“There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, and everything else is cream cheese.”
Coach Finstock, Teen Wolf Movie 1985.
Coaches love to give advice. It’s what they’re paid to do. Sometimes its great advice. Other times its poor advice.
In my experience, the best coaches are the ones that concentrate on giving advice that is related to their athlete’s performance. This also includes life advice that brings out the best in the athlete.
Where some coaches cross the line is business, marketing or sponsorship advice. This is not their area of expertise.
I’m going to put family and partners in the same basket.
It’s ok for athletes to use these people as a sounding board but they shouldn’t dictate or influence commercial decisions.
It’s easy to criticise a sports manager when you have no experience in the field of sponsorship, are not out there selling, do not understand corporate budgets, marketing plans or advertising and PR strategies.
Put it this way. I don’t tell athletes how to kick a ball, throw a pass or swim fast. That’s not my area of expertise. So why on earth would an athlete listen to a coach or family member about sports marketing and sponsorship?
Athletes, trust your family and coach for performance and life advice. But when it comes to business, trust your manager.
Now you stick to that, and everything else is cream cheese.
