultimately achieve the vision themselves. Leadership is HUGE. The puzzle pieces are on the table with each other- they can nudge each other, shift to make room for someone else, and encourage in ways that we are not able to. We have the aerial view as we look at the team from up above, our regular communication and empowerment of our captains and leaders is key. Our leaders also know so much more about their fellow teammates. They are logging miles and miles together hearing about each other’s day to day lives, they know the way their teammate is shifting and if we don’t ask them to tell us what they are noticing, the puzzle pieces will never come together.
WHY DOES THIS PERSPECTIVE MATTER?
As coaches we have to be here committed to coaching because we love the challenge of supporting the ever changing puzzle pieces. We cannot be in this to achieve the picture on the outside of the box. Meaning…we cannot be going for the State championship and desperately trying to cram the pieces together to make that happen. It is not sustainable…it will not work. And while it might work in the short term- the pieces will crack and later on break and we will not be graduating strong, adaptable, brave, empowered young people who become lifelong runners.
This perspective reminds us that we are working with teenagers. If you coach high school sports because you love cross country or track (the sport)…you’re in the wrong arena. Truly incredible high school coaches do it because we love teenagers. Teenagers are the epitome of a puzzle piece that changes shape constantly. We have to pay attention. We have these young people for 8 seasons. Arguably, summer and winter are their own seasons that can provide change for our runners. If we aren’t noticing how they seem each day and week…we aren’t doing our job.
We should be able to watch someone walk up to practice and put their bag down and already have an idea of what is going on with them that day, because we watch our puzzle pieces shift each and every day and we can spot when something is changing. We have to be obsessed with knowing how everyone is doing AS A person…as a TEENAGER. Training is training. It matters. But don’t be obsessed with threshold workouts…and should we do double or should we do plyos…? Be obsessed with watching your puzzle pieces shift and change and be obsessed with paying attention to these young people, every single day….And watch the final product be WAY better than that original image on the outside of the box.