Professional Coaching! A missunderstood profession!
INTERACT with the rest of society
In my first blog about the NCCP core competency interacting, i refflected more on the relationships you build with your athlete, administrators and co-workers wich is key to any kind of success in my book. We are human beings first, and everything is build on relationships and interactions.
I decided this time to put my focus this time on this interacting sub category:
- Is aware of how he/she is being received by others
I think that examening external forces and how we are percived as coaches in society is very important for self-estime and over all confidence. we must be aware about who we are and what we do and reflect on our place in society.
As i reflected on this, I came to realize that Coaching is one of the most misunderstood occupations in our society, with the workload, stress and the traveling, the job of a professional coach is highly demanding. There is always also the possibility to be fired at any time or not having your contract renewed for various reasons. It is highly recommended to constantly study and be updated on all latest research and training methods to optimize the performance of athletes at the highest level. A certain psychology, patience and listening ability are essential to being an effective coach, we must manage individualities, a collective, egos, etc.. A good resistance to stress is also necessary. There is also an ungrateful side, one has to be organized, meticulous, work crazy hours , and when the athletes perform well all is great, but when they under-perform or get inconsistant or Bad results, often, all eyes turn towards the coach or coaching staff.
I’m reminded every time i travel that our profession is misunderstood and even underestimated
Typical conversation on the plane or in the airports:
X: “What are you going to do in this or that city ???”
Me: “I will participate in a karate competition as a coach.”
X: “Super, I used to practice a long time ago, it was my favorite pastime
Otherwise WHAT IS YOUR REAL JOB ??? (COLD SHOWER)
In general, already at this level of conversation, I begin to look at my watch.”
ME (grrrrrrrrr inside):” but … calmly I answer, I am a strength and conditioning coach for high level athletes and i have been a karate coach for several years
For the past 20 years, i have been getting certifications, coaching diplomas and going for university degrees just to enhance my craft, this is my full time is my job and the career i chose to do!”
X: “Oh wow ok I understand, we tend to associate coaches with the leisure activities like dads who are coaching volunteers for the soccer team of their sons or daughters. I understand that elite competition is something else, i’m sorry!”
Me:. “Don’t worry this is not the first time, when I travel for the competition, I barely have time to breathe, my time is separated between the hotel and the competition venue. Not to mention the stress of foreseeing the unexpected, to put the athletes under our responsibility in the best possible conditions to perform. We must not forget the endless hours spent on PLANNING the training beforehand, and all the hours of training with the athletes before going to competition, without forgeting the time away from our families etc … It is really Intense at all levels, I have hardly any time to go sightseeing, even if I travel a lot, but this is the job that I have chosen and I am very passionate about it!”
I always make sure my profession is understood and respected! Sometimes I even have this kind of conversation with longtime friends … When I come back from competition, they often swing me: “how was your vacation?” ( Me: GRRRR)
Here is a summary of a Typical Competition Week:
MONDAY:
-Arrival: making sure everyone has arrived (follow the schedules of each person) and
Check-in at the hotel
-Small training
– Rest and recovery
Briefing with the whole team
Logistics of the coming week
TUESDAY;
Training in the morning
Visit of the competition venues – Visualization session
Accreditation and registration for referees and coaches
Sometimes, coaches Written exam
Meeting of coaches with the event manager
Briefing with athletes –
WEDNESDAY
Proclamation of the results of the examinations of coaches or referees
Briefing of referees and coaches
Training with athletes and video analysis session
Supervision of athletes who are at the limit of the weight of their category
THURSDAY:
STRESS RISES AND THE RACE STARTS
Registration, Draw sheets
coach meeting
Meeting with the athletes
FRIDAY:
Qualifiers & Individual kata M and F
Opening ceremony
Finals kata IND M and F Presentation of medals
SATURDAY
The race continues
IND M & F Preliminary & Draft
Lunch if possible / Finals and awards
Coaches meeting
Team meeting
SUNDAY:
Kumite & Kata Team Preliminary events M & F Lunch
Finals and medal ceremonies closing ceremony
Coaches meeting
Team meeting
MONDAY:
Coaches meeting
Team meeting
Airport and headed back to home ( working on coaches final report in the plane or airports)
I work really hard at perfecting my craft and I want to make sure people understand and respect the profession that I love so much and that i take very seriously.
