How do we know they're working?#
Retreats often conjure an array of images and opinions. Until we capture a better word to describe what these five days offers our coaches, we suggest considering what your fellow coaches are saying about their experiences:
Head Coach
"Thank you so much for all the help. You can probably imagine what I went through when I got booted from the village, told I could only coach if I didn't have a fever and all that goes on in my brain when I got sick. Anyways... just trying to say thanks for all you do and the positive outlook I have gained even when faced with adverse and somewhat scary situations."
Head Coach
“I intentionally waited a couple weeks beyond the retreat to assess the impact this had on me. The retreat itself had a significant impact at the time, but I was also hoping that I would be able to employ strategies I learned there into my daily routine at home and on the road with my job. I am happy to report that I have successfully transferred many to my new daily routines. I have a new morning routine that has completely shifted and energized my days. Also, I have used breathing routines to sleep deeper through the night. These are examples of how I'm periodizing my recovery, however the most impactful skill the retreat provided was the self-awareness, practice, and reflection around what it takes to flourish in our coaching. I look forward to sharing it with my team and colleagues.”
Sport Director
“The retreat was really eye opening in creating space for me to just be. I was exposed to so many different practices that I hadn't even known about before but that truly helped me be in the moment. I think this has an impact personally and in the longevity of coaching long-term. What was most impactful was the understanding that we can rest in the moment just as much as we can perform in the moment.”
Head Coach
“There are going to be more than I can touch on here, but I hope I can at least share enough for you to understand the impact it has made on me. I've had a personal health journey that has made me understand two things, first is I really believe in what I do as a coach, but the second was that I need to learn to take better care of myself in the process. Our default is too easy to just push through, without paying attention to the impacts. This retreat has really helped me put some specifics in place that have already shown major impact for me (journaling and what I would call a "tool chest" approach vs seeking the "right" thing for me. But then you add the ability to connect with other like-minded coaches of sports you would likely never cross otherwise. Learning from them and the thought-provoking discussions will help my coaching as much as any coaching education thing I have done since my masters. And in a career that allows you to become isolated in your world, this was a great way to just meet new people and build new friendships.”
Head Coach
“I feel great following the retreat. The tools and methods presented are incredibly useful in my daily practice and show potential for implementation within my team. Several have already been worked into the curriculum for the upcoming season. If a goal is to build a more cohesive team USA across sports, this retreat will be a useful tool to further that vision.”
Head Coach
“I can't tell you how much the retreat has helped me. We are in Europe now and I feel the strongest in my coaching as I ever have in my career. It is because of that experience. Being around the other coaches and seeing/connecting to their experiences and feeling how they related not only gave me calmness to my emotions but a confidence that I have never really felt before!! Thank you so much.”
Head Coach
It was likely the most amazing thing I have every done and Emilie is absolutely incredible! I was profoundly impacted by this experience. By touching on all the areas of recovery I could identify areas I needed more focus and improvement which will help me be a better coach. I can also share this information with my team to help them perform their best. I have used several techniques since returning to help me, as well as share that knowledge with my team. In order for us all to be our best, self and team, we need to recognize the way we are functioning and if it is beneficial in that moment or if we need to identify other modes to better fit the circumstances. I gained a lot of insight through discussion and excursions to help me ground and listen to myself to better guide my team.
High Performance Director
It is imperative that this program is spread as far and wide as possible. Coach burnout is a real and overwhelming reality in the elite sports world. Being a 41 year old coach with another 20 or so years left in my career, I have a renewed outlook and optimism about my career and future journey. The more great coaches we can keep in sport in a positive frame of my mind, the more success we will have in our Olympic endeavors.
Head Coach
I arrived in the USA 9yrs ago and I wanted some coaching, but struggled to find any assistance with my continous development. These few days helped my development more than the previous 9yrs. I would say it is essential for the USOPC to support these sessions for coach development. Remember you train one athlete, you impact one athlete. If you train a coach, you impact hundreds of athletes.
Head Coach
I would definitely encourage USOPC to make this retreat an integral portion of their educational curriculum. International coaches are greatly skilled in supporting their athletes to get to their top performance, however we are not effectively educated or well-skilled in focusing on our own self-care. Coaches are occasionally provided presentations on self-care and coping strategies, however this retreat was the first time I have engaged in strategies of application and implementation. This provided me awareness of blind spots and didn't know I needed addressing as well as clarification on how I might best implement these strategies. Teaching us these skills in such a format not only effects our own health but provides behavioral lessons to our athletes and our staff. The experience coaches gain over years of in-person coaching at the highest level must be preserved and protected. Implementation of education retreats such as this one is invaluable in creating positive happens to sustain the high volume careers we all have.
Head Coach
I don't have a single complaint. From the morning meditation, breathing and yoga, to the beautiful and fun hikes and adventures, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I wouldn't trade for the world. The genuine care and concern by the staff for each individual and their needs was amazing. I thought the NTCLEP program was invaluable information and knowledge. This program though trumps that experience in spades as it provided me with the ability to be the best me. Knowledge is one thing, positive mental health is so much more. Thank you to all involved!
Head Coach
100% I believe that well-being is so crucial to the balance of our lives in HP. We know how to drive forward to achieve greatness but what we don't know is how to rest and recharge so that we can continue to grow with each year of the cycle. This gave such great insight into how to bring in a sense of rest that we can take into other environments.
What to expect#
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Our 2024 Coach Retreat is FULL!
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