If you spend enough time in coaching circles, you'll notice a trend. Coaches who want to be taken seriously talk a lot about reading research. They cite studies, debate over data, and throw around phrases like "evidence-based practice."
None of that is bad. In fact, understanding research is valuable. But there's a big difference between knowing what a study says and actually being able to coach a real person. And that’s where critical thinking comes in.
Coaching Is More Than Data
Research gives us insights, but it rarely hands us ready-made solutions. Studies focus on controlled environments, testing a specific variable under specific conditions. Athletes don’t live in a controlled environment. They bring individual histories, stressors, and unique responses to training.
A study might say a certain strength routine improves running economy. But what if your athlete hates lifting? What if they have an injury history that makes traditional weight training painful? Critical thinking helps you take that research, combine it with everything else you know, and create an approach that actually works for the person in front of you.
Research Doesn’t Always Agree With Itself
One week, a study claims high mileage is key to endurance performance. The next, a new paper argues that polarized training is the best approach. Two well-designed studies can have conflicting results, and neither may fully capture the needs of your athletes.
Coaches who rely only on research can get caught in a loop of chasing the latest findings instead of developing a deep understanding of training principles. Critical thinking helps you step back and ask: What makes sense? What aligns with the bigger picture? What actually works in practice?
Athletes Need Coaches, Not Scientists
Most athletes don’t care about PubMed links or peer-reviewed journals. They care about progress. They need a coach who can take complex ideas and make them practical, who can adjust when life gets messy, and who can explain things in a way that makes sense.
Reading research is a skill. But being able to think critically, analyze different sources of information, and make sound coaching decisions is what separates great coaches from those who just repeat what they’ve read.
The best coaching isn’t about memorizing data. It’s about seeing patterns, understanding context, and making informed choices that help athletes thrive. That comes from thinking, not just reading.