What They Don’t Teach You About Coaching in the Real World

Degrees, accreditations, online courses we all know they all have their place. You learn the science, the structure, the systems. And that’s important.

But then you step into the real world of coaching..

And you realise pretty quickly that it is less about the textbook and more about the person standing in front of you. People skills really kick in now!

You’re not just programming sets and reps anymore. You’re managing personalities, solving problems on the spot, building trust, and dealing with the things no module really prepares you for.

No one told you how to stay calm when a parent grills you on everything you’re doing with their kids, or how to keep an athlete engaged when they’re frustrated, injured, or just not buying in to the gym side of things.

These are the elements of coaching that matter most, and they don’t come with a cert.

The real world of coaching is full of unknowns, messy and is unpredictable. But it’s also where the breakthroughs occur. Where you build the relationships that make athletes better and shape you as a coach.

And here’s the truth: most of the best coaching lessons aren’t found in PowerPoints or peer-reviewed papers. They come from being in the thick of it. From trying, failing, learning, and showing up again the next day.

That’s why inside the ISCN, we put just as much focus on the human side of coaching as we do on the hard science.

We talk about people, not just programs. Environments, not just exercises. We dig into the parts of coaching you only truly learn through experience, and through connecting with others who’ve been there too.

Food for Thought

Michael