A
change that I have seen over the years is a transition from the generalist coaches of my generation
to the specialist coaches of today. I am not sure this is a positive trend. If
I have choice of hiring a coach I will always lean toward the generalist. I know
most of my colleagues, the ones that I lean on the heaviest, are consummate generalists.
Certainly the coaches that changed training and changed their sports, Bill
Bowerman in Track & Field and Doc Councilman in swimming were generalists. The generalist has the ability
to:
To make
connections among seemingly unrelated information.For the generalist it is not the
links, but the linkages that make the system.The specialists focus on the links,
generalists can stand back and see, in the bigger, "holistic"
picture, how they work together.
I
made the choice to be a generalist 40 plus years ago. Certainly no regrets on
that choice, it allowed me to better understand movement and all the permutations.
I would urge those of you who are early in your careers to look at this option,
it is more FUNdamental, there is never a dull moment because rather being hung up on minutiae
your are constantly making connections. Those connections translate into results.
Will Kirousis
Is this trend, mirroring the trend in Healthcare and other settings where specialization is becoming more and more prevalent?
I try to challenge myself to be a generalist – and admit, it’s an uphill battle at times. I’m lucky to have a colleague who is amazing with it and can push me to keep working.
Guruism leads here as well I suspect. Realatively easy to “sound” or even be impressive with knowledge of a specific area… Being able to see the connections between areas… much more difficult!