Coaching – The Management Function

Coaching is so much more than writing workout. I was reminded of this again this week when I started working with the Sarasota Exiles Rugby club. With out managing the workout properly a great workout can quickly turn into chaos. To be the best you must go the extra mile and do things other people cannot be bothered with, the areas of coaching management are often neglected.There are three realms of coaching management:

1) Training session Management – This is managing the structure and implementation of each and every training session. I know personally I spend up to 40 minutes before certain workouts setting up and making sure all equipment is working, everything is where is it needs to be. All personnel need to clearly know their responsibilities. Everyone must have a copy of the workout with everything detailed as to time segments, responsibilities etc.

2) Injury Management – Unfortunately athletes at all levels get hurt, as Athletic Development coaches we must learn to help those athletes manage their injuries. Most injuries in prolonged seasons or contact sports are of the nagging variety that must be worked around in the training. Our job along with the Physical Therapist and ATC is to keep the player fit to play and not make the injury worse. It sounds harsh, but that is the reality of big time sport.

3) Competition Management – Folks this is where the rubber meets the road. Pre competition warm-up should be orchestrated like a fine symphony. In competition warm-up and attention to player needs is essential. I am appalled that in the NFL, the “strength coach” is often used as the “get back” coach to keep players away from the sidelines. That is demeaning and has no place in the profession. There has to be more to do during the game than that. Also in competition determine individual routines as to hydration and nutrition. Be sure to have a warm-up again before the second half or a break in play. For example when Steve Odgers was Director of Conditioning for the White Sox, all bench players went into the locker room after the sixth inning and warmed up in anticipation that they might pinch run, pinch hit or be a late inning replacement. This also goes a long way toward preventing injury.

All three management realms will go a long way toward determining your effectiveness as an Athletic Development coach