We listen to the woman who jeopardized Jeremiah Azu about the joys and challenges of being educated
Helen James is more than three decades, which recently ruled Jeremiah Azu, which he trained from 16 to the world and 60 m gold. Namons started to be infected with the 60m of the 60m of the former Wales and the national age team, James started to run in the primary school and continued during his school years. His parents emigrated to New Zealand when he was 12 years old, returning to the United Kingdom two years later, and during that time he gained 100 m. Especially strong inside, he has 60 m individual resources 7.8, which came to Raf Stanni in the early 1970s.
How did you enter coaching?
I went into training through my children (two daughters). They both competed at school and they really were doing well, so I took them out to join Cardiff. I knew a lot of people where I was running years ago and my love soon returned to athletics love.
I started a team manager and I jumped at the deep end when I had to organize two buses to go to a few days’ notice. I frightened it because I thought. “Can I actually do it?” But we did and we really did well. After that, someone suggested that I should be involved in coaching and I do it since then.
When I started training, I was crushing the work and family, so it was really full. Now that I retire is a little easier.
Cardiff coaches worked together. After that, there was a large group of us, so one coach would write the training plans, and the rest will help us. I remember one gentleman, saying to me. After that, the group was divided, and we all ended with our athletes. I think that these words were just in my head, and I thought. “I can do it.”
Who has been your greatest coaching effect?
I have known and learned from many coaches over the years. James Hills (Former high-quality Britician Athletics coach, head coach of the high-quality Athletics center of India), as well as in the High Quality Center of India), as well as Adrian Thomas, who coached my son-in-law Rice Williams (team GB Olympic). I studied a lot from the last Dave Williams in Cardiff.
Adrian and I actually combined our groups, and we will gather Merthyr Mawr sand reservoir hills near Bridgend. Athletes have love-hate with Merthyr Mawr. They love to go there, they just don’t like how they feel after that.
I just like to watch the various sessions leading the coaches, and if I think “I like that one”, I would spoil it with my own ideas.
How would you describe your coaching style?
I think I’m quite friendly and available but I want all my athletes to win. I know it looks a little insane, but I train them to win.
Everyone’s “win” and everyone’s success is different. For some athletes that can be personal best, it can be a circle choice or international choice for others. Everyone has a different level of acquisition and if they work hard, it must be specified. I just like to see the children do the best.
It’s not only about hard work and training, and it also refers to the preparation of a social aspect and friends. Together with the bus to work the companion to compete and depend on the day together. It is supposed to be fun.
What do you say are the characteristics of a good coach?
Understanding your athletes and having a good relationship with them is really important. Your athletes need to know what they expect from you and have confidence to ask you anything. For example, if they have problems they want to know you can help them sort them. I like to watch as someone who first takes care of the athlete.
Do you train a large group of athletes? How do you manage it?
With difficulty. However, I am not the only coach in the group. I have other coaches who work with me and they are all very knowledgeable, so we all have access to control, especially supervising courses. There are a few days when we will stay in one group about five different courses, so it can be difficult, but we really work together well together. I train mostly in the evening, but I’m lucky to retire now so I can train in the morning.
I think you should try and talk to everyone, pay attention to everyone. We treat our athletes like a family, because we spend quite a lot of time with them, and we are interested in what they are doing outside the athletes and beyond the path. Also, if I run children in the National League (NAL), I will always help support if I can.
I don’t think I have never missed the road (AZU) for the years. I never imagined to go to China (world of Athletics Championships) but I would not miss anything.
Jeremiah is a great example of your career since the beginning of your career. How does finding young talent feel?
As meek, it took me a lot from the beginning to convince him that he came to the club, but I am very happy to have persevered. I now have another young athletic. He was with me for a year, he is special, he gains everything. At first, it was his brother who came to me, and I would not usually take young athletes. Anyway not as young as he, because I came as a package.
Detecting talent is interesting for the coach. Now the young athlete is growing very much, but it was the same with Jezz. He entered a 16-year-old who had never actually been nominated, except for school competitions.
To watch him for years, there are other athletes who have been with me for a long time, so to watch them in really good athletes and are really good people.
However, it is not always easy. When Yez decided to move to Marco (2022 coach Marko plane). I was clearly upset, I wouldn’t deny it, but I was waiting for it. I realized why he wanted to go, because in fact, at that age, children want to try different things and follow their dreams. My children both went and brought your children to fly the nest, wasn’t you? I just wished him all the best, and there were no heavy feelings.
When he returned, he descended us to see, and he finally began to step back at the odd session. It was easy to pass, there were no problems. He just bent training as he did before he left. It was like he was never far away.
What is the best advice you will give a new or aspiring coach?
Work with the first coaches first and learn how to train and how to treat people. Treat everyone as they are worth treating. Also, when you train, everyone has their own goals and dreams. It is important that you encourage your athletes to follow their dreams, but most importantly, enjoy what they do.
