What Every Coach Should Know About Professional Development
21
DECEMBER, 2022
It’s an exciting time to be a coach. You have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of your athletes and help them reach their potential. However, coaching also comes with a great deal of responsibility. In order to be the best coach you can be, it is important to continuously grow and develop both personally and professionally and the new year is a great time to have a plan for your growth. Here are a few things every new coach should know about professional development.
Why Professional Development Matters
As a coach, you are constantly being observed and evaluated by your athletes, their parents, and your superiors. In order to maintain a good reputation and prevent burnout, it is important to make sure you are always learning and growing. Professional development allows you to keep your skills sharp, improve your knowledge of the sport, and better understand the needs of your athletes.
How to Find Opportunities for Professional Development
There are many different ways to get involved in professional development opportunities. Coaches can attend workshops and clinics, participate in online learning opportunities, join professional organizations, or even earn advanced degrees. With the boom of online everything, there’s no shortage of opportunities, and therefore no excuse NOT to continue your professional development. The key is to find an opportunity that fits your needs and schedule.
What to Look for in a Professional Development Opportunity
When choosing a professional development opportunity, it is important to make sure the program is relevant to your sport and coaching style. There is no point in attending a workshop on coaching football if you coach swimming. It is also important to make sure the program is taught by qualified instructors who have experience in the field. Ask those in your professional network if they can recommend opportunities or clinics, or refer you to someone who might know. Take advantage of those around you for growth opportunities, and you’ll be able to pay it forward in the future.
Professional development opportunities are an important part of being a successful coach. They allow you to keep your skills sharp, improve your knowledge of the sport, and better understand the needs of your athletes. When choosing a professional development opportunity, make sure the program is relevant to your sport and coaching style and taught by qualified instructors who have experience in the field. By taking advantage of these opportunities, you can set yourself up for continued success as a new coach in the new year.