Summary: <br> Ever wondered what it is like to have a Chinese Olympic Experience...and then get interrupted by a global pandemic/<br> <br> <br> <br> Adam Stoyanoff joins <a href="JCiecko@bloomfield.org">John Ciecko</a> to share his odd path to working with the Olympic kayaking team of China.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Where did Adam get his start?<br> <br> <br> <br> I have been fortunate to observe and be part of many different things...some may seem wrong, but that is a closed-off perspective.<br> <br> <br> <br> Assistant coaching at Boling Green University for 3 years - spent time with all sports<br> <br> <br> <br> Worked with local high schools as a contract S&C coach<br> <br> <br> <br> Then went out on his own as an independent contractor with 2 high schools and college.<br> <br> <br> <br> This increased his diversity and ability to adapt his skills.<br> <br> <br> <br> Then went to Boston to lead an afterschool program for 2-5th graders - larget challenge as you have to keep changing to keep them interested.<br> <br> <br> <br> Learned it was important to keep contact and build relationships with parents so the kids and parents are doing and talking about the same thing.<br> <br> <br> <br> Next job was to Dallas, Texas<br> <br> <br> <br> Opened his eyes to see “there is always a reason why”<br> <br> <br> <br> Did not spend his life thinking “How can I build my resume?”<br> <br> <br> <br> He got a phone call from the Chinese canoe association that was training in Waco, about 1-2 hours from Dallas. That lead to him becoming a coach more than a coordinator.<br> <br> <br> <br> Juataga Portugal was their training site and also made the canoes they were using.<br> <br> <br> <br> Lived on the training compound with the athletes<br> <br> <br> <br> More about his Chinese Olympic Experience<br> <br> <br> <br> Coaching vs coordinating<br> <br> <br> <br> Coordinating is more like the AD role - dealing with all of the wants and needs<br> <br> <br> <br> It will stress your relationship building skills<br> <br> <br> <br> As the coordinator, you are in a service position and making sure everyone has everything they need and want.<br> <br> <br> <br> “Rocky 4 was a documentary right?” - John Ciecko<br> <br> <br> <br> But really that is what life is like, someone is always watching you and videotaping<br> <br> <br> <br> You should always act as if there is a camera on you. Even in your moments of weakness.<br> <br> <br> <br> “What are you doing when nobody is looking - definition of Integrity”<br> <br> <br> <br> You have to stop, observe and listen to understand why a person may be acting a certain way<br> <br> <br> <br> Chinese athletes are taken out of school at 12-13 years old to be an athlete.<br> <br> <br> <br> Lessons Learned<br> <br> <br> <br> The coaches who are and were doing well put their ego aside and were there to serve and help.<br> <br> <br> <br> Calm and stillness with a few deep breathe<br> <br> <br> <br> Do not take it personally when a Serbian coach yells at you for setting a plate down to loud and disturbing their athlete.<br> <br> <br> <br> He was working with professional athletes...professional kayakers who wee making millions<br> <br> <br> <br> I can get you that info, I need to find the best way to get that to you safely.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> https://www.facebook.com/sportsmedicinebroadcast/videos/1126643737710753/<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Contact Us<br> <br> <br> <br> Adam - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/adam_stoyanoff/">Instagram</a><br> <br> <br> <br> John - <a href="http://www.twitter.com/johnciecko" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>
