Review: Business of Coaching

Members Area Reviewed & Recommended
1

The business of coaching series explains all the facets of coaching from the lowest level to the highest level. The topics will be very interesting to any current coach or aspiring coach as they are packed with information and the personal experiences of Charlie Francis. Much of the information and many of the stories are totally new content and are told in great detail and clarity. Watching the video reminded me of the same captivating feeling I got when reading Speed Trap years ago.

There are 3 parts, each about 45minutes long and packed with information, guidance, and information about possible career paths and the path that Charlie followed during his coaching career.
Part 1- How to get started
Part 2- Coaching athletes and getting the athletes paid on the international scene
Part 3- How the coach can make money

A ton of great information can be found in these videos (see outline below). I would highly recommend the entire series to anyone who aspires to become a top coach. Here is an outline (this outline is only Part 1 of the series!):

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how to start
create a group first, get results, the later create your own job

who are the potential athletes and what do they need to succeed?

the levels of competition

how to get funding
making the athlete pay- paying is anti-selection for the athletes
personal costs (using your own money)

avenues for coaching success
-grad asst
-university coaching assistant (D3-D1)
-head coaching
-national/international coaches

group dynamics (what all do you need- athletes, support, school/facilities, therapy, training camps)

what sprint results you should be able to achieve in a few years

opportunities for pay & funding- for best coaches (or sometimes not the best coaches)
budgets

your long term objectives as a coach
-recruiting
-what you need to offer to athletes
-setting up therapy scenarios
-agents
-shoe contracts

2

This is an excellent series for those interested in looking at financial aspects of track and field. Many topics are covered with important implications for the coach, manager, and athlete.

This three-part series covers a whole host of important topics such as how to start your club (how do you select those who should be part of your club; how do you manage large groups, how can you travel). Charlie goes on to explain how to look at finding funding for important things like training camps and therapy. Later the series goes on to show how as an athlete and a training group develop they can seek more support locally, regionally, nationally, and even internationally. These examples illustrate that are many avenues for support that are often ignored or overlooked.

At the very highest end Charlie spends a significant amount of time talking about how the top athletes can be involved in supplemental activities that a) require a minimal investment of time and energy and b) can generate significant revenue for that athlete and the club. Charlie discusses the important of relationships and loyalty with agents and managers while exposing some of the underside of the sport (i.e., price fixing, rouge negotiations, poor shoe contracts). Charlie finishes by talking about how the coach can reasonably expect to make and income and what considerations should go into asking prices and contracts.

Again, there is much more in this 3 part series. It is a wise investment and interesting from a historical perspective as well. There are numerous funny anecdotes and gems regarding a level of the sport that few are involved with.