Jus curious…don’t wanna start a discussion on whether it is a lucrative business, or if I actually have the ability to. But how does a young and inspired triathlete who has a pretty decent grasp on the sport and the ability to formulate workout and nutrition plans for friends and family get started in the business. What is the “career pipeline”?
Order some business cards that say “Multi Sport Coach” on them under your name.
A website is helpful too.
After gaining some experience within the sport I suggest going to one of USAT’s coaching certification clinics. Info can be found at usatriathlon.org. There are 3 levels now and the first one will get you on the way to becoming a multi sport instructor. The other 3 NGB’s like USA Cycling and USA Track and Field also offer coaching courses. Hope this helps!
A word of advice: Being a smartass all the time is bad for business… 
Hi Andrew,
USAT coaching certification is a good start. A sports-related college degree is always a plus. After that a good way to get going is to start/organize local training groups and/or form a club. If your job will keep you mobile or make it difficult to lead training groups full-time, then build a good website and submit articles to some of the magazines. A personal training certificate is also a good idea. Either race a lot or be out there supporting the athletes. Look into affiliating with some of the bigger organizations. Have fun.
SAC, If I could afford a coach, I would pick you. Not because of your exper…experti…knowledge, but because of your smartassedness.
Thank you elund… I think…
What kind of marketing did you guys do at first to get your name out there? I mean it is easier to find athletes via the internet, etc when you already have coaching “credentials” or testimonials (i.e. Chris Carmichael having Mr. Armstrong as a reference probably makes business a little easier), but for new coaches, do you just walk around local races handing out your newly printed business cards, talent scout local athletes with potential, or just pay family and friends to write up nice testmonials??
Just kinda curious as to how YOU coaches built your name and business.
Ditto getting the certification and having a related degree or diploma is an asset.
If you want to make a career out of it, I’ll suspect it’s as much your personality and ability to hustle for clients as it is anything else tha will make you successful. This applies to many other businesses as well, not just coaching. Inital start up is probably quite tough because you have to go and find clients. Hopefully, once you’re established, the clients will come to you, but it won’t likely happen at first. A sure fire way to become known would be to have a “celebrity” triathlete as a client.
You’d have to ask around to people in the coaching field, but make sure the market is becoming over saturated before jumping into it. Sort of what happened to PADI scuba instructors - nowadays they’re a dime a dozen.
Put in some time coaching each seperate discipline; don’t just take the certification test. I’m not sure of cycling, but youth & under 18 track/cross country and swim teams are always looking for volunteer help.
It’s not something that will give you a quick return on your time investment, but in the long run you’ll be a better coach for it.
Tell people that you coach Paul Thomas and Kenny Souza. Then just watch the hoardes breaking down your door…
Only take on a handful of athletes at one time, and charge a bunch to make up the difference
Quality costs $$
.
IMO, becoming a coach is a pretty long process. Anyone can call themselves a coach but not everyone understands how to coach and why certain things are done at certain times etc. My days swim coaching taught me more about how to coach then my exercise degree taught me. My college courses taught me more about science, physiology etc and the changes the human goes through due to training.
Someone said volunteer to swim coach or XC coach and thats a great idea, as long as the coach is knowledgable. Study under a dumbass and it can be an extra long process to unlearn fallicies and learn the correct info.
The USAT course is good, only because it provides liability insurance to certified coaches and at best a rather basic, extremely brief overview of exercise physiology. You’ll learn more about exercise physiology reading the latest edition of Timothy Nokes The Lore of Running then you will at the level 1 cert course, unless it has changed drastically in 11 months. They did not even cover HR zones, how to test for them, how to set them etc. IMO they left out a great part of the basic info you need. Again, you’ll learn more by reading some of Joe Friel’s books, even then some of his stuff is outdated. (I have not read the new edition) The rest of the weekend was a waste, except for the strength training part taught by Chuck something or other and the business & legal aspects taught by Lee Z.
In cycling it is amazingly simple to become certified by USA Cycling(official governing body). You pay a fee to get a coaching manual and a take a take home test, then mail in the answer sheet. If you pass, you simply pay for a license. The next level up requires a little more committment, a weekend course with an open book test.
I am studying for my USAC coaching cert right now, funny you should mention
For me, helps to understand the coaching process
.
I just wish they would offer more expert clinics in California especially since there are more Californians in USCF than any other region of the country…
I’ve read part of an acquaintances’ expert manual and I really want one of my own. I don’t know why they don’t just sell them.
“Quality costs $$”
Damn your right, I don’t charge enough.
or the power based training seminar in Florida in Dec, that would be a nice one to attend
.
"Damn your right, I don’t charge enough. "
Double your rates ASAP, … think of yourself as the “Dolce & Gabbana of Tri Coaches”
Even doubling my rates would put me below most other coaches. Maybe tripling them might be better. At least I’d be on par then.