Professional coaches face immense pressure from above, with owners and board members often questioning decisions without understanding the complex factors involved. We explore strategies for managing these challenging relationships and discuss new approaches to measuring athletic workload across different competitive environments.

• Building a strong career in sports coaching requires significant work and sacrifice
• Owners can create inappropriate pressure, as seen when Nottingham Forest's owner berated their coach publicly
• Presenting to boards is challenging when they lack the technical understanding to grasp complex performance data
• Establishing clear processes and KPIs from day one creates a foundation for communication
• "Drip feeding" education to leadership during non-crisis periods builds understanding
• Not all game minutes are equal - 60 minutes in a top-tier match is physically different than in a lower-stakes game
• Future load management may combine linear measurements with analysis of body positioning and mechanical stress
• Developing metrics for contested efforts helps distinguish between different types of physical demands

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