Sports Performance Coach

WHAT IS A SPORTS PERFORMANCE (SP) COACH?  

These coaches are responsible for helping athletes improve their performance in a particular sport or activity. They may work with individual athletes or entire teams, depending on the needs of the team employer. SP coaches often have extensive knowledge about the specific sport for which the athletes they are coaching are involved but it’s not necessary that the SP coach have played that sport at any level of competition.

Typical of the wide-ranging responsibilities of a SP coach are:

• Analysis of athlete’s performance to determine strengths and weaknesses of each athlete to develop strategies to improve performance.
• Creating individualized training programs for athletes to improve performance, prevent injuries and increase endurance levels.
• Observe and assess athletes’ performance during competitions or practices to provide feedback to coaches. 
• Teaching athletes proper techniques for various sports skills.
• Conducting warm-up routines and stretching exercises.
• Assisting coaches with game planning and preparation for competitions.
• Providing motivation and encouragement to players during practice sessions and competitions.
• Evaluating athletes’ performance using statistical analysis software to identify areas for improvement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A SPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH

As of mid-2023, there are no government certification or licensing requirements to qualify as a sports performance coach. But there are industry standards. 

Most SP coaches have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Some employers prefer candidates who have a Master’s degree in exercise science or a related field. Many aspiring SP coaches choose their college ‘major’ as kinesiology or exercise science. These programs teach students about anatomy, physiology, biology, biomechanics, and other topics useful in their careers. 

Most SP coaches will receive on-the-job training from their new employer. This training will help the SP coach learn the organization’s policies and procedures, as well as the best ways to work with each athlete, whose personalities will differ, often significantly. 

Editor’s note: An internship is recommended as a way to gain personal experience to determine interest in the career and perhaps establish a relationship with a network of athletic coaches for future employment if hard work and good judgment are exhibited as a first impression by the aspiring SP coach. 

The following story illustrates the career journey of (only) one SP coach. 

FAMILY

The father of Autumn Lockwood (AL) is a longtime college football coach. Her mother is a homemaker. 

Editor’s note – Most career stories within this collection are presented anonymously to preserve the privacy of the storyteller. But Ms. Lockwood agreed to be the subject of a news article so there is no reason to shield her identity. 

CHILDHOOD

Playing sports – developing skills on her own and participating in organized team sports – plus talking about sports at the family dinner table were all important parts of AL’s childhood experiences. 

EDUCATION

AL played soccer in a D-1 program at the University of Arizona, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, thinking then that she would pursue a career in law enforcement. But as AL considered her overall life interest – to date – in playing sports plus learning from her father about the business of sports, she changed her career focus and earned a Master’s degree in sports management from East Tennessee State University.

INTERNSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES TO SAMPLE A CAREER PATH

AL got her first taste of professional football at the NFL level when she joined the Atlanta Falcons as a strength and conditioning coaching intern through the “Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship”, which lasted for four weeks during the team’s summer, organized team activities (OTAs). 

EARLY ADULT JOBS ARE NEVER A BINDING CAREER COMMITMENT

After serving as an assistant director of basketball sports performance at East Tennessee State University, AL joined the University of Houston as its coordinator of sports performance for the women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and softball teams. 

“When the opportunity came up (for AL) to go to Philadelphia with the Eagles, it was kind of a no-brainer to encourage her to go,” said Houston’s director of sports performance. “We hated to see her leave and were wanting to continue to help her and watch her grow with our athletes. But it’s kind of hard to pass up when your dream opportunity comes your way.”

CAREER AS A DREAM OPPORTUNITY

As part of the Eagles’ sports performance staff, AL is not only helping the players improve physically – she’s also focused on making their mental health a priority. Every Thursday, the Eagle players fill out a questionnaire on their iPads that assesses their physical and mental state on that day. The questionnaire poses a variety of inquiries, gauging the players’ quality and quantity of sleep, their stress and soreness levels, and more.

AL makes sure to check on each player depending on their responses. As one Eagles player noted, he had never encountered a similar weekly survey while previously playing for the Vikings and 49ers. Said the player, “There’s been a few times this season where I clicked 5, meaning I’m not feeling so good, I’m kind of stressed. And AL is able to talk to me, just help talk you through it. That’s the biggest thing, because a lot of times, you feel like you can’t talk to anybody about it because you have to perform. But she’s been great. She helps us with that.”

AL also distributed journals to interested players, including a defensive cornerback, who has started doodling and writing down his thoughts in the journal, giving him a newfound opportunity to be introspective on a regular basis. 

One of the Eagles veteran players, a multi-year All Pro, said he appreciates his conversations with AL, even the ones that have nothing to do with football. AL was his go-to-source for restaurant recommendations in Philadelphia. 

CAREER SATISFACTION

An Eagles linebacker said about AL – as she would soon become the first Black woman to coach in a Super Bowl – that he is still waiting to see her frown. 

Since AL joined the Eagles’ sports performance staff in August 2023, she’s taken the “kindness approach” to her day to day interactions with the players. From the field to the weight room, the linebacker has never seen AL angry, always maintaining a consistent level of joy each day, no matter the circumstances. 

Vice President of player performance, Ted Rath, agrees with the linebacker’s assessment: “I’ve always said that one of our veteran players leads the league in smiles but I think he’s been dethroned by AL. Her positive attitude is infectious. She comes to work with literally the best attitude I’ve ever been around.”

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This career story is based on several sources, including an article written by Olivia Reiner, published by The Philadelphia Inquirer on 2/11/23 plus internet research.