Lorrie [00:00:08]:
Telling agility handlers to "just run faster" when they have physical problems that don't allow them to run at all is not a solution. It's time that instructors start thinking about the majority of agility competitors who aren't in their twenties and in tip top shape. Just run faster is not a viable solution for many people who love to play the game. Welcome to the Maximum Fun Agility podcast. I'm Lorrie Reynolds, owner of Maximum Fun Dog Sports. We help both halves of the agility team build their relationships, communication, confidence, and fun in training so that they can joyfully succeed on any course. In this episode, I'll share the story of one of my seminar students and talk about alternatives to the "just run faster" narrative. I got a message from someone who needed help with their agility training.
Lorrie [00:01:03]:
It's not the first time I've heard a similar story, and I'm sure it won't be the last. She went to a "top" instructor for help with her fast border collie. She has a health issue that doesn't allow her to run. After spending a couple of months and a ton of money focusing on a start line the instructor insisted would help, the instructor had only one solution for the handler. She told her to just run faster. Ouch. To say she was disheartened and frustrated would be an understatement. It's time for instructors to face reality.
Lorrie [00:01:39]:
The vast majority of agility participants are not 25 to 30 year old track stars. Take a look around at your next local agility trial. If the fit and under 40 group makes up more than 20% of the people there, I'll be shocked. The 80% are the people who are keeping agility alive and clubs in business. Did you know that about 50% of the adults in the US have a chronic health condition not related to obesity? While it's true that people with serious illnesses or physical limitations are less likely to be drawn to sports, many competitors started agility earlier in life and are too in love with the sport to give it up after they are diagnosed. They need solutions that take their true abilities into account. There is an art to matching students with the right instructors. It's our responsibility to know when a student is a good fit for what they teach and when they aren't.
Lorrie [00:02:39]:
Instructors need to stop taking money from students if they can't help them. The handling systems that emphasize lots of running, complex handling moves, and constant movement are challenging and fun. When they first became popular and I was more able to move, I learned those methods and (mostly) enjoyed them. My Multidimensional Dog seminars blend that type of handling with distance to make the systems more accessible to the average competitor. I love teaching those methods to the students who are able to excel with them. A lot of instructors have adopted these methods for teaching their classes. But those systems aren't the only answer. They aren't even an option for many of the typical agility competitors.
Lorrie [00:03:24]:
There are significant limitations to teaching based on a system rather than based on each team's needs. Instructors need to be honest with students. I can and have coached students to the national level where they've done very well. It's fantastic to see people earn championship titles and place at nationals. Coaching people to that level is fun whether they are able to run or need a different solution. When I get a student who truly has world team aspirations, I am very upfront about how far I am willing to coach them. We can crush things together like foundations, masters level handling, distance, which of course is my favorite, and course analysis, but I honestly don't enjoy the pressure cooker atmosphere of world team level coaching. I want to love what I'm doing, not be stressed by it.
Lorrie [00:04:15]:
When they get to the point that they need more intense coaching, I recommend people I trust to put them on that path. I'd rather refer them out and lose a student than hold someone back from their dreams. How can we support students and do what is best for them? If an instructor has only one teaching method based on a system that requires people to run, they should only be taking on clients who are physically capable of thriving in that system. Telling a student that you can help them, charging them for training that may or may not be related to their issues, and then trying to fit them into a system that doesn't work for them is both unethical and unkind. Round pegs don't fit into square holes. It makes both parties miserable and can turn students off of agility for good. If a student is beyond what an instructor can or wants to teach, the instructor needs to find someone who is a better fit and refer them out. There are instructors who enjoy teaching alternate methods that the student can actually thrive with.
Lorrie [00:05:19]:
It's not about ego or money. It's about not making a student feel like they are "less than" or incapable. It's about letting everyone feel the joy of succeeding with their teammate while they are having fun. It's about kindness and decency. And as professionals, we owe that to whoever we are coaching. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast. If you are interested in teaching agility in a way that meets your needs and you can't "just run faster", join us in The Agility Playground. The Agility Playground is a low-cost membership that meets you where you are on your dog agility journey and helps you propel your team to new heights regardless of your physical abilities.
Lorrie [00:06:08]:
You can check out The Agility Playground and join our community at www.maximumfundogs.com. See you next time.
