Healthy Coach, Better Coaching: Ten Tips for Sports Coaches to Stay Healthy and Happy

Coaches spend a lot of time helping their athletes get better. Fitness training, gym work, skills practice, mental skills training, seminars on nutrition and hydration — coaches do all they can to help athletes achieve their performance goals. But do coaches apply the same standards and commitment to their own health?

Ask a coach about their team's performances and they can rattle off training sets, win-loss records and improvements in skill execution. However, ask them about the last time they took a break and just relaxed — or when they last had a deep, restful sleep — and they can't remember. Coaches are notorious for giving everything they've got to their athletes while ignoring their own health and wellbeing.

1. Nutrition

What you eat and drink today coaches tomorrow. Eat a healthy, balanced diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, lean protein and nutritious foods every day.

2. Exercise

Coaching can be physically demanding — demonstrating skills, keeping moving during long training sessions, giving athletes the energy they need from their coach. Try to find 30 minutes a day for some form of enjoyable exercise to stay coach-fit.

3. Stress Management

It's no good having a stressed-out coach working with stressed-out players in a highly stressful environment. Coaches need to be seen to be calm, confident and composed under pressure. Find a passion away from sport — reading, hiking, movies, yoga — something that allows you to switch off and mentally re-energise.

4. Mental Health

Coaching, no matter how inspiring a career it may be, can place considerable demands on the mental health of coaches at all levels. Ensure you've got a mental health plan in place: a balanced combination of sleep, rest, stress management, down-time and regular exercise. Importantly, know how to find help and support when you need it. Consider developing a support network of coaches in your local area who meet regularly to talk about the challenges of coaching.

5. Relationships

"Sport widows, widowers and orphans" — the families of coaches who are all but deserted during the season — are all too common. Give everything you can to your athletes. Strive for continuous improvement. But once you walk away from practice, focus on the things in life that matter most: family and friends.

6. Time Off Means Time Off

At the end of every season, athletes need time away from training to rest, recover and recharge. Coaches need this too. Take a holiday every year. Have a complete break from coaching where you follow your other passions, spend time with family and friends, or just chill out. Scheduling time off minimises the risk of burning out.