The smooth and current flow of communication between the athlete and the coach is the foundation of a good relationship. The coach delivers a program based on the ongoing feedback from the athlete. Without this feedback, which includes data from uploaded workouts along with any comments, is invaluable for getting the most out of the partnership. And it is a partnership; the athlete needs to know the how, what and why and the coach needs to know everything that affects it.

In 2022, coaches and athletes have access to more methods of communication than ever before. It is key when having the initial conversations between coach and athlete that both are on the same page. Here are some of my thoughts and these can obviously be adjusted for individual situations.

TrainingPeaks can be viewed as the core tool for sharing information. This is where workouts are delivered and the results uploaded. To get the most out of TrainingPeaks the athlete should include relevant comments as to how the workout went, how they felt and factors that affected the session. Since it is a record of what was done, this is not the ideal place to ask for information unrelated to the workout. As a coach I will have athletes include their work schedule, especially if they have inconsistent hours and days.

Email is a great tool for direct questions regarding upcoming workouts and when planning weeks. It is also more favourable for the season’s race plans and any travel that will affect upcoming training. One of the reasons I prefer email for this is that it is much easier to search for these items. Emails is also good for race plans and race reports as well as any information related to training that can’t be answered in a short sentence.

Text, Messenger and WhatsApp are good for quick questions about upcoming workouts and if things need immediate attention.

And finally the phone or video apps are perfect for the monthly catch up calls or anytime you have a question that requires a conversation. Great for planning how to approach an upcoming race or training camp.

As with all communication it is important that both the athlete and the coach are on the same page and remain in regular contact. That is how everyone improves.

Based in Victoria, BC, LifeSport Senior Coach Dan Smith has been involved with multisport for over fifteen years. He also regularly races and frequently gets on the top of his podium in his age group at local and World Championship events.