Trust the Coach, Trust the Process

The Role of Parents in Shaping a Child’s Future as a Competitive Sailor:

In the world of competitive sailing, especially here in Mumbai where the sport is gaining ground, the relationship between parents, coaches, and young sailors is crucial. While the coaches guide the sailors through technical skills and mental conditioning, the parents play an equally important role in shaping how a child approaches the sport. However, when parents focus too much on short-term results, it can derail the long-term growth of their child as a sailor. An example from my coaching experience highlights this challenge.

The Pursuit of Instant Results: An Anecdote

We once worked with a talented young sailor from Mumbai—let's call her Deeksha. She was part of our year-round training program at Mandwa, where we focused on building a strong foundation. Deeksha had the potential to become a top competitor, with great instincts on the water and a natural feel for wind and balance. But like many young sailors, she needed time to develop racing strategies, learn to manage race-day stress, and hone the nuances of competitive sailing.

However, her parents were laser-focused on immediate results. They wanted her to place in every regatta she entered, constantly asking, "Why isn't she winning?" This pressure became a heavy burden on Deeksha. Instead of focusing on long-term skill development, the emphasis shifted to short-term wins. Her training sessions became more about hitting performance markers than mastering the essentials—like starting well, reading shifts, and managing race tactics. Her parents would frequently intervene, suggesting changes to her practice regime or urging her to push harder, despite the coach’s carefully designed plan to build a solid foundation.

The lack of trust in the process began to wear on Deeksha. She became anxious before races, often second-guessing her decisions on the water because she wasn’t racing for herself anymore—she was racing for her parents' approval. When it came to peak performance events, like the Nationals, she struggled. She’d start strong, but the pressure would catch up, and she’d lose focus, often finishing far below her potential. In the heat of competition, the mental side of the game is everything, and Deeksha's nerves got the better of her.

The tragedy was that the results her parents desperately wanted weren’t coming because they hadn’t trusted the coach to focus on the basics. Deeksha needed time to mature as a sailor, to trust her instincts, and to learn how to perform under pressure. But the constant push for instant success left her unable to develop that confidence. By the time the big races came around, she didn’t have the mental resilience to perform at her best.

The Importance of Trusting the Coach

This story isn't uncommon. Many parents, with the best intentions, focus too much on short-term goals like winning regattas or beating certain competitors. However, competitive sailing—like any high-performance sport—is a long game. It takes time to build the mental and physical endurance required for a sailor to consistently perform at a high level.

Coaches, especially those with experience, understand this. They craft training programs that prioritize long-term growth over short-term victories. In the beginning stages, a coach might focus more on drills, maneuvers, and mental conditioning than racing results. This is because these foundational elements are what ultimately make a great sailor, not just a good one. It's like building a skyscraper—you need a strong foundation before you can soar to new heights.

When parents don’t trust the process, it affects the child. If a parent questions the coach’s methods or focuses solely on results, the child picks up on that lack of confidence. This makes it difficult for the child to fully invest in the training program. In Deeksha’s case, the constant questioning of the coach’s decisions led her to doubt the very people responsible for her development. She wasn’t able to recover her confidence and trust in the coach, which meant that she couldn’t perform at her best.

Building Great Sailors: The Mumbai Perspective

Mumbai’s sailing scene is growing, and we’re seeing many parents eager to get their children involved in this exciting sport. With initiatives like those at various clubs, many kids are getting opportunities to train at great venues and race in prestigious events. But sailing is as much about mental strength as it is about physical skill, especially in competitive environments.

As a parent, your role is to support the process. Results will come, but they may take time. The best way to help your child is to trust the coach’s vision, especially when they are experienced in building world-class sailors. It’s not about pushing your child to win today; it’s about preparing them to win in the future, with the right skills and mindset.

Supporting the Long-Term Goal

If you find yourself constantly asking, "Why isn’t my child winning?" consider reframing that question. Ask instead, "Is my child learning the skills that will make them a great sailor in the long run?" Trust that with the right coaching, your child will not only become a better sailor but also develop the mental fortitude to handle the pressures of competition.

Winning regattas is great, but becoming a skilled, confident sailor who can perform at their peak is the true victory. Every time, the child gets a good results and is excessively The defense mechanism that the child develops results in them making excuses to justify why they didn’t perform.

In Mumbai’s competitive sailing environment, the kids who excel are the ones whose parents and coaches work together, focusing on long-term growth rather than short-term success.