Teaching Conversations with Helen James

We hear from the girl who has led Jeremiah Azu to worldwide dash success in regards to the joys and challenges of being a mentor

Helen James has been a coach at Cardiff AAC for over three many years, most just lately guiding Jeremiah Azu – an athlete she’s coached since he was 16 – to World and European Indoor 60m gold. A former Welsh 60m champion and nationwide age-group record-holder herself, James began working at major faculty and continued all through her faculty years. Her dad and mom emigrated to New Zealand when she was 12, returning to the UK two years later, and through that point she gained the Auckland Colleges 100m title. Significantly sturdy indoors, she has a 60m private finest of seven.8 which got here at RAF St Athan within the early Seventies.

How did you get into teaching?I received into teaching by means of my youngsters [two daughters]. They each competed at school and so they did very well, so I took them down to affix Cardiff. I knew fairly a number of individuals down there from once I ran a few years in the past and my love of athletics quickly got here again.I began off as a workforce supervisor and I used to be thrown in on the deep finish once I needed to organise two buses to journey to a contest with just some days’ discover [because there was nobody else to do it]. I used to be dreading it as a result of I assumed: “Can I truly do that?”, however we did, and we did very well. After that somebody urged that I ought to become involved in teaching and I’ve been doing that ever since.Once I began teaching I used to be juggling work and household so it was actually full on. Now that I’m retired it’s a bit of bit simpler.The coaches in Cardiff labored collectively. Again then there was fairly a giant group of us, so one coach would write the coaching plans and the remainder of us would help. I bear in mind one gentleman saying to me: “Why are you so quiet? You have been an athlete as soon as, you understand what they’re meant to be doing, so converse up,” and that was a turning level. Not lengthy after that the group cut up up and all of us ended up with our personal athletes. I feel these phrases simply stayed in my head and I assumed: “I can do that”.

Who has been your best teaching affect?I’ve recognized and discovered from many coaches over time. James Hillier [former British Athletics High Performance Coach – Sprints and Hurdles, now Head Coach at the Reliance Odisha Athletics High Performance Centre in India] was one among them, in addition to Adrian Thomas who coached my son-in-law Rhys Williams [Team GB Olympian who won the European 400m hurdles title in 2012]. I additionally discovered so much from the late Dave Williams in Cardiff a few years in the past.Adrian and I truly mixed our teams for a short while and we’d get collectively for hill sprints on the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes close to Bridgend. The athletes have a love-hate relationship with Merthyr Mawr. They love going there, they simply don’t like how they really feel after it.I similar to to observe the totally different periods that coaches are main, and if I feel, “I like that one”, then I’ll combine it with my very own concepts.

How would you describe your teaching type?I feel that I’m fairly pleasant and approachable, however I need all my athletes to win. I do know that sounds a bit mad, however I coach them to win.Everybody’s “successful” and everybody’s success is totally different; for some athletes that may be a private finest, for others it may be county choice or worldwide choice. Everybody has a special stage of feat and, in the event that they work arduous, that must be celebrated. I similar to to see the children do the most effective they’ll.It’s not simply in regards to the arduous work and coaching although, it’s additionally in regards to the social facet and making mates – the camaraderie of getting on a bus collectively to go to a contest and hanging round collectively for the day. It’s purported to be enjoyable!

What would you say are the traits of a very good coach?Understanding your athletes and having a very good relationship with them is absolutely vital. Your athletes must know what to anticipate from you and to have the boldness to ask you something. For instance, in the event that they’ve received issues, they need to know that you could assist kind them out. I prefer to be seen as somebody who cares in regards to the athlete first.

You coach a big group of athletes. How do you handle that?With problem! I’m not the one coach within the group, although. I’ve different coaches who work with me and so they’re all very educated, so all of us have an enter, particularly supervising the coaching periods. There are some days after we’ll run about 5 totally different coaching periods in a single group, so that may be troublesome, however we work very well collectively. I largely coach within the night, however I’m fortunate sufficient to be retired now so I can coach within the morning, too.I feel you’ve received to try to discuss to all people, to concentrate to all people. We deal with our athletes like household as a result of we spend various time with them and we’re eager about what they’re doing outdoors of athletics in addition to on the observe. Additionally, if I’ve received youngsters working within the Nationwide Athletics League (NAL) I’ll at all times go to help, if I can.I don’t assume I’ve ever missed a championship with Jez [Azu] over time. I had by no means imagined going to China [to the World Athletics Indoor Championships], however I wouldn’t have missed it for something.

Jeremiah is a superb instance of an athlete you’ve coached because the very begin of his profession. What does it really feel like to find younger expertise?With Jez, it initially took me so much to influence him to return to the membership, however I’m so glad I persevered. I’ve one other very younger athlete now. He’s been with me a few yr and he’s excellent, he’s been successful every thing. Initially it was his brother who came visiting to me, and I wouldn’t usually take the youthful athletes – a minimum of not as younger as he was – however as a result of they got here as a bundle I did.Discovering expertise is thrilling for a coach. The younger athlete I’ve now has loads of rising to do, nevertheless it was the identical with Jez. He got here in as a 16-year-old who hadn’t actually run earlier than, besides for college competitions.To observe him develop over time, and there are different athletes who’ve been with me a very long time too, so to observe them turn into actually good athletes and actually good human beings is particular.It’s not at all times straightforward, although. When Jez made the choice to maneuver to Marco [coach Marco Airale in Italy in 2022] I used to be clearly upset, I gained’t deny that, however I used to be anticipating it. I understood why he wished to go as a result of truly, at that age, youngsters need to attempt various things and comply with their desires. My youngsters each went travelling – and also you convey your youngsters as much as fly the nest, don’t you? I simply wished him all the most effective and there have been no arduous emotions.When he got here again he got here right down to see us and he ultimately began to affix again within the odd session. It was a simple transition, there have been no points. He simply slotted again into coaching like he did earlier than he left. It was like he’d by no means been away.

What’s the most effective piece of recommendation you’d give to a brand new or aspiring coach?Work with different coaches first and learn to coach and deal with individuals. Deal with everybody the best way they should be handled. Additionally, if you’re teaching, all people has their very own objectives and desires. It’s vital that you just encourage your athletes to comply with their desires, however most significantly, to get pleasure from what they’re doing!