SOCIAL BALANCE – HOW TO GIVE BACK TO THE MULTISPORT COMMUNITY
A
s a full- or part-time uSA Triathlon coach, you have probably discovered that your athletic clients
are happy to fill your available time. While it is one of the ultimate rewards of our profession to help an athlete turn into an experienced competitor, there are plenty of other ways to give back to your favorite sport. Some of the methods below may offer direct or indirect financial incentive, while others are charitable or volunteer based. Something to note is that as you build
your professional reputation, everything you do, say, and write can and will be scrutinized by the multisport community. As such, it is both a noble endeavor as well as good marketing to put yourself into the community in plenty of ways that offer no direct financial gain.
Before you attempt to implement any
of the ideas in this article, you must ask yourself a few key questions:
1. What is my core coaching/business
mission? 2. How much time do I have available to devote to charitable/volunteer/non- revenue endeavors? 3. What message do I want to send to my community about my personality and my business? 4. What are my most valuable skills and knowledge areas? 5. What do I enjoy doing?
The first two questions are critical. If you
work full time, have a spouse and three kids, and are a part-time triathlon coach, the time you have available is limited. If you are a full-time coach you will have more flexibility, but need to remain focused on your core endeavors. Try not to overload your plate too much. Once you have a handle on the above,
there are plenty of ways to give back. Giving of yourself is a ton of fun, and if you balance it with the rest of your work and family life, very rewarding on a personal and business basis.
CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS WITHIN MULTISPORT A volunteer position with a charitable
race is the easiest place to start. All race organizations love their volunteers. While you may be asked to work hard, you will find many like-minded people to share your time with. The final result is a significant donation to a charitable cause, new friends and
associates, and possible business
opportunities for you down the road. A volunteer position with a kid’s team is
another great way to give back. Girls on the Run (
http://www.girlsontherun.org/) is one such organization. Any high school or middle school cross-country, track or swim team is another way to go. I personally coach high school cross-country (for pay) and will volunteer my time during the track season. Helping young athletes become faster and more knowledgeable is its own reward. A volunteer position with a triathlon club
is another route. Just because you are a coach doesn’t preclude you from taking an active interest in promoting a local club. you will be appreciated for your time and knowledge, and this is a great free marketing method.
NON-REVENUE AND MARKETING ENDEAVORS Offering a free clinic is high on this list. you will help the local population with skills or knowledge gaps, as well as put yourself into the public eye as a professional. Leading a group workout for a local club, retail outlet or any other organization is another great way to give back. you will help individuals with their training and once again, be out in front of your specific target market. If there isn’t a youth triathlon team in your area, you could start one. This does not require much more than one workout a week and some organizational skills. However, this would take some real time and you need to enjoy working with youth athletes.
By Marty Gaal, USA Triathlon Certified Coach
REVENUE-BASED ENDEAVORS Taking a paid coaching position with a
U.S. Masters Swim team, local running or cycling team, or age group swim team is another great way to spend your time. you will most likely not earn a ton on an hourly basis, but you become deeply involved in the community and really enjoy it. If there isn’t such a team in your area, you can start one. Offering valuable training clinics is another
method to give back while also helping to pay your bills. If you are a subject matter expert in a field where people really want the information, it is a good match of your skills and the marketplace’s demands. Starting a new race or race series is one
of the most time-intensive but personally rewarding ways to give back to the community. you will offer a recreational activity that people enjoy, as well as earn revenue for your valuable offering. It is very easy to find a charity or non-profit organization that would like to be associated with your race, so that you can make a living as well as be a charitable citizen. Note: you need significant time, solid management skills and an understanding of safe race production to get this right. All of the endeavors above will, in the long-
term, help grow the multisport community and enhance your reputation. you can also have fun with all of them!
Marty Gaal, CSCS, has been a USA Triathlon coach since 2003. Marty (full-time coach) and his wife Brianne (part-time coach) are based in Cary, N.C., and co-own One Step Beyond. Together they implement most of the ideas listed in this article and they have a great time with it all. You can read more about their business at www.osbmultisport. com.
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