Coaching Masters

Objective

• The objective of the Masters racing programs is to provide adults with the opportunity to hone or improve their skiing and racing skills, including technical aspects like turning and speed control, in a competitive and structured environment.

• It aims to foster physical fitness, personal achievement, and community engagement among adult skiers, enhancing both their skills and enjoyment of the sport.

Individualized Approach

• Recognize that adult ski racers arrive with diverse levels of experience, fitness, and varying degrees of confidence. Customize coaching plans to meet each racer’s specific needs, whether they are beginners or have prior racing experience.

Learn to Race

Encourage newcomers to review this module.

Experienced Masters

Masters racers with experience will benefit from the module designed specifically for them.

Safety is Paramount

• The right equipment with properly fitted boots, well tuned race skis and proper length poles is important. Encourage adults, especially those new to racing, to review the Equipment module.

• Make certain all adult racers are equipped with the necessary safety gear and take precautions to prevent them from becoming excessively cold as reviewed in the Safety Gear and Cold Weather modules.

Injury Prevention

• Teach warm-up and cool-down routines. Ensure adults understand the importance of skiing with an Athletic Stance and stacking their outside leg when arcing turns to prevent knee injury as reviewed by the module Reduce Risk of Injury.

• Maintaining physical fitness is the most effective way to reduce the risk of injury. Encourage Masters to adopt the strategies presented by the Fitness module for staying fit, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep.

Course Setting

When setting courses for Masters its important to accommodate the varying levels of skills, experience and fitness associated with different age groups.

Communication

• When offering guidance, opt for straightforward, action-oriented language that aligns with the content outlined in the modules Ski Technique and Word Choice modules.

• When providing guidance on technique, conclude your discussion with a concise bio mechanical statement, like “flex the ankle toward the big toe,” “keep the old outside arm forward to start a new turn,” or “roll the inside leg towards the inside of the turn.”

Avoid Using Metaphors

Using clear and direct instructions is more effective than relying on metaphors to explain a concept for the following reasons.

1. Metaphors can be open to interpretation, and what makes sense to one person may not make sense to another. This can lead to confusion or misunderstanding.

2. Metaphors are often imprecise and can oversimplify complex concepts. In coaching, especially in technical or skill-based sports, precise and accurate guidance is essential.

As a coach, when you catch yourself saying, “It’s like…,” pause and consider the physical movements involved in skiing, and strive for clarity and precision in your instructions.

Technique Improvement

Enhance the skiing skills of Masters by implementing the 80/20 Rule, which emphasizes focusing primarily on the turns they performed well.

To gain a deeper understanding of how this rule can accelerate the learning process, refer to the Learn Like Elites and Train with Purpose Learning Modules.

Coach Yourself

This module reviews a structured method for skiers to coach themselves.

Journaling

Maintaining a journal can significantly enhance a racer’s learning and development.