Hiring an AFL strength and conditioning coach is something you need to consider carefully when preparing for the next season and one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. The football fitness industry is highly competitive and in-demand with limited quality candidates, so recruiting suitable staff can often challenge.
Here are a few tips that may help you to select a suitable candidate:
• Research previous experience working with professional sporting teams or at elite levels of the sport.
• Experience should include work within athlete development programs, conditioning programs, and injury rehabilitation. Such roles require high levels of technical ability, transferable skills & knowledge base from which the candidate has been able to integrate effectively into various sports/contexts (Eg adaptability). The AFL sector is quite large, but not all AFL strength, and conditioning coaches possess this experience.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills are a must as they will be required to lead group discussions/ presentations at the club, liaise with players and other coaching staff.
• The ability to work under pressure is highly important as AFL strength & conditioning coaches need to deal with various sources of stress from demanding workloads, lack of resources, workplace politics, and player management issues daily. So if they’re not able to cope under these conditions, then don’t expect them to do well in AFL either! It’s also worth noting that many AFL head coaches can be quite controlling, so appropriate delegation skills are needed for this type of role.
• Look for someone who strives for professionalism and excellence in everything they do; someone who’s dedicated, motivated, enthusiastic, and willing to learn. You want someone prepared to work hard but also takes on appropriate feedback.
• An AFL strength & conditioning coach needs to be approachable, reliable, and punctual. This role involves regular interaction with players at all levels of the club (e.g., office staff, CEOs, etc.).
AFL head coaches are often very busy, so if your candidate can’t provide you with enough time during initial discussions/ interviews, then don’t expect them to fit the job requirements either! Make sure they demonstrate enthusiasm towards your club and what it has to offer before making a decision or commitment, even if you like their profile.
In conclusion, be sure to clearly understand the candidate’s experience in working with professional sporting teams/ athletes to assess their strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. If necessary, ask them to provide references from previous employers so you can contact them for feedback on the individual.