Twenty-first century lifestyles can be hectic, with much of our time spent trying to juggle timetables to fit in work or study with social activities with family and friends, as well as finding time for hobbies and general personal care and life maintenance tasks.

Adding in a commitment to keeping fit and playing sport can tip the balance from busy to time-starved, raising the risk of either under-achieving or cutting corners on some important health issues.

The trick here is to think smart, and maximise the time you have available, rather than lament what you can’t manage to fit in. This process is made much easier by making use of sports coaching.

Sports coaches advise, encourage and guide their clients to achieve their maximum sporting capacity in a controlled and safe way, by focusing on two main themes: maximum nutrition and minimal injury.

Diet and nutrition

You would be right to assume sports coaches will be knowledgeable about healthy and clean eating, but they are also a great way to learn about, and maybe try out, new ideas and concepts, as they emerge into popular culture.

Your coach will know you and your body very well. They know what you can do, what your ambitions are, and the way you need to eat, to develop specific muscles for your particular sport or activity. Combining this with knowledge on the science behind new trends in healthy eating, for example, allows you to trust their judgment on how useful something like intermittent fasting might be for you.

Reducing or preventing injuries

It is true that there are many things which can go wrong with the human body as a result of exercising, although many injuries and ailments are completely preventable with some effort and care.

A sports coach can advise on preventing harm and minimising injury before, during and after physical activity.

Before

They can guide you when choosing the correct footwear and clothing you need. They can also make sure you are fully prepared for exercise, by being physically warmed up, knowing how to use any equipment involved in your training routine correctly, and being able to properly utilise any necessary protective equipment.

Your coach will also assess your physical fitness and suitability on a given day, by checking you are in good health and not over-tired or otherwise impaired and at greater risk of injury.

During

As well as monitoring your physical health throughout a training session, an experienced and qualified coach will plan and guide you through activities which provide the maximum benefit. This may include deciding on the strength-cardio activity ratio, activities to target specific muscles, and imposing safe rest-train cycles.

After

As well as supervising the necessary cool-down period, coaches may deal with post-training nutritional needs and referrals to qualified professionals, such as physiotherapists, if needed.

Choosing to use the services of a professional sports coach is the perfect way to make a commitment to yourself, to reach your goals and achieve exactly what you want to, in the safest and most effective way.