Blowing the Whistle: Everything You Need to Know About Pursuing a Career In Coaching

While few ever dawn the title, coaches can be found throughout many of life's arenas. Whether one chooses to coach on an individual or group level, there are character traits essential to every successful career. Why does Bill Belichick's New England Patriots routinely find themselves in Superbowl contention? How does a Vince Lombardi, not knowing the game of basketball, assume a coaching position and lead his team to its only championship in his first year of coaching?

Motivation and Leadership
No doubt; motivation, passion and leadership come to mind when these questions are asked. However; many coaches possess these traits, yet may never win the ultimate prize. For those who've reached the pinnacle of their craft, time spent in education and study is often the difference between success and failure. Natural leadership and ability must be tempered with continued education and training.

Education
A formalized education in coaching, not only readies the professional with essentials relative to physical preparedness, but also offers training relevant to organization and administration. There are many administrative duties essential to coaching and every successful professional must have an ability to organize and ensure all tasks are carried out to specification. Formalized ethics training is also essential to coaching success as professionals may deal with players or individuals who struggle ethically. No doubt, we have all seen the ramifications of unethical behavior on team success.

Not only does a formalized education set the foundation for success, but online master’s degrees in coaching also provide the student the convenience of study at his or her pace in an environment and at a time that is practical for the student. As many find the need to balance education and work, online training has become ideal in a society of greater demand.

Training
Formalized training may also include classes essential to motivation , leadership and communication. Philosophy is also an important component of coaching success and must not be overlooked. For the novice, these components can be easily dismissed and may seem trivial compared to an ability to select the right play or to out maneuver the opponent. However, they are foundational if the right play or maneuver is to be selected at the right time.

Successful professionals, whether in business or sport, often contribute their success to a coach or mentor who took the time to develop the disciplines necessary for their achievement . With such power to change lives, continued education and training are but a small price for a lifetime of influence and satisfaction.