So... I want to be a coach.

[Fuzzy]

Ok.. me and my dad just had a very big talk, well make it a big argument.

Heres a question though.

If your son told you that he wanted to be a sports med, and more specifically a strength and conditioning coach, I guess most parents would be pretty happy with that, right?

wrong... the crazy old coot launched into a massive explination of how there is no money, and its all controlled by the top dogs.

But now im kinda worried to, will I get a job as a coach becasue Im good, or because I know the right people?

(forgive me, Im gonna ramble a bit)

\My plan has always been to come back to my high school as head sporting coach, take out every machine, fill that whole room up with squat racks, and create unbeatable football teams, and champion rowing crews, Ive thought about it alot, and Im glad I stareted this this as a teen, because when I coach teens as an adult, I can remember what it was like.

Plus, going to a private school like mine, the numbers arent massive, we dont have a huge number of natural athletes, yet our 1st 8 rowing crew. with the average hight of barely 5'10 came a close second at nationals against crews with much larger boys. Why? Because the school has invested alot in quality boats, equipment and training... however, I beleive with a real weight train regime, the school can make up for it lack of numbers with the best quality. (there is a nice weights room.. but dont get me started about the training in there...)

Now, the point of that is... coming back to the school, Il be in command of alot of young athletes, serious athletes (half these boys are on sporting scholarships and their future depends on them being good) Say I have 25 teens squatting 4 plates, 30 benching 3... the question is, is that what i would put on a resume.

I dont intend to always stay at the school, I want to move into training proffessional athletes at sporting clubs, be it rowing, footy, or whatever.

But... how do I get there? If I had young athletes doing that, then obviously I must be good right?

But would a club hire me? What is a club or intisitution looking for when they hire a coach. What will get me the job?

I met the strength coach of one of the top football teams (this is Australian rules btw) well... I wasnt impressed, form what I could tell he basically set them loose in a gym for a few hours and let them just lift things. He was also confused when I asked him if he had ever used Bill Starr 5x5? and sneered at me when I asked if his athletes were doing power cleans. From what I know hes the great niece of the owner... not a discredit to the team, the Adelaide Crowsa are damn good... but I think thats due to their heavy fitness work, and just bneing damn good with a ball. But real weight training could be the difference...

Is some dumb idiot like this going to get the job? Or is someone who wants to spend his life making athletes exceed gonna get it?

Sorry for the long post, but soon I need to ente rin my year 11 and 12 subject choices, I need to knwo were the hell Im going, and have atleast a rough plan of were I could end up.

[Isaac Wilkins]

In the United States the college and pro S&C programs are very much a "who you know" game. Most head coaches have a very particular philosophy and only hire those who follow the same philosophy. As a result they often only hire people that their buddies in the community send their way, or former graduates of their school.

If you were in the US I'd say go for it, but pick a good program in college and make sure you do internships at quality facilities. Utilize the people you meet in those internships to get jobs. If it works the same way down under, then follow that advice.

Results matter, but no one cares how strong an athlete is in the weight room. S&C coaches need to keep that in mind. Let's say I have a talented running back who squats 550. Great. Would they really be a better player if I brought their squat up to 600? Maybe. Maybe not. Does it sound cool to say that I took their squat to 600? Yep. But if that player performs worse on the field, then I've failed in my job. They may actually be a better player if they lost ten pounds of body weight and their squat went DOWN to 500. Depending on the player, you don't know. So to say that you have XXX kids squatting 400 and YYY kids benching 300 COULD be a sign of a good program, or it might be a sign of an S&C coach who cares more for his numbers than his program.

And power cleans are completely unnecessary to build great athletes. In many cases there are strong arguments against using them. They can work beautifully with certain applications, and they can certainly ruin a program, too. It's just an exercise. Look for the training effect rather than the exercise.

[Fuzzy]

Thanks you.. that was great.

I giess it is the who you knwo game, but its going to be the relations Id build as an intern yes?

mm, food for thought.

[smokinHawk]

id say about 60% of my graduating class said they were going to go into sports med related feild, well none that I know of actually did, a few got their degree in it, but las i heard they were working at bob evans cause there is no demand for it.

[phreak]

it also depends on the bigger picture. What do you want? Do you want to train people yourself, or do you want to provide the facilities for others to train athletes? The first one can be more fulfilling from a personal point of view. On a larger scale, the second option potentially helps more people.

From a personal perspective: I have coached people (PLers and otherwise) in the past. Demanding but fulfilling work. But now that I am in management (not at all lifting related) I am aware of how much I can change for the better. Not just for individuals, but for whole groups of people.

So think about what you want to achieve, not only for yourself but for others too. If you love coaching and you think you have a shot getting into the old boys network: go for it! If not, then management is great to have as an alternative. Become the manager who hires the people who hire coaches, and you can change things from that angle.

[Sensei]

If you were in the US I'd say go for it, but pick a good program in college and make sure you do internships at quality facilities. Utilize the people you meet in those internships to get jobs. If it works the same way down under, then follow that advice.

