An Interpretive Exploration of Australian Triathlon Coaching Practices: Working Toward Optimal Training Load Practice Within Real-World Contexts

Introduction : This study uses an interpretivist approach to examine and understand triathlon coaching practices as they apply to age group (recreational, nonprofessional) athletes in Australia. It explores how coaches utilize the training load process— prescription, measurement, monitoring, and management—and aspects influencing individual coaching approaches, including contextual factors. Methods : Eight Australian triathlon coaches were interviewed using semistructured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, then coded and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results : Four themes emerged: “Coaching knowledge and training load process,” “Coaching technology-integrated practice,” “Coaches’ interpretation of life load management,” and “Coach–athlete relationship dynamics.” These themes reveal how coaches adapt their practices based on personal experiences, contextual factors, and interactions with athletes, reflecting the complexity of triathlon coaching and highlighting coaches’ continuous learning, technology integration, athlete life load awareness, and communication competency. Discussion : These themes influence coaches’ perceptions of their relationships with their athletes and coaching decisions. Coaches’ knowledge, unique experiences, perspectives, and personal contexts are central to their practice. In deploying their practices and training load processes, coaches must respond to the athletes’ goals, preferences, and life circumstances. Conclusion : In practical terms, understanding these influences will enable coaches to better identify and manage the factors shaping their decisions, leading to more effective and adaptable training strategies. Coaches are then positioned to place greater value in their unique historical contexts but also be aware of the potential biases they may introduce.