Introduction
When Arsene Wenger stated that he would coach Arsenal Football Club into completing a whole season without losing a match, nobody took him seriously. Many people who followed the English premier league, including club coaches, considered this an impossible feat until Wenger accomplished it in the 2003/2004 season. For this achievement, he was awarded a golden premier league trophy. Today, accomplishing such a career milestone as a coach of any sport is nearly rare but not impossible. A coaching career focuses on assisting others in realizing their full potential. Coaches may work with many clients simultaneously, inside a single business, or with a single person. They become champions for the people or teams they coach, promoting positive aspects while identifying beliefs and behaviors that prevent learners from achieving their objectives (Dean 177). Sports coaching is a lucrative career, and this can be seen in the pressures that coaches face when their teams lose or are underperforming.
I am interested in coaching a job for various reasons, including the fact that athletics is fun, and coaching allows me to stay connected to that passion. I am passionate about sports because they are competitive, and it’s a good vice winning and assisting others in winning. After introducing the coaching profession on a broad scale, I will address the history and background of the career, the requirements for obtaining the career, the job position description, and finally, the coaching job reflection and outlook in this paper.
History and Background of the Coaching Career
The year 1861 marks the first documented use of the term “coach” in an athletic context – a professional coach is someone who imparts knowledge to improve the quality of life of another. Coaching, teaching, mentoring, parenting, and other similar activities all involve one person imparting wisdom to help improve the lives of others. In 1907, Frank Parsons claimed that “we can learn to match people to certain vocations” (Sun). In 1921, John Mills introduced the concept that one’s career expresses one’s personality. During the Great Depression of 1929, the idea of group coaching was born. More than 500,000 persons were served by Sidney Edlund’s Man Marketing Clinic between 1935 and 1955 (Sun). Major developments would follow throughout the 90s.
In 1936, Harper and Brothers Publishing produced “Your Work Abilities: How to Express and Apply Man Power Through Man Power Specifications.” John Holland’s “The Psychology of Vocational Choice: A Theory of Personality Types and Model Environments” was one of the most influential works (Sun). The book contains 17,500 job titles/classifications. They began to narrow down the possible candidates for each position. Dick Bolles’ 1970 book “What Color is Your Parachute?” was a commercial success (Sun). Frank Fox and Jay Block founded the first professional organization for resume writers in 1990.
Major Historical Events That Have Affected the Coaching Market
Overall, specific advancements have had a significant impact on coaching, including using technology such as earbud technology, which may give sophisticated data during play and advance in-game strategy, and the invention of tech apps, which coaches can use to monitor a player’s overall health. Bo Jackson had a 40-yard dash time of 4.12 seconds which is a near-impossible achievement (Tanier). Bo Jackson’s infamous 100m dash could have been the start of modern football combines, and coaches have attempted to beat it ever since. Bo was arguably the greatest football player of all time and one of the most athletic men in the world. A plane carrying 37 Marshall football players and eight coaching personnel crashed in November 1970 (Feinstein). It may have completely wrecked a program. On the other hand, Marshall fought back and won two games that season, the most famous being a 15-13 win over Xavier in the home opener (Feinstein). Thus, it was a lesson in perseverance and overcoming hardship.
Famous Historical Coach and His Success Factors
Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs is among the most successful coaches in National Football League (N.F. L.). Gibbs served as head coach twice For the Washington Redskins of the N.F. L., first from 1981 to 1992 and then from 2004 to 2007 (Gibbs 10). Throughout his first 12 seasons with the Redskins, he guided them to eight playoff appearances, four N.F.C. Championship crowns, and three Super Bowl victories (Gibbs 13). Joe Gibbs’ presentation demonstrates that success principles are choosing one’s leadership formula, hiring the correct support staff to help one achieve their goals, and developing team chemistry within their organization. He offers advice on coping with adversity and the necessity of having faith in one’s abilities.
Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens boasts the uncommon honor of having coached every club he played for during his 15-year N.B.A. career. Wilkens led the Supersonics to their sole championship in 1979, deserving some gratitude from the Seattle community (Wilkens and Pluto 35). His scripting of unselfish attacking dynamics surrounded by good defensive play was the key to Wilkens’ players’ success. Wilkens is only three wins away from Don Nelson’s record of 1,332 regular-season wins, but he has five more postseason victories.
