Frequently asked questions
Why would an experienced coach or sports director need coaching?
In professional sports, technical excellence is a given, but success is often determined at the level of leadership and communication. As a "lone decision-maker," you face constant public and internal pressure. Our coaching offers you a protected space for honest feedback outside of club interests, to sharpen your leadership presence and safely moderate complexity within the staff.
What distinguishes "Sports Leadership Coaching" from traditional mental training?
While mental training often focuses on the individual athlete's performance optimization (e.g., concentration, visualization), our systemic coaching addresses the dynamics of the entire structure. We work with coaches and executives on how they lead the "team system," resolve conflicts within the coaching staff, and manage the group's psychological safety and performance even during crisis phases.
How do you integrate your expertise from professional football and business?
The combination of Henner Janzen's legal and advisory experience (over 20 years in international elite football) and Dr. Thomas Knoop's management expertise (15+ years of leadership experience in international industrial corporations, 1,000+ coaching hours including with DAX40 executives) is unique. We understand the political mechanisms within clubs, contractual pressure situations, and simultaneously transfer proven leadership strategies from business to the pitch.
How do you support coaches transitioning into a new role?
The transition to primary responsibility is one of the greatest systemic challenges. We accompany you through the first 100 days: from role clarification with the old team, through communication with the board, to establishing your own leadership culture. We are your strategic sparring partner for "locker room politics."
Can entire coaching staffs or functional teams be coached?
Yes, team coaching for staffs is one of our core services. Often, competencies between athletic trainers, analysts, and assistant coaches create friction. We facilitate workshops to professionalize collaboration, clarify responsibilities, and create a "high-performance culture" where everyone pulls together.
How is absolute confidentiality guaranteed in the highly sensitive sports environment?
As certified coaches and lawyers (ECA membership / Bar Association), we are subject to the strictest ethical guidelines and confidentiality obligations. Coaching takes place outside club structures – physically in discreet rooms in Berlin or via secure digital channels. What is discussed in coaching remains exclusively between you and us.
Is coaching compatible with the tight schedule of "English weeks"?
Absolutely. We know the pace of professional sports. That's why we offer flexible ad-hoc sessions via video call – even in the evenings or on match days. For in-depth strategic work or team workshops, we use international breaks or the off-season for multi-day intensive sessions.
How much does a Sports Leadership Coaching hour cost?
A coaching hour costs between 125 and 175 euros plus VAT, depending on scope and format (online or in person in Berlin). There is no minimum engagement – you can also book a single hour. Travel costs for on-site sessions outside Berlin are billed separately based on actual expenses. For coaching staffs, workshops, and longer engagements, we provide individual offers. An initial orientation conversation is free of charge and non-binding.
What is the difference between coaching and consulting?
Coaching is the process of guiding clients to their own best solutions – through targeted questions, reflection, and shifts in perspective. Consulting, by contrast, delivers a ready-made solution from the outside. In Sports Leadership Coaching we work primarily as systemic coaches, but draw on concrete expertise from professional football and business when needed.
Does coaching take place online or in person?
Both formats are available. In-person sessions take place in discreet rooms in Berlin; online sessions are conducted via secure video channels. Many clients combine both – intensive in-person sessions during key phases and flexible online sessions during the ongoing season.
Who is Sports Leadership Coaching for?
We work with head coaches, assistant coaches, sports directors, athletic trainers, scouts, youth coordinators, and team managers in professional elite sports – with a focus on professional football, but open to other elite sports.
In which language is the coaching delivered?
We offer coaching and workshops in German and English. Both coaches work fluently in both languages, so international coaching staffs and players can be included without barriers.