By Ted Robinson, TAB Franchisee, Birmingham
My passion started on the sidelines. Like a lot of parents, I was taking my sports-mad daughter to training sessions, week in and week out. One day I thought, “I’m here anyway — why not get involved?” So, I started helping out. First as a parent volunteer, then as an Assistant Coach, then Coach, and eventually all the way through to Event Group Coach, which is the top tier of athletics coaching in the UK.
A fair bit of training, studying and exams have happened between then and now. But it’s been worth every minute.
I coach sprints and hurdles, and I absolutely love it. It gives me balance. Business is demanding, and like every business leader, I work hard. Coaching lets me step into a different space — one where I give back, switch gears and see people push themselves to achieve more than they thought they could.
It’s not about creating the next Olympian. It’s about helping each young athlete deliver their personal best. And I mean that in the truest sense. The raw talent varies, but the joy they feel when they beat their own time, when they hit a PB, when the hard work pays off — there’s nothing quite like it. It’s uplifting, every single time.
What I didn’t expect when I started this journey was how much coaching on the track would feed into how I coach in business.
Working with young athletes teaches you a lot about communication, trust and motivation. You have to get to know people properly. What makes them tick. What helps them bounce back when things don’t go to plan. And let’s be honest, in both sport and business, things don’t go to plan. Bad sessions, injuries, missed targets, someone else having a better day than you, it happens.
So, the question is, how do you respond?
Sometimes, you just need to double down and do the basics better. Other times, you need to change your approach completely. It’s about knowing the difference. That same mindset carries over into my work with TAB members. Whether it’s setting goals, adjusting strategy or supporting them through the tough bits, the parallels are everywhere.
At the end of every season, I sit down with each of the athletes I coach, and we set goals for the year ahead. Then we create a training strategy to help them get there.
We look at what’s working and what’s not. We talk through setbacks. We get clear on where they’re heading. It’s structured, but never rigid. We adapt to what’s happening in real time. We listen. And we bring in other perspectives.
I’m lucky to be surrounded by a brilliant coaching team — other Coaches and Assistant Coaches who bring their own strengths and experience. We bounce ideas around constantly. That collaboration is key. You might be the one making the decisions, but you’re always learning from the people around you.
Sound familiar?
Training can be tough, especially in the winter when it’s cold, dark and everyone’s tired. But what always strikes me is how the group supports each other. They push each other. They celebrate each other. They turn up.
And whether it’s an athlete winning a County Championship, reaching a National final or just running faster than they did last year, that progress is always worth it. It reminds me why I do it.
I get just as much satisfaction watching a young athlete smash their personal best as I do helping a business owner finally step back from the day-to-day and see their business thrive without them in the middle of everything. Both take commitment. Both take strategy. And both are deeply rewarding.
If there’s one thing I’d want someone to take from this, it’s that talent on its own won’t get you where you want to be. In sport, in business, in life — you need a plan. You need a strategy. You need people around you to challenge and support you. And you need to stay open. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
Whatever your passion is, make time for it. You’ll come back sharper, clearer and stronger. And you might just help someone else along the way.