Requirements to Obtain the Coaching Career
A job as a sports coach requires both formal and informal education. Coaches do not always require to be certified in their field. Great coaches know that a well-rounded education is required for success. Those seeking a career as a professional coach have several alternatives (Christian 23). Professional coaches might hire a coach and look for a training or certification program that matches their needs. Having a degree is not necessary for private coaches or coaches in non-formal contexts. At the very least, a bachelor’s degree in sports science or physical education is required for most coaching roles in professional or higher education contexts (Indeed.com). Prospective coaches will learn the underlying science training so they can assist players in reaching their full potential while also guaranteeing their wellbeing.
According to the institution, undergraduate sports science studies often last 36 to 48 months. Individuals who want to acquire a master’s degree, which is required for university-level coaches, will need to spend 12 to 24 months longer in school (Indeed.com). Aspiring coaches may opt to earn their degrees online from reputable institutions. Professional coaches who have earned certification have proven their professionalism and commitment to a strict code of ethics. It also helps maintain the industry’s credibility nationally and globally. Various institutions of higher learning in Mississippi offer coaching programs. For example, there is a Bachelor of Science degree program in Sports Coaching Education at the University of Southern Mississippi (U.S.M.). In general, anybody can acquire certification in coaching depending on the program level.
An ACTP, an accredited coach training program accredited by the International Coach Federation, is a complete program for aspiring executive coaches. I.C.F. Core Competencies and the Code of Ethics are taught in detail, mentor coaching, and a comprehensive final exam to verify that a person is ready for executive coaching when completing the program (Goldvarg 21). Another is Coach Specific Training (ACSTH): This program is much shorter than an ACTP. The I.C.F. Core Competencies and 30 hours of coach-specific training are required to become a Certified Professional Coach (CPCC) (Goldvarg 26). Overall, other smaller jobs related to sports coaching include gym teachers and scouting.
Gym teachers are responsible for designing and running the physical education programs at elementary, middle, and high schools. They develop creative fitness initiatives to engage students and teach about the importance of physical activity (BiĹ›ta-WaĹ‚ach 43). In many cases, gym teachers also fill other school roles, including teaching biology or serving as a coach. Another job is a scout who hunts down potential high school, college, or professional sports recruits. Coaches must be well-versed in the sport they intend to build a career. Most significantly, they must be able to spot great recruiter qualities. An individual can use these eight fundamental coaching abilities to improve their leadership and lead the firm to success: empathy, curiosity, positivity, perseverance, innovation, communication, sincerity, and guidance are just a few of the skills required to succeed in today’s business environment.
Job Position Description
Daily Duties and Coaching Tasks
Typical responsibilities and duties of a coach include:
- Essential abilities, tactics, and procedures must be taught to students
- The provision of instruction, encouragement, and constructive criticism aimed at improving performance
- Determining one’s strong and weak points
- Counseling on matters of health and fitness
- The development of a training plan
- Performing clerical duties
- Supporting the growth and advancement of sports.
Coaching fits in with the larger picture of an organization’s prosperity. When an organization undergoes a transformational change, such as a merger or acquisition, coaches can work with leaders individually or as part of an executive team to align their actions, decisions, and messages with the larger corporate strategy. When embedding formal learning with employees across the organization, having a coach work with a trainee before the training program begins can be helpful (Overway-Gano 229). A post-training coaching session is required to assist learners in retaining new knowledge and applying it in their daily life. Full-time coaches typically work more than 40 hours a week during the sports season for several months. Coaches attend athletic events regularly. The coaching sessions must take place in a suitable environment. The following conditions must be met in this environment:
- Confidential – The coaching sessions must be confidential and undisturbed. The optimum location is a meeting room away from external interferences.
- The place must be accessible from all sides; therefore, partakers, particularly coaches, should always arrive early to set up and be ready when the client comes.
- Safe and supportive – Take health and safety into consideration; the location must be safe for you and them. As a last consideration, the room must be large enough, but not too large.
