{"id":398650,"date":"2019-10-18T04:40:19","date_gmt":"2019-10-18T11:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=398650"},"modified":"2019-10-18T12:59:14","modified_gmt":"2019-10-18T19:59:14","slug":"mental-health-issues-driving-coaches-out-of-sport-says-olympic-mentor-leigh-nugent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/mental-health-issues-driving-coaches-out-of-sport-says-olympic-mentor-leigh-nugent\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health Issues Driving Coaches Out Of Sport, Says Olympic Mentor Leigh Nugent"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mental Health Issues\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Mental health issues are driving coaches out of sport, says Leigh Nugent<\/strong>, the respected former Australian Olympic head swimming coach and leadership figure.<\/p>\n

Nugent spearheaded Australia to a tall wave of successes at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In the wake of the Dolphins toppling the USA on gold count at the 2001 World Championships under Don Talbot<\/strong>‘s guidance, it was the height of a golden era in Australian swimming.<\/p>\n

And an era that had far-reaching challenges over the next eight years, mental health among issues founded in the pressure-cooker of world-class and club sport that afflicted athletes and coaches alike.<\/p>\n

The problems faced by athletes have been well aired of late. Less so the reasons why coaches burn out, why coaching is a profession cursed with a high rate of divorce and broken families.<\/p>\n

In 2012, when the Dolphins suffered setback and stinging criticism over team culture and ‘failures’, Nugent was at the helm of the Olympic team once more. That’s life in the roller-coaster of elite sport.<\/p>\n

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Leigh Nugent – Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia<\/p><\/div>\n

The events of London 2012 and the backwash marked the toughest time of Nugent’s celebrated career after years of unwavering mentorship for Australia\u2019s next generation of coaches and swimmers. Nugent continues in that role to this day on the way to Tokyo 2020.<\/p>\n

At 68, Nugent is head coach of the South Australian and West Australian programs, still digging deep to ensure that coaches and swimmers are on track to fulfil their dreams.<\/p>\n

But like so many coaches around the world his dedication to the coaching cause has brought highs, lows and soaring challenge whether high or low.<\/p>\n

No surprise then to find Nugent welcoming an initiative #lookafteryourcoach<\/strong><\/em> program unveiled in Australia this week by the Brisbane-based M5 Management aimed at the mental well-being of coaches across all sports.<\/p>\n

The campaign encourages anyone who plays sport at all levels to think about the coaches who make their sport possible, to consider the sacrifices they make, and say \u2018thanks\u2019 for their great contribution.<\/p>\n

It is now very much a part of M5\u2019s charter to improve mental health in the sports industry, a factor that has become a vitally important part of M5’s day-to-day work, and athletes and staff are now accustomed to being asked “How’s your mental health?” or “Where’s your head at today?”<\/p>\n

Awareness: Coach Burnout – Nothing New But Long Ignored<\/h2>\n

Back in 2014, SwimVortex highlighted the negative and life-changing consequences of the kind of pressure coaches feel at the pointy end of business. Today, Swimming World replicates the report written by Craig Lord<\/em> that highlights the significant academic research of <\/a>Marte Bentzen, of The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

M5 director and the brainchild behind #lookafteryourcoach, Phil Stoneman<\/strong>, <\/a>says that in the course of day-to-day operations, athletes, coaches and support staff all suffer from poor mental health and in some cases, burnout.<\/p>\n

It has met with enormous reaction from athletes and coaches around the world. Says Stoneman:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2018 we started talking regularly to our wide network about levels of coach wellbeing and the feedback reflected a common theme. Yes, it is a serious issue that needs attention and we love the concept of caring for coaches. We researched further and found a large amount of international and Australian research on the subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe campaign is simple, in order to put the mental health of coaches across Australia on the agenda, M5 is asking the sporting community to acknowledge one of the most important roles in sport and the wider community the role of coach.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Bill Sweetenham – Photo Courtesy: Toby Melville<\/p><\/div>\n

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Laurie Lawrence featured in Swimming World – Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine<\/p><\/div>\n

And Nugent bought straight into the initiative alongside his fellow Australian Swimming and Teachers Association (ASCTA)<\/strong> Life Members and former Olympic coaches Laurie Lawrence<\/strong><\/a> and Bill Sweetenham<\/strong><\/a> who are also supporting the cause.<\/p>\n

Recently elevated to Life Member status at Swimming Victoria<\/strong>, Nugent said: \u201cThe true extent of over work, stress, anxiety, depression and associated health issues would not be known amongst the coach population, because it is generally accepted that if they choose to coach it goes with the job and they will cope and not succumb to such conditions.” He added:<\/p>\n

“It is true that coaches receive accolades when a team or individual has success but it is more often the case that they receive criticism and negative accusation for perceived absence of success. The simplistic view of success is winning and all other outcomes are failure (which is far from fact), for which the coach is more often than not blamed. It is becoming increasingly common for coaches of children to be inappropriately challenged and more often than not abused by the ill-informed modern day parent. This type of unacceptable behaviour I\u2019m sure, is leading to mental difficulties for our coaches, with the effect of driving them out of coaching and the sport.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nugent says that is where M5 comes in: \u201cHere here to M5 … the plight of sporting coaches has long been over looked in the mental and physical wellness space and it is gratifying that M5 is waving the flag of recognition and support in this circumstance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Brendon Ward – Photo Courtesy: ASCTA<\/p><\/div>\n

ASCTA CEO Brendon Ward<\/strong> acknowledged that Swimmers (Athletes) often spend more time with their coach than family or friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoaches are extremely important and influential in the development of athletes from a technical and personal perspective,\u201d said Ward.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey provide advice, knowledge and skills on well-being, leadership, time management, focus, discipline and many other life shaping aspects.\u00a0In many cases the relationship between coach and athlete is very one sided with the coach giving so much, and the athlete taking and receiving. So, who looks after the coach? Who values their passion, commitment and professionalism?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He added: \u201c#lookafteryourcoach is such an important initiative to remind athletes, parents, administrators and officials to take care of the person who takes care of so many others.<\/p>\n

\u201cI strongly encourage people to get behind this campaign, recognise the efforts of their coach and ensure they are being cared for.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kareena Lee, with Susie O’Neill and coach John Rodgers at the handing over of treasure: a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – Photo Courtesy: Ian Hanson<\/p><\/div>\n

And Australia\u2019s latest member of the 2020 Australian Olympic Team, 10km open water marathon swimmer, Kareena Lee<\/strong>, was one of the first athletes to thank her coach, 81-year-old John \u201cJR\u201d Rodgers<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 a long standing Australian Olympic coach whose success goes back to the 1972 Munich Olympics with the late Jim Findlay<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Fittingly this tribute came on the same day two-time Olympic golden girl Susie O\u2019Neill<\/strong> announced Lee\u2019s selection on the Tokyo team – a feat Lee knows she could not have achieved without Rodgers by her side.<\/p>\n