Dos and don'ts. My two years in high performance sport science support

Two year job anniversary blog special part 1.

Now I'm by no means an expert (yet) but here are some do's and don'ts for working in sport science (applied) based on my two years at the sportscotland institute of sport. 

Do

1. Learn your trade, be an expert. Ask people with more experience for advice. Uni is poor preparation for this job.

2. Make friends. I hate it but networking IS and will always be important.

3. Be passionate. I love a good testing high (100% legal).

4. Ensure you live your life too. This job can be relentless. It's hard to say no but at the end of the day sport isn't going to cure cancer. And you'll do a better job if you're happy and relaxed. 

5. Work as a team and communicate. Utilise colleagues, seek their expertise and work as a coaching team incorporating the sport so it's not them and you.

Don't 

1. Fail to fulfil commitments. Coaches don't give you too many chances. 

2. Go into a sport blind. Do your research and take time to learn and appreciate the sport. 

3. Overload your schedule. It will lead to you giving less than 100% and in sport it's all about 110%.

4. Give up. There will be times when you want to throw a chair out of the window. Take a deep breath, get a cup of tea and try again. 

5. Neglect your people skills. You can have all the knowledge, expertise and technical ability in the world, but unless you can convince a coach that this is so you're useless. First you have to be a salesperson, then a scientist.

Don'ts that people do all the time (aka my pet hates)

1. Bullshit. One day you'll get found out.

2. Think that because you shout the loudest you are entitled to that opinion/job/respect. 

3. Be unprepared - do the background work. 

4. Be a jack of all trades, master of none. Share the love.

5. Overstay your welcome with non work related chat (sorry I know this sounds grumpy). I love a chat but I also have work to do. 

Part 2 next ..