Unlike a coach, a manager’s role is more transactional than advisory. Every employee, including the coach, is under the direct supervision of their manager. They plan and direct their teams. To solve the most important issue, they must first determine where things are headed. Coaching needs more effort and expertise than offering advice. Coaching is a competence that starts with the notion that the individual, when provided the opportunity, can fix their skill gap. Consequently, coaching assists in the generation of better ideas and motivates individuals to take responsibility for their performance improvement.
Salary Range and Hourly Rate
More than 20 percent of the 10,000 certified business and life coaches in the U.S. reportedly earned six-figure salaries in 2006. However, Indeed.com and Simply Hired claim that the national average wage for career coaches is closer to $58,000 to $79,000 a year (Indeed.com). Due to the nature of the industry, there is a wide variety in pay. Job coaches’ hourly rates can vary widely. A senior editor at Next Avenue, Richard Eisenberg, notes that coaches can charge anywhere from $50 to $500 an hour. The average hourly salary is between $100 and $150 (Indeed.com). The “typical” 40-hour workweek does not apply to career coaches because they are often self-employed.
Most often challenging concerns in coaching sessions include: A lack of clarity as to the purpose of the coaching session, disagreeing on a specific goal for the coaching session, having a hard time keeping quiet about the coach’s thoughts and coaching the problem, not the person. Some of the positive perks of coaching include; establishing and taking action towards achieving the goal, becoming more self-reliant, and gaining more job and life satisfaction. According to ZipRecruiter’s most recent job postings, there are few opportunities for coaches in Mississippi right now (ZipRecruiter). Coach salaries in Mississippi are among the lowest in the U.S. ZipRecruiter regularly checks its database of millions of active jobs published locally around the United States to estimate the most accurate annual salary range for coach positions.
Conclusion
Improving athletic performance is a crucial component of coaching. Athletes require a coach capable of successfully leading their tactical, technical, and physical growth to enable them to progress in their profession. Coaches may utilize a range of instructional strategies to increase their understanding of this field. Formal training in motor learning, physiology, psychology and cognition, the impact of aging on exercise, and other topics. All of these can be part of a formal coaching curriculum and thus critical to a coaches’ capacity to assist sportsmen in improving their athletic success.
Works Cited
‌BiĹ›ta-WaĹ‚ach and Maria Zuzanna. ” What Do We Want and What Do We Get from the Coach? Preferred and Perceived Leadership in Male and Female Team Sports.” Human Movement, vol. 20, no. 3, 2019, pp: 38-47.
Christian, Van Nieuwerburgh. An Introduction to Coaching Skills: a Practical Guide. Sage, 2020.
Dean, Seehusen, et al. ” Coaching, Mentoring, and Sponsoring as Career Development Tools.” Family Medicine, vol. 53, no. 3, 2021, pp: 175-180.
Feinstein, John. “Marshall Football, 50 Years after Plane Crash, Carries on and Remembers.” Washington Post, The Washington Post, 2020, Web.
Gibbs, Joe. Game Plan for Life: Your Personal Playbook for Success. Tyndale House Publishers, 2022.
Goldvarg, Damian. Professional Coaching Competencies: The Complete Guide. California: Executive College Press, 2018.
Indeed.com. “How to Become a Coach | Indeed.com.” Indeed Career Guide, 2022, Web.
Indeed.com. “What Is a Job Coach? | Indeed.com.” Indeed Career Guide, 2022, Web.
Overway Gano, Lori A., and Kristen Dieffenbach. “Current Practices in United States Higher Education Coach Education Programs.” International Sport Coaching Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, 2019, pp: 226-233.
Sun, Lowell. “A 100-Year History of Career Coaching.” Lowell Sun, Lowell Sun, 2008, Web.
Tanier, Mike. “NFL Urban Legends: Bo Jackson and the Too-Fast-To-Be-True 40-Yard Dash.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, Web.
Wilkens, Lenny, and Terry Pluto. Unguarded: My Forty Years Surviving in the NBA. Simon and Schuster, 2001.
ZipRecruiter. “$36k-$100k Coaching Jobs (NOW HIRING) |.” ZipRecruiter, 2022, Web.