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Coaching in Australia is moving from
a voluntary activity to an emerging occupation. There are a small but increasing number of
full-time positions for professional coaches, particularly in sports like gymnastics,
golf, tennis, swimming, football codes and others. Additionally, opportunities for
employment of coaches in other sports are improving. However,
currently there are few full-time well paid positions for coaches. Most coaches are
employed part-time or on a voluntary basis with amateur sports groups. Part-time coaches
also work in places like sporting retailers, health and fitness centres, or as
administrators in sporting organisations.
Is a career in coaching for you_
Coaching can be a rewarding experience, but consider the
following before you pursue a career in coaching:
Advantages
- Promoting enjoyment of and participating in sport
- Prestigious and highly visible position
- A range of responsibilities
- Develop and use a range of skills
- Close relationships with athletes
- Helping athletes to achieve their goals
- Continuing involvement in sport
Be aware of
- Lack of jobs available
- Lack of job security
- Sometimes a heavy schedule and long hours
- Pressure to succeed
Skills needed
- Leadership
- Good communication skills in the sports environment
- Specific technical knowledge of the sport, experience in the
sport and in some sports, playing or demonstrating proficiency
- Knowledge and understanding of the physical, technical, tactical
and psychological demands of the sport and their sequential development
- Working knowledge of sports science, including anatomy, growth
and development, sports physiology, training principles, sports psychology, nutrition and
biomechanics
- Planning, organisational and time management skills
- Ability to encourage, inspire and motivate
- Ability to relate to what the athletes have to do
- Knowledge of developmental needs of the athlete
- Patience and dedication
- Knowing when to be a coach, a parent, a psychologist or just a
friend
- Being innovative and open-minded
- Ability to manage yourself and coordinate other personnel
including assistant coaches, conditioning coaches, psychologists, masseurs, sport medicine
people and others who may have input into a successful coaching program
- Teaching ability and knowledge of the skill acquisition process
- Observation and analysis skills
Education and training
- Post-secondary qualifications desirable
- Registration as a coach essential
- On the job training with a senior coach is important in
developing the art of coaching
Sports Coach – Job Description
Sports Coaches are responsible for training athletes in a sport
by analysing their performances, instructing in relevant skills, designing training
programs to improve physical capacities, skills and tactics, and providing feedback and
encouragement during games/competitions. Sports coaches usually specialise in a particular
sport. The degree of personal proficiency required to coach a sport varies widely.
Sports coaches may perform the following tasks:
- Observe individuals’ performances to determine the level of
instruction required
- Teach techniques for the player to acquire additional skills or
improve existing skills
- Supervise practice sessions
- Plan training programs
- Supervise the physical development of athletes
- Organise and liaise with sports science support staff
- Arrange individuals’ entries into competitions
- Plan and direct game strategy, sometimes in consultation with
club officials
- Analyse the progress of games or competitions and give signals
and instructions to players
- Carry out an after-competition analysis of performance and
evaluate strategy and performance
- Undertake related administrative tasks such as venue bookings,
tour organisation and budgeting
- Recruit players and other coaching staff.
Sports coaches must possess the following:
- A thorough understanding of your sport
- Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of the developmental needs of the athletes
- Enthusiasm, discipline and dedication
- Flexibility and innovation
- Ability to travel and to work long hours, including evenings and
weekends
Where are Coaches Employed_
There are limited full time positions for professional sports
coaches. Full or part-time coaches may be employed by:
- Government institutions such as the Australian Institute of Sport
(AIS), and State or regional Institutes/Academies of Sport
- National or State sporting organisations
- Some coaches run their own coaching business. This is common in
sports like tennis, swimming, equestrian and golf
- Sport clubs: Football clubs, Gymnastic clubs, YMCA’s Youth
Clubs etc
- Holiday resorts or sports centres eg multi-sport centres, swim
centres, tennis centres, golf clubs.
Sports clubs and centres and holiday resorts are the largest
part-time employers of sports coaches in Australia. Many sports also have coaching
directors or development officers who are responsible for co-ordinating the many part-time
and voluntary coaches who contribute to the sport or club.
W hat
makes a Successful Coach_
- Proficiency in the sport
- Good interpersonal skills
- Appreciation of the developmental needs of young athletes
- Enthusiasm and a strong interest in sport
- A high level of physical fitness, discipline and dedication
- Possibly, a previous career as an accomplished sports person,
although this does not guarantee success as a coach.
Coaching is a very interesting and varied occupation. Successful
coaches are those who learn new skills, are flexible when change is needed, can accept
constructive criticism, and can evaluate themselves. They relate well to people.
Coach’s employment contract
– a sample
It is difficult to provide a generic employment contract that
will provide a solution for all circumstances. However, the following sample employment
contract is a start. This contract provides the basics for the employment of a coach.
A word of warning, however, is that you should check that each
clause of the contract meets your needs. If you do make an alternative, you should ensure
that the whole context of the contract still achieves what you want it to.
Further, the draft contract does not deal with confidentiality,
ownership of any coaching resources created by the coach or restraint of trade. If these
are important issues for you or your club, you should seek out legal advice to draft
appropriate clauses.
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