Becoming a Barefoot Running Coach

[Last Place Jason]

BL- there's a growing demand for coaches. As the idea of "better form" spreads, more and more individuals are seeking coaches. Some do it to learn to run better, some do it to be held accountable. There are a ton of other reasons people may seek the help of a coach. The demand definitely outpaces the supply, and will continue to do so.

Look around. There are certifications sprouting up everywhere. Pose, Chi, MovNat, Crossfit... hell, even the Spartan Races have a cert now.I don't want to churn out people with fancy certificates. I want to be part of a group of coaches that want to learn from each other. We all have something valuable to bring to the table. As soon as we set standards, we define what we're willing to learn and not learn. Open sharing... any teacher can tell you it's the secret to becoming a great teacher.

An important lesson I learned awhile ago- see what everyone else is doing, then do something different. I like to think we're leaders, not followers.

 

[Bare Lee]

BL- there's a growing demand for coaches. . . . Look around.

Thanks for the insight. I have a very limited view--for barefoot sites, I mostly come here and BRU--that's why I asked. I wasn't trying to be snotty .

"An important lesson I learned awhile ago- see what everyone else is doing, then do something different. I like to think we're leaders, not followers. "

That's always kind of been my motto too, although it doesn't always work out . Anyway, as I said, I find this exciting and look forward to seeing how it develops.

 

[Last Place Jason]

No worries, I didn't take it as being snotty. I come in contact with a lot of people that request coaching, but I tend to only be in a particular area for a matter of days.

 

[NickW]

Jason, I would love for you to come out to Oregon again and this time get some pointers from you on my form. I myself would like to see a coach not necessarily on a full time basis, but just so I could have some help tweaking my form. Sometimes it's nice to have someone that knows what they are talking about and looking for to evaluate what you're doing and help you become more efficient.

 

[Last Place Jason]

Nick, I'm trying to set something up with the REI in Portland via Merrell in July. I'm hoping to have some answers soon.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

I am all for creating a forum where you guys can talk shop. If anything, from this forum can come some great ideas and collaboration on how to best proceed with the idea of barefoot running coach certification...or not at all.

What would you like the forum to be called? How about Coach Talk? Or something else? Would you like permissions set on this forum, and who will determine which people can enter and post? We will definitely grant read to all. Of course, having a forum where some can post and others can only read will prompt those who can only read to want to comment, so do we create a response area for them, to air their thoughts and comments? You know some of them will be bursting at the seams. After all, even as you have said, some of our best ideas come from those of us who are inexperienced.

 

[Dawsy]

I am all for creating a forum where you guys can talk shop. If anything, from this forum can come some great ideas and collaboration on how to best proceed with the idea of barefoot running coach certification...or not at all.

What would you like the forum to be called? How about Coach Talk? Or something else? Would you like permissions set on this forum, and who will determine which people can enter and post? We will definitely grant read to all. Of course, having a forum where some can post and others can only read will prompt those who can only read to want to comment, so do we create a response area for them, to air their thoughts and comments? You know some of them will be bursting at the seams. After all, even as you have said, some of our best ideas come from those of us who are inexperienced.

I think you answered your own question TJ. If we allow everyone to comment, we can get views from both experienced and inexperienced runners.
Jason, I do like your idea of going against the grain. The trick will be creating something that amounts to more than just talk. I'd love to see where this all goes and hopefully we can come up with something awesome
I'm really glad that some of the big guns have shown an interest ib thus topic, and hope it gains traction.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

We've been talking about this on and off for a long time now. We get so far and then it just drops. If we can't decide now that certification is necessary or even the right way to go, then at least let the talk begin, right?

There has to be some way to differentiate who is speaking in the new forum though, Coach or Non-Coach, so the conversation doesn't blend beyond comprehension. Any ideas there?

 

[Dawsy]

On another note, it would be helpful if the BRS endorsed the members of the new Coaches sub forum and allow them to use the BRS logo/name for their coaching endeavours. Of course the question of quality control needs to be addressed but maybe this is where Jason's map idea could come in handy.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

I already created a map here a while ago. It's under the main forum. We are going to bump all of our maps to a link all their own soon, I hope. Also, the BRS would be happy to support and "Stomp" coaches and certification curriculum, but only AFTER there has been some serious progress in discussion and planning these ideas. AND, the coaches themselves would need to have insurance to save the BRS from liability, which can get sticky.
Barefoot Running Instructors Map

 

[Last Place Jason]

I propose the forum be open to all... no restrictions on posting. The blurring of the line between coach and non-coach is intentional. Each of us has our own unique contribution to make, which is what differentiates this concept from the traditional certs.

The question- what is the end goal? I'd suggest the forum is the end goal itself. The goal is mutual learning for the participants. There's absolutely no need to have a formal certification. Good coaches will grow from the shared experiences.

 

[Last Place Jason]

TJ- I like "Coach Talk."

 

[NickW]

Maybe if someone wants to have a way to differentiate coaches from regulars maybe put something like coach by their name, like we have with the chapters. Maybe a coach's chapter?

 

[Barefoot TJ]

That's a good idea, Nick. I was thinking like a badge or something for their signature. Let me sleep on the Coach Chapter idea, in case other ideas come up.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

I have created the Coach Talk forum. I put it under the other "running" forums. I made you the Moderator, Jason, so try it out, and let me know if you have any problems or if I need to tweak permissions. Please feel free to create a thread that details the purpose of the forum, and I will sticky that once you're done. I am excited to see where this all will lead!

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Jason, will you be contacting all the coaches you know? You have a good list going in your post a few posts back. Also, there's those listed on the Map, link above. Should we advertise this elsewhere, or just wait and let everyone else find us, eventually?

 

[Last Place Jason]

Initial post made, though I'll tweak it once I get some sleep.

Everyone else, feel free to begin populating it with discussions!

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Sleep? What's that?

 

[Last Place Jason]

Jason, will you be contacting all the coaches you know? You have a good list going in your posts a few posts back. Also, there's those listed on the Map, link above. Should we advertise this elsewhere, or just wait and let everyone else find us, eventually?

I'll start contacting them this week. I say we advertise it as far and wide as possible. Who's brave enough to put something up on the RW forum?

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Uh, you are. I already spammed them about the new MN Talk forum I started. Hee.