Lessons from Sandro Bisetto’s Townhall Presentation

As coaches, we understand the rewarding yet challenging nature of our profession. Coaching requires dedication and passion, often in combination with a full-time career, family commitments, and personal interests. The stress of balancing these multiple responsibilities can be overwhelming, but with careful planning and time management, it's possible to find a harmonious balance. In this feature, we’ll explore practical strategies to help you manage the competing demands of coaching, your professional career, family life, and other passions.

Through the experience of his decades in the sport, Sandro has developed the following strategies for delicately managing the balance between high performance coaching and a ‘normal’ life.

1. Establish Your Coaching Philosophy Early

The journey is about making deliberate choices—ensure that you are in it for the right reasons, and understand that the commitment to high-level coaching is a personal choice​.

As a coach, your philosophy shapes your approach to training, interactions with athletes, and the balance you maintain in your personal and professional life. Establishing your coaching philosophy early provides clarity and direction for the challenges you will face. Reflect on your core values, whether it’s prioritising athlete development over performance outcomes or ensuring your family commitments remain central to your decisions. For example, a coach aiming for high-performance results may need to dedicate significant time to technical training, travel, and athlete management, which can strain personal relationships. By defining your philosophy, you’ll be better equipped to navigate these demands without losing sight of what matters most to you.

Your coaching philosophy is also your guiding principle when opportunities arise, such as working with highly talented athletes. A clear philosophy can prevent overcommitment or burnout, helping you manage expectations and delegate responsibilities when necessary. For instance, coaches who take on elite athletes often discover that the time and effort required far exceed their initial assumptions. By aligning your actions with your philosophy, you can decide whether to focus on high-performance coaching or specialise in youth or development-level athletes, both of which have unique rewards and challenges.

Finally, a coaching philosophy that explicitly includes boundaries—such as setting aside time for family or delegating squad responsibilities. This can ensure you maintain your health and relationships.

Ask Yourself 🤔

1. Are your current coaching decisions aligned with your core values and long-term priorities?

2. How will you handle the increased demands of coaching elite athletes without compromising your personal commitments?

Action Items ✅

Write and share your coaching philosophy with a trusted mentor for feedback and accountability.

Create a weekly schedule that protects time for personal activities and family commitments while supporting your athletes’ needs.

2. Time Management and Prioritisation

Time management is one of the most critical skills for track and field coaches, especially when balancing professional, personal, and coaching commitments.

The intense demands of coaching, from planning sessions to travelling for competitions, can easily overwhelm even experienced coaches. As highlighted by Sandro, “You will spend more time with your squad than your family if you’re coaching four or five times a week, two or three hours per session.” Recognising this reality early allows you to create boundaries and prioritise effectively. For instance, scheduling training blocks or reducing unnecessary squad size can free up time while maintaining coaching quality.

Prioritisation also means knowing when to delegate and share responsibilities. Trusting assistant coaches, senior athletes, or external specialists like strength and conditioning experts can significantly reduce your workload. By empowering others within your team, you create a more collaborative environment and ensure that your athletes receive quality support, even when your time is limited.

Technology has also become a game-changer for managing coaching responsibilities. Tools like video analysis platforms or communication apps, such as WhatsApp, allow for remote coaching and feedback, reducing the need for physical presence at every session. Sandro shares how leveraging technology during international competitions enables coaches to stay involved without need to be on-site, saving the coach from needing to take leave from work and family. This flexibility not only optimises time management but also reduces travel-related stress.

Finally, time management is about making conscious choices to protect personal time. Coaches often overlook their mental and physical well-being, leading to burnout. Implementing strategies such as scheduling personal rituals or creating non-negotiable family time can help maintain balance. One example Sandro shares is the importance of prioritising time with loved ones:“Every Tuesday night as sacrosanct—me and my partner have a date night. It’s non-negotiable.” These small yet consistent practices ensure that while you give your all to your athletes, you also nurture your own health and relationships.

Ask Yourself 🤔

1. How can you adjust your current schedule to reduce time spent on lower-priority tasks while focusing on what matters most?

2. Are there responsibilities you could delegate to assistant coaches, senior athletes, or specialists to optimise your time?

Action Item ✅

Identify one task or responsibility to delegate this week and assign it to a trusted member of your coaching team or senior athlete.

Ask our Athletics Chatbot (the green bubble in the bottom left corner) how technology can help streamline your coaching duties.

3. Set Clear Boundaries with Athletes

Establishing clear boundaries with athletes is crucial for maintaining a professional yet supportive coaching relationship.

Boundaries help ensure that athletes respect your time and understand the expectations placed on them, fostering a structured and respectful training environment. For example, implementing policies such as requiring timely responses to communication—“If I send you a text or a WhatsApp, you contact me within 24 hours unless it needs action straight away”—can streamline interactions and reduce unnecessary delays. Clear communication sets a precedent for mutual respect and efficiency.