Thank you
Reminder : the Coaching Association of Canada sees coaching as a respected and viable career choice for those who decide to make it their life’s work. We see a sports system centered on the athlete, but directed by the coach. The top professional coach has the highest level of education, experience, competence and ethics in the field of coaching.
Gabe,
Great post! I’ve often pondered about this type of situation as I’ve sometimes encountered it myself (except as an amateur athlete vs. a coach). Most of the time, I just say I’m a student, which I can still get away with for now! However, I have reflected on this and although I do understand the frustrations, I do feel it is sometimes a bit of an ego thing. Perhaps we get misjudged, but how different would it be if we were artists or musicians that made a similar income level? The world is always changing with new careers possible and different ways of making a living. In the end, I probably wouldn’t be frustrated, but a bit sorry for the person asking because they didn’t know such opportunities existed. Perhaps that’s a bit of an entrepreneurial mindset, but aren’t we likely to be a bit of an entrepreneur as well? Possibly a consultant? Deep down, are we just comparing job titles? If so, then is that ultimately an ego thing?
We have the power to control our emotions to the situation, but we cannot control the level of knowledge or understanding of the person asking. Perhaps it can be an opportunity to educate other people about our chosen profession, or even to sell the possibility that something like this is definitely possible. For some people, maybe traveling the world for less money is much better than a 9-5 office job.
It can be our opportunity to promote professional coaching, so of course we would all be frustrated, but can we reverse that frustration and turn it into a possible opportunity!
I’m still waiting for the day to chat someone up who happens to own a company that can sponsor our national team 😛 Maybe someday!
Very good analysis Toby, i think all performing athletes and coaches have that ego thing and in a cut throat high performance field in order to drive yourself to have an edge you need to have an ego specially in combat sport but in a good positive way. Ego is not necessarily negative.
We work really hard at our craft and i can’t help but feeling insulted when people ask me how my vacation was after and exhausting competition and travel.
And yes i think it’s a great opportunity to promote the profession so we could have the chance to land sponsors and get better salaries and respect for our profession, it’s important in my book.
Hi Gabriel,
I am certain all professional coaches will know this story well. Like most things we only understand the professional circles we are part of. It is hard for people to understand a world like that of a professional coach when it is so far from what they know. When we need a vacation from our pastime it is no longer a pastime.
Perhaps the best answer to “what do you do” is to start with “I am a professional coach” and then build from their if they are interested.
When we need a vacation from our pastime it is no longer a pastime.
I like this phrase Mike, you are absolutely spot on on this one!
Thank you for your advice on starting a conversation! It makes a lot of sense
Hey Gabe
I fully understand your feelings in this post. We coaches are massively underestimated and under valued. It is always fun for me to tell people I am a gymnastics coach as well. You can imagine the jokes that usually follow.
Thank you for the post.
I love calling coaching a “craft,” it feels passionate and intricate, just like coaching.
All the best,
Jesse
Hi Jesse, most folks have no idea How demanding it is to be a gymnastic Coach!
I have a lot of respect for your sport. Keep setting the record straight
CRAFT is the WORD! I like it!
Gabriel, we tackled this topic at our annual High Performance Coach Advance at CSI Pacific. We had some great discussions about coach pathways and career development. We had Andy Van and Shaunna presenting as well as an excellent presentation by Donna Harris who has investigated olympic and world championship coaches to better understand why they are so driven to coach.
This of course is an area that really drives me everyday. I long for the day that coaches will be given the respect they deserve.
Keep up the great work Gabriel, it’s not easy to be a coach but you do make it fun and achievable.
I will alway be grateful for your time with me and my students.