Coach or More Jumps?

Dear Roy

How important do you think it is to get an outside coach? We have a lot of experience; everyone has over 2,000 jumps and has been on 4-way teams before. We don’t have much money to train and it seems that we could save a lot of money by self-coaching, remembering the best of what we’ve been taught by other coaches. What do you think?

Thank you
Herman

When the team has ambitious plans, or they want to reach a high level, working with a coach should help them to get there faster and in a cost effective manner

Hi Herman

I think that the importance of having an outside coach or not, is depending on what the team wants and needs. When the team has ambitious plans, or they want to reach a high(er) level, working with a coach should help you to get there faster and in a cost-effective manner.

There are many advantages to work with a good and experienced coach and, if you decide to take one, it doesn’t mean that he needs to be there all the time. What maybe can be interesting for your team is to have a coach every so often. You can start to work with him/her and see in which areas you need to improve the most. Once you know where you need to improve, you can start to self-coach the team. During the season you can see how often you need a coach to keep you on the right track. I believe that in this way you have a good compromise.

Good luck with your team
Roy

Couples on Teams

Hi Roy

Do you have any opinions about couples on teams? We have an 8-way team and lost two people. The best flyers for the slots we have open are boyfriend and girlfriend. What do we do?

Is this a bad situation or do you think the dynamic will be okay? We don’t want to be ‘couple-ist’ but I have heard from people who say it’s a nightmare. What do you think?

Yours undecidedly
James

Hi James

In theory I would say that it shouldn’t make any more problems than having two new teammates that are not a couple. I guess it is more depending how their personalities are individually and as a couple. I have seen couples in a team that make a big mess, but I also know couples that became World Champions! In your case I would say that if the team likes them and they are the best flyers for that slot, go for it! You never really know how it ends up until you try it.

Take a chance!
Roy