Eteri Tutberidze: “Once athletes achieve their goals, win their medal, they may not want to continue. Should you force them? Why?”
Eteri Tutberidze shares insights on coaching in figure skating
original source: Sports
Eteri Tutberidze discussed the challenges and complexities of her profession in an interview with Editorial Opinion, covering the dynamics of coaching athletes, their parents’ involvement, and the motivation behind pursuing sports at a high level. Here are a translation.
“My Job Is to Deliver Results”
Tutberidze emphasized the goal-oriented nature of her profession, stating:
“My job is to lead athletes to results. And I need them to listen to me and follow my instructions, especially when there are three, four, or five skaters on the ice, each with a difficult personality.”
She highlighted the importance of explaining the purpose behind intense training:
“You have to educate them and their parents along the way. You have to explain why patience and hard work are necessary. Because there will be championships or the Olympics where they can win and secure themselves for life.”
However, she acknowledged a significant downside of short-term goals:
“Once athletes achieve their goals, win their medal, they may not want to continue. Some love the sport and just enjoy doing it. Others reach their goal, win their medals, and that’s it – they don’t want to go further. Should you force them? Why? And how do you even force someone? This is a sport where they must come and train willingly, by their own choice.”
“Parents’ Role and Striking a Balance”
When asked how she manages situations where parents interfere and stand between the coach and the athlete, Tutberidze explained:
“Figure skating parents are a unique story. Such a parent must fully dedicate themselves to their child and their child’s training. They must help immediately and protect the child – even if the child is wrong – I understand that very well. It’s not just about helping; they must be present during almost every practice session.”
Related topics: Eteri Tutberidze
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