Hi There
I want to give my personal view on professionalism in Sport. This is an topic that really touches base with me. I mean I feel very affected by this.
What I do is a profession, it is a science. I have an university degree. I had to work very hard to get where I am. I also believe that because of my background I have a very unique understanding/relationship with movement. One that gives me an eye for analyzing and correcting movement. Something I thank God for.
In my field we do not have “normal” working/office hours. We are up and running sessions “before work” for our clients/athletes then the afternoon/after school sessions and lastly the “after work” sessions. This “usual unusual” timeline we follow can make a day very long. Yes, we do not follow the “normal” work hours, but we still work.
I personally do not just pitch and suck a session out of my thumb. Every session is planned and worked out, with room for unforeseeable circumstances… This takes time to do. I plan every session once a week and then refine it a day before and before the session it self. Sometimes the plan must change due to injuries or tournaments or even sickness and emotional events. I have to keep this all in mind while still delivering a good solid workout for clients and athletes alike. I also have admin to maintain to ensure I am pushing my clients/athletes enough or to know that we are moving in the right direction. This I do in the form of testing.Which in itself needs analyzing, extrapolating and reporting on the data and then adjusted accordingly. This takes Time. I have a whole plan and every movement has a specific reason and goal to achieve in the session.
I do have a bit more free time, but I ran a business and it takes admin to maintain and grow it. I do not just laze around until I have a session. I hate it that people assume because I do not conform to “office hours” I do not work as hard or as much as the “norm”! I do work and my time is also way more physical than the “norm”, I word hard!! I love what I do and I put my heart and soul in every session and I am sure it is the same for many others in this industry. This an actual profession.
Our uniforms are not very restrictive movement wise but in the looks department we do not come across as “serious”. I also think we need to compete with the fitness craze outfits that are being produced. I love it by the way, but I am working not working out. It is hard to draw the line sometimes. I need to look the part and move comfortably to demonstrate where needed but I also need to look presentable and respectable! Any one feel the same?
I think how we as professionals act plays a big role in how we are perceived as professionals in our profession. We need to be professional at all times, even if it requires more tact and personal contact than other professions. I believe that because I am working with a person, meaning that person’s body; I also take the person as more than the sum of his/her parts. I have a responsibility to uphold that person’s trust in me. He/She is trusting me with their body and that I will not hurt or cause any damage to them in any shape or form. That is huge!!!! It is something I am very aware of in my work! But I need to respect their boundaries and they need to understand reasoning behind everything. There needs to be consistent communication. I I also need to motivate and be enthusiastic even if I personally do not feel like it. There needs to be reporting on the progress and what has been done and a plan forward. We need to be punctual.This is on every coach, personal trainer, instructor etc.
I believe this is where we lack in the “professional” realm, we are not always taken seriously, because we do not look like “societal seriousness…” That is ok, but in our own way we need to strive for professionalism! So that we can be taken seriously and deliver quality service in our profession. Make difference in the people’s lives we work with!
Keep Moving
Jean-Marie’ du Plessis
neverstopmovingceo 