Getting into coaching for a living

coaching is about being in the right place at the right time. I coached at the high school level for close to 30 years. I always tell people I started when I was 10 but I was fortunate that people took a chance on a young guy and it worked out for me. However if you get the chance to move to a higher level and that is your ambition take the opportunity. As the older you get their is a perception that you are old fashioned and only those younger than you know anything about the game.

Get your foot in the door at a local JuCo. Volunteer your time, work your butt off, and learn baby learn.

Do you really mean making a living in the sense of paying the mortgage and providing food to the family?

Gshew, you have a PM (if I did it right).

GShew, you seem knowledgeable and experienced. Check with your local school boards for high school opportunities. I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer at a juco for a couple of years before trying high school. I learned a great deal from the college coaches around me. High school was great fun because its quite a bit about development and the positive influence you can have on young men. I have left my door open for other high school opportunities, but believe me, the time commitment is what its all about.

Gshew, I've coached rec, high school and have done a business (2-years). I would mention that if you intend to do a business, you had better do a feasibility study for your area. Do you have the equipment and the potential clientele? Do you know what your philosophy is concerning any phase of the game? I know this sound strange to ask this but then again, many coaches don't have a philosophy and so, they start telling kids to do things but don't kow the why behind it. I don't think I will do my business this year. I've gone into business with a couple of partners and, while they have been paid for the last two years, I have not. Now, one of them is taking the business elsewhere and has a new partner. Your choice in business partners is VERY IMPORTANT. I've been offered a chance to "buy into that business." NOT UNLESS HELL FREEZES OVER would I consider that. Well, I think you get my point about coaching for a living.

Concerning the JUCO route and/or volunteering, you need to make sure that you meet state requirments to volunteer. It isn't as simple as it used to be. You will need a background check, attend a state certified course to coach, and approval by the school board if you want to volunteer in many states. In our school district, we pay for the course but then again, that cost the district over $500 and so, our volunteers are very limited. (Now, if you are a teacher, you don't need that course.) Hope this helps some.