Why 90% of Strength Coaches Burn Out (And How to Build a Career That Lasts)
Introduction Why do 90% of Strength Coaches Burn Out?
Strength and conditioning coaching is often romanticised as a career built on passion, dedication, and the pursuit of athletic excellence. Many coaches enter the industry with an intense desire to help athletes unlock their potential, believing that sheer effort and commitment will lead to long-term success.
However, the reality is far less glamorous. Studies suggest that up to 90% of strength coaches burn out and leave the profession within 3–5 years. Why? Long hours, poor work-life balance, financial instability, and the overwhelming pressure to deliver results all take their toll. Many coaches enter the field excited and motivated, only to find themselves exhausted, frustrated, and questioning whether they can sustain this career for the long haul.
When I first started personal training, I threw myself into it headfirst, working seven days a week for six months straight, believing that relentless effort was the only way to succeed. I quickly learned the hard way that this approach wasn’t sustainable—exhaustion set in, my own training suffered, and I started to feel burnt out before I’d even built real momentum. Later, when I ran my own private training facility, I fell into the same trap again. I’d be there coaching all day, then training myself until after midnight, convincing myself that was just part of the grind. But in reality, it was a fast track to burnout. I wasn’t setting boundaries, I wasn’t working efficiently, and I was burning myself out in the process. It took stepping back, reassessing my approach, and realising that longevity in this industry isn’t about working yourself into the ground—it’s about working smart, not just hard.
In a previous article, we explored how to build a sustainable coaching business, discussing key strategies to ensure long-term success. This article will dive deeper into why so many coaches burn out, the warning signs to look for, and how to build a career that actually lasts. If you want to be in this industry for decades, not just a few years, you need a plan that extends beyond just training athletes. So lets find out Why 90% of Strength Coaches Burn Out.
The Reality of Burnout in Strength Coaching
Burnout is not just about working too hard—it’s the result of chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and a loss of fulfilment in the job. When passion turns into exhaustion, frustration, and detachment, that’s burnout.
Why Do So Many Coaches Burn Out?
1️⃣ Excessive Working Hours – Strength coaches routinely work 60-70 hour weeks, including early mornings, late nights, and weekends. When your life revolves entirely around your athletes, there’s little time left for anything else.
2️⃣ Low Pay, High Expectations – Despite the intense hours, many coaches struggle financially. Whether working in commercial gyms, private facilities, or team settings, the pay often doesn’t reflect the effort required.
3️⃣ Constant Pressure to Produce Results – If your worth as a coach is judged only by your athletes' performance, every failure feels personal. This stress, combined with imposter syndrome, makes burnout inevitable.
4️⃣ Limited Career Growth – Many coaches find themselves stuck in dead-end roles, with no clear path for advancement. They either remain underpaid assistants or struggle to build their own businesses, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
5️⃣ Neglecting Their Own Training & Wellbeing – Many coaches stop training themselves due to time constraints or fatigue, leading to physical and mental decline. The person who once lived for lifting now feels disconnected from it.
6️⃣ Lack of Boundaries – Many coaches feel obligated to be available 24/7 for their athletes, responding to messages at all hours and sacrificing their own needs.
Recognising the Signs of Burnout
If you're experiencing chronic exhaustion, loss of motivation, reduced performance, or detachment from your athletes, you’re likely heading towards burnout. Ignoring these signs won’t make them go away—only proactive changes will.
Early identification of burnout symptoms is crucial for implementing effective interventions. Coaches should be vigilant for the following signs:
Emotional Exhaustion: A pervasive sense of fatigue that doesn't improve with rest.
Reduced Performance: Declining quality of coaching, lack of creativity, and difficulty concentrating.
Detachment: A sense of disconnection from athletes, colleagues, and the profession itself.
Physical Symptoms: Chronic headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and susceptibility to illnesses.
Recognizing these symptoms early allows coaches to take proactive steps to address burnout before it becomes debilitating.
How to Build a Career That Lasts
The best coaches aren’t just great at training athletes—they’re strategic about their own career, health, and business.
1️⃣ Set Boundaries & Protect Your Time
✔ Schedule non-negotiable downtime – Your personal life matters. Block out time for hobbies, family, and training, just as you would for clients.
✔ Stop being available 24/7 – If you’re answering texts from athletes at midnight, that’s not dedication—it’s a fast track to exhaustion. Set clear communication boundaries.
✔ Be selective about clients & jobs – Not every opportunity is worth taking. Prioritise roles that align with your values and long-term career goals.
2️⃣ Learn to Manage Stress & Prioritise Recovery
✔ Treat yourself like an athlete – Recovery, nutrition, and mobility work aren’t just for your clients. If you break down, you can’t coach anyone.
✔ Use stress-management techniques – Whether it’s breathing drills, mindfulness, or simply taking a break from social media, your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
✔ Detach from work regularly – If you never switch off, you’re constantly accumulating stress. Step away from coaching to reset.
3️⃣ Find Alternative Income Streams
✔ Stop trading time for money – Coaching 10+ sessions a day isn’t sustainable. Explore online coaching, ebooks, mentoring, and content creation.
✔ Develop high-value services – Instead of just selling time, sell expertise through structured programs, group coaching, or educational content.
✔ Leverage digital platforms – If you’re not using your knowledge to build something scalable, you’ll always be stuck in a cycle of overwork.
4️⃣ Keep Learning & Evolving
✔ Stay passionate about coaching – If you stop learning, you stop improving. Attend workshops, listen to podcasts, and stay curious.
✔ Network with experienced coaches – You don’t have to figure everything out alone. Connect with people who’ve been where you are.
✔ Seek mentorship – Learning from coaches who have built long-term, profitable, and fulfilling careers is invaluable.
5️⃣ Build a Career, Not Just a Job
✔ Think long-term – Are you making decisions for the next 10 years or just the next 10 months?
✔ Diversify your skills – The best coaches aren’t just great trainers—they understand business, marketing, and career longevity.
✔ Create a career with stability – If your only income source is one-on-one coaching, you have no security. Start building additional revenue streams now.
Build Strength in Your Career, Not Just in the Gym
If 90% of strength coaches burn out within five years, then the 10% who last must be doing something different.
That difference isn’t just working harder. It’s working smarter. It’s about setting boundaries, managing stress, finding alternative income streams, and building a career with longevity in mind.
🔥 If you’re tired of feeling overworked and underpaid…
🔥 If you want to build a coaching career that lasts…
🔥 If you need guidance on structuring your business and career for long-term success…
➡ I offer mentorship, business consulting, and coaching to help strength coaches create careers that last.
Because you can’t help your athletes get stronger if you’re too exhausted to stay in the game.
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