Boundaries also extend to managing training schedules and sessions effectively. Allocating set time blocks for specific athletes or groups prevents sessions from becoming overcrowded and ensures each athlete receives adequate attention. Sandro shared his approach as an example, “If you’re late and miss your block of time, the time finishes; the next group comes in, even if you’ve only had half the session.” This approach not only teaches punctuality and responsibility but also reinforces the value of time for both the coach and the athletes.

Additionally, being mindful of squad size is essential. A coach with a large group might find it difficult to provide quality individual attention to each athlete. Sandro suggests understanding your limits and being realistic about the size of the group you can handle, especially when it comes to technical coaching sessions​.

Ask Yourself 🤔

1. Do your current interactions with athletes respect both their needs and your boundaries as a coach?

2. How can you reinforce punctuality, communication, and respect within your squad without compromising your personal time?

Action Items ✅

Develop a clear communication policy for athletes, including response times and appropriate methods for contacting you.

Set and communicate session schedules with strict start and finish times, ensuring both you and your athletes adhere to them.

4. Manage Career Commitments Strategically

Balancing career commitments with coaching responsibilities requires a proactive and strategic approach.

Coaches often juggle full-time jobs, family obligations, and the demands of athletes, making it crucial to align career decisions with coaching goals. For example, choosing a career with flexible hours or one that aligns with the athletics calendar, such as teaching, can provide the freedom needed for high-performance coaching. As one coach noted, “I created my own situation where my employment was close to the track, which saved me many hours over the years.” Small logistical decisions like this can significantly enhance time management and reduce stress.

Planning ahead is essential when managing career and coaching responsibilities. For coaches pursuing high-performance roles, scheduling leave or aligning holidays with competition periods ensures you can be present for key events without jeopardising your career. For instance, applying for long service leave or exploring international sporting leave through your employer can provide the flexibility needed for extended travel. This foresight not only supports your coaching goals but also demonstrates professionalism and responsibility in your workplace.

Finally, it’s important to recognise when to say no to commitments that could overextend you. While career and coaching opportunities can be exciting, overcommitting can lead to diminished effectiveness in both areas. Setting realistic expectations with both your employer and athletes is vital to maintaining balance. By strategically managing your commitments, you ensure long-term sustainability in your dual roles as a coach and a professional.

Sandro shared his own experience as a teacher, where his location allowed him to cycle to work, saving valuable time each day, and aligning his teaching career with his coaching commitments​.

Ask Yourself 🤔

1. Are your current career commitments aligned with your coaching aspirations, or are they causing unnecessary conflicts?

2. What strategies can you implement to ensure your professional and coaching roles support rather than hinder each other?

Action Items ✅

Review your work schedule and identify periods where adjustments, such as taking leave or modifying hours, can align better with your coaching goals.

Explore opportunities within your workplace for flexible arrangements (remote or leave options) to accommodate competitions or coaching commitments.

5. Communicate with Your Family and Set Shared Expectations

Effective communication with your family is essential for managing the demands of coaching while maintaining strong personal relationships.

Coaching, particularly at a high-performance level, often involves irregular hours, travel, and time away from loved ones. Openly discussing your coaching commitments and their potential impact ensures that your family understands your goals and can provide support. As Sandro shared, “Travelling while you have young kids is difficult...but you can plan breaks and spend time with your family as soon as you return.” Setting expectations early helps minimise misunderstandings and builds a foundation of trust.

Mutual understanding means involving your family in decision-making about how your time is allocated. For instance, defining non-negotiable family moments, such as birthdays, vacations, or weekly dinners, shows your commitment to them despite your busy schedule. This could include strategies like scheduling family time immediately after major competitions or combining work trips with family holidays when feasible. These small adjustments signal that family remains a priority, even amidst coaching pressures.

Finally, creating a system of ongoing communication helps manage evolving challenges. Regular check-ins with your partner or family to reassess commitments and expectations ensure that any issues are addressed proactively. This dynamic approach allows for flexibility and ensures that your coaching career complements, rather than detracts from, your personal life.

Ask Yourself 🤔

1. How often do you communicate with your family about your coaching commitments, and do they feel involved in the decision-making process?

2. Are you proactively setting aside quality time for your family, especially after major coaching responsibilities?

Action Items ✅

Schedule a family meeting to discuss your upcoming coaching commitments and jointly plan time for family-focused activities.

Identify one family event or activity you will prioritise in the next month and block it out in your calendar to ensure it’s non-negotiable.

Wrapping Up

Balancing coaching with a full-time career, family, and personal passions is a dynamic and evolving challenge. It requires careful planning, clear communication, and strategic delegation. By establishing a clear coaching philosophy, managing your time effectively, embracing technology, and prioritising self-care, you can navigate these challenges with greater ease and continue to thrive as both a coach and a person. As Sandro wisely notes, it's about making conscious decisions, setting boundaries, and understanding that high-performance coaching is a choice that should align with your broader life goals​.