Coaching Contacts...What to Fight For - Part 1

I can't begin to tell you how many times I've heard coaches say things like, "I don't coach for the money, I just love the kids".  OK great, do these people really think that loving the kids is a reason to not get paid as a professional?  Do these coaches think that they love the kids more than a coach who is paid well in their profession?  I say loving kids and getting paid well for your expertise is the best of both worlds.  In fact, I think that the better coaches are paid in their profession the better it serves to improve the sport and ultimately this helps the kids the most.

Here are some of my thoughts.  A lot of times the people who say they don't coach for the money are not Head Coaches and they have no idea what it's like to actually build a top notch swimming program.  Running a successful program is a FULL TIME job.  You've got to be extremely well rounded and have skills that extend way beyond just showing up on the pool deck and working with kids for a few hours (in my case a few hours is 5 per day M-F + Saturday workouts and meets, which are most weekends).  In my day I've got staffing, scheduling, facility relations and contracts, budgeting, reports, coordination of swim meets, communications, program planning, marketing, workout planning for several groups, professional development and a host of little things (like writing a letter of recommendation on short notice!) that I'll lump into "admin".  If there are "problems" along the way (and there always are) you've got to layer this into your work day and it can take a lot of time.

If stability is important (and I think it is) then a club wants the coach to be able to grow roots in the community.  This means being able to raise a family and support all the things that go along with kids and houses and life.  A coach that is balanced in this way will have more energy and focus to grow their swimming program.  As the coach grows their program and is devoting more and more time and energy to the team, it's only fair that the coaches finances grow as well.  This is a tangible way the coach knows their team values their work.

More thoughts to come in Part 2...