Coaching is a Profession.?!
Several years ago those of us in diving heard US Diving’s Technical Director question why coaching is not a profession that might be equal to other professions where coaches would receive the same status as fellow coaches in other countries. That’s when all the certification requirements were established with "The Plan" being a focal point and then coaching fees skyrocketed. We didn’t get treated like professionals. We got fleeced.
The place to start is that most sports in the USA are considered extras. Pre-high school sports recreational in nature where kids learn the basics and have fun. At the high school and collegiate levels sports are considered extra curricular activities. That means if athletes can find the time and wish to participate they may do so after the school day as long as they keep up their academic work. Plus there is a restriction on the amount of time these athletes can spend per week practicing. Very few of these coaches can make enough money to support a family with the American dream solely from their coaching stipends. Many colleges would rather have a grad assistant coaching than a full time coach. Why? Because it’s less expensive. At this point coaches of professional sports are the only professionals in a coaching profession and get paid handsomely in their positions.
How can someone at the IOC or USOC level truly believe that all coaches should be classified as professionals with coaching being their only source of income? I believe that these people are not living in reality. There are only about 20 diving coaches nation wide able to make a living from diving alone. Some of these rely on salary paid by a University. This number is very small when compared to the registered coaches (600) in US Diving. To bring this idea down to my level, who is going to pay a diving coach a salary commensurate with that of a doctor, lawyer, CEO or CFO of a large company? I would like these people to talk to my park district or school district because I don’t get paid what I feel I’m worth to their program. When they convince these entities to increase my salary to professional status, I will be the first to enroll in their program. That just won’t happen in my lifetime. They are dreaming if they think that will happen. With all of the things happening in the world and our country’s faltering economy, money for diving lessons and teams would be the first thing to disappear when families look at their own dwindling income or even worse, loose their jobs. Strapped school budgets, both high school and college, could mean dropping certain activities to save money. That’s reality!
All this talk has nothing to do with professionalism. It comes about by looking into someone else’s backyard and wishing you could have the same respect and be treated the same as coaches in other countries. Why do coaches from those countries leave and come to the USA if things are that great? The people instigating this idea hold the "Why not?" approach. That answer is simple. Our country and society is not set up to do this. If we are not set up for this scenario, why go through the steps that someone thinks will get us closer to that goal?
An article on the USA Diving web site asks wouldn’t you like to be the Michael Jordan of coaching? Your answer at first would be yes until you realize that there is only one Michael Jordan. Think of how many basketball players there are in the world. Then think of how many of them that could compare with him. The answer is none. Can they really make all coaches the Michael Jordan of coaching or is this another snake oil commercial?
Another question was asked. Can you be a better coach? Everyone can answer yes to that. The real question is "Who is this self-proclaimed God of sports that will teach you all of the things you need to know?"
To this writer the idea of taking course work and training to justify the reason we should be treated and paid like other professionals or coaches from other countries is a waste of time unless that possibility exists. I haven’t seen anyone dangle that carrot in front of us yet. "Do this and you gain professional status and pay!" It just won’t happen. That possibility may never exist because our government and society would have to support sports as other countries do. If anybody hasn’t noticed, our government is having financial difficulties operating existing programs. How can one expect to add additional items to that already overburdened budget?
Some may buy into this idea but one should look for the ulterior motive to all of this conjecture. What do we as coaches get out of this suggestion? Re-read the first paragraph again. What do the people who suggest these ideas get out of this? I believe by putting this idea on the table they may be trying to put themselves in a position to line their own pockets, which can be interpreted as creating a need for their services. It’s happened before and it looks to be coming around again. All I can say is be careful what you wish for.