I would also add that when you are interning or speaking w. working S&C coaches, don't be so quick to judge their methods. Working w. 100+ athletes and multiple teams is much different than working w. a few clients or a single team. You can learn a lot from even the guys you might think, at first glance, aren't so hot...

[Fuzzy]

Thanks so mcuh everyone this is great.

I want to coach, its that simple, the kick I get out of taking the begginer crews and coaching is insane, I love doing it.

[Clifford Gillmore]

Which club was this at Fuzzy?

[Invain]

From what I know hes the great niece of the owner...

I know, I know, I'm picky, but: Niece = girl.

Anyways, Fuzzy, I'm not quite sure what you meen when you say 'club'. You mention intisitutions, so I assume your talking about someday coaching at a college or something similar? And you also talk about being a strength and conditioning coach. Can you really just be a "strength" coah? Or would you end up instead being a coach for a football or rowing team.

[Isaac Wilkins]

I know, I know, I'm picky, but: Niece = girl.

Anyways, Fuzzy, I'm not quite sure what you meen when you say 'club'. You mention intisitutions, so I assume your talking about someday coaching at a college or something similar? And you also talk about being a strength and conditioning coach. Can you really just be a "strength" coah? Or would you end up instead being a coach for a football or rowing team.

It's fairly common now for high level athletic teams/institutions to have dedicated S&C coaches.

Here in the states all (or 99%) of Division I schools have full-time strength coaches, and many Division II and III schools do as well. A larger and larger number of high schools are bringing in strength professionals, too.

[Detard]

I actually just talked to my strength coaches at school about where I can go after next year. Basically they said if you want to get into the training field, start our in a gym and build a client base (when your 18 and work as a PT through uni or college) then once you have the schooling you can make some great money doing it privately.

I would love to one day be a strength/conditioning coach for a pro sports team and help guys rehab through their injuries (preferrably pro hockey teams). My coaches said to check out the university websites for programs that interest me (general phys ed they said) and then take a trip down to the school and talk to the head of the programs to get some idea of if its what you want to do in the future. They can also help to guide you through the rest of highschool in terms of what courses to take, pre requirements..etc.

[KingWilder]

you're only 14

[Jorge Sanchez]

Didn't you decide what you wanted to do for the rest of your life at 14?

[Sidior]

Didn't you decide what you wanted to do for the rest of your life at 14?

yup pornstar, but a little later I realized that was going to be a problem

[Fuzzy]

Didn't you decide what you wanted to do for the rest of your life at 14?

I know, im not saying I wont change... but Ive never been into something for this long and seriously.

Regardless, I have to start thinking about it now, subject choices ae due soon, and I need to have bases covered.

[Jorge Sanchez]

I know, im not saying I wont change... but Ive never been into something for this long and seriously.

Regardless, I have to start thinking about it now, subject choices ae due soon, and I need to have bases covered.

Ya I know, I had to do the same thing. I think it's ridiculous that you have to start deciding your path in life at such a young age. I still don't know what I want to do and I'm about to graduate from university.

It's good that you're so passionate about something.

[Jorge Sanchez]

yup pornstar, but a little later I realized that was going to be a problem

Ya, they said I wasn't big enough either.

[Detard]

Ya I know, I had to do the same thing. I think it's ridiculous that you have to start deciding your path in life at such a young age. I still don't know what I want to do and I'm about to graduate from university.

It's good that you're so passionate about something.

agreed. I am only 16 and I have to pick courses for next year and make sure that I have the pre requisites for uni. But how can I do that if i'm not sure what I wanna go into.

[bigmoney]

when you talk of sports medicine......to me that generally means goin to med school and possibly becoming a Orthopedist or something of that nature. Is that what you're talking about?

[Clifford Gillmore]

Which club and which coach did you talk to Fuzzy?

[dblockspky]

Sports medicine and strenght and conditioning are two completely different things just so you know. If you intend on getting a degree in sports medicine you will spend a decent amount of time in graduate school for whatever you want to specialize in. Don't quote me on this but srength and conditioning is not as serious and you don't even necessarily need a college education as much as you would need to be accredited for that field. As far as coaching at a school or training school athletes there isn't a lot of money in it. More often than not you'll get paid less than a teacher which isn't very good over here. The only way to maybe make a decent salary of it is to be a teacher and also coach a team, or maybe be an athletic director and coach a team. Like mentioned above if you want to to be a really good career it's mostly about who you know. You may be as good as any strength and conditioning coach for a professional team but the chancees of you getting a job of that magnitude with no connections is slim.

[nhlfan]

as far as the money issue goes, if you work hard enough and become the owner of your own business or chain of businesses, you can make good money. it's the same in any career path.

that said, it doesn't hurt to have a backup plan either. get a degree in physiotherapy and specialize in sports medicine or something.

[Stumprrp]

same idea fuzz, i want to be a coach too, cept i dont have much of a backup plan aside from training at the conventional gym, where i plan on starting. My backup plan is probley pretty much a competitive powerlifter.