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Raise Your Game: You coached the gold medal-winning Olympic relay team. How did you feel when they won?

Steve Perks: Very pleased. It meant that our hard work had come to fruition. The American team is so strong that many people said it was a case of all the other teams chasing the silver or bronze. But we showed that team work can overcome obstacles. Anything can happen in a relay if you work together over a number of years.

RYG: So how do you encourage your squad to work together?

SP: Team work doesn't come overnight. It happens over the long-term. You've got to understand others' strengths and weaknesses. I've been involved for 12 years. At first, I was in charge of the British Junior team, and evolved and progressed with many of them to the Senior team. I've been with them for 2 Olympics. I took a team of 12 to Sydney and 8 to Athens.

We have lots of practical sessions, and everyone is given a task to do. Two will be running with a baton and the rest of the team will watch for certain things.

We'll then sit down together as a group for a discussion. We'll look at camera footage and feedback will be provided by me and the other athletes. So with team work we're hitting all sorts of areas, using all sorts of strands of communication.

When athletes don't come together as a squad they're competitive as individuals because standards are very high to get into the squad and get onto the world stage. But the squad worked well together.

There was a good feeling amongst them all - not just the four that ran. They all depend on each other and the four appreciated the work that the others did.

RYG: How important is communication in coaching?

SP: Without proper communication no progress can be made - it's as simple as that. There are different characters within the squad. Some may be quiet so have to be approached and asked for their thoughts, whereas others are ready to give their opinions. As coach, you have to make sure that they don't take over.

You also need communication skills to talk to the athletes and tell them what you're asking of them in a way they understand.

For example, when they're stretching, you need to be able to explain what they should be feeling and if it's not working they need to be able to tell you. Without two-way communication you'll drive people into the ground.

RYG: How did you fit the Olympic coaching in with your role as a teacher and as coach for the Carmarthen Harriers?

SP: I'll probably look back in a few years and wonder how on earth I did it! I had good support from my family and would try and go on holiday before or after championships or take work with me to do around the athletics.

You have to put everything in its proper context. Sometimes you have to say 'no I can't do that' because other tasks are pressing.

RYG: What's next for you?

SP: I retired from Olympic coaching because I wanted to give someone else a chance. They'll need a good number of years to prepare properly.

I've only been head teacher at Brecon High School for a couple of months. Before that I was deputy at another school. I need to give more time to this job because it's my career and takes precedence now. I want to do it as well as I conceivably can.

I've been coaching the Carmarthen Harriers for about 25 years. That's where I started and developed, but now I can concentrate on them again. I want to make sure the athletes fulfil their potential, whether they get to international or county level. That gives me as much pleasure as anything else because it shows that all the hard work has paid off.