There are many poor coaches, many good ones, and just a few excellent ones. How do you tell the difference?
I was asked to comment in the latest edition of The International Journal Of Sports Science And Coaching (IJSSC)
It is not an easy question to answer. Coaching is often performed in isolation from peer review, and haphazardly regulated, if at all. This is not ideal for either coach or client.
Almost all teachers and coaches would agree that coaching should be recognised as a profession. This would bring welcome advantages to the coach, not least with regard to status, pay, working conditions, and employment protection. However, it would also impose regulation, structure, accountability, and responsibility. As a result many coaches may consider the disadvantages outweigh these advantages.