Each week a senior coach will write an exclusive column for AFL.com.au in partnership with the AFL Coaches Association. This week's St Kilda's Scott Watters examines the demands of the profession and the need to maintain a proper work/life balance.

The demands of AFL coaching are unlike those that come with most other jobs.

A recent survey showed coaches can dedicate up to 100 hours a week for the 26 or so weeks that are classified as the 'football season'.

Then when the games are over the week-to-week focus shifts to review, recruitment, drafting and preparation for the next year. The game may shift from the public's view but it never stops.

It is intense and demanding but there is plenty of satisfaction that comes with the responsibility.

You wouldn’t be in the job if you didn’t relish the challenge and the contest.

It all comes back to how coaches can switch off with such an all-consuming job. Everyone’s different, but finding some time to recharge and reflect is a critical part of being an effective coach.

Finding the balance between a coach’s drive to prepare his players, and maintaining some balance with work, family and health is a constant challenge.

A couple of months ago, it was revealed that one of my coaching contemporaries and former teammate John Worsfold has taken up playing the piano. That might have taken a few people by surprise but I think the distraction makes plenty of sense.

Music for many is a good release, myself included. A few of my players, Tom Hickey and Sammy Gilbert in particular keep me in the loop with some of the latest bands.

Meditation is also a great tool and many of the coaches and players use it regularly.

This thousand-year old practice is used extensively in a number of AFL and NRL programs and plenty of staff and players have reaped the benefits.

I'm not sure any coach totally switches off, but on the players’ day off I will often work from home, see my kids in the morning, take them to school or have a coffee with my wife. You couldn't do this job if you didn’t have terrific support from your partner.

There are windows of family time during the week and you have to make sure they're sanctified. Some time with my three young boys in the evening, kicking the footy, playing basketball or just hanging out, is time I protect strongly.

There is a natural evolution in the week of a coach. At some stage late in the week, once the work is done with the players and coaches, it becomes a quieter time and you start internalising and forecasting where the game could go and what sort of things could happen. The 24 hours before a game involves a lot of mental rehearsing.

After a game it continues. Either a brief period to savour a win or contemplate a defeat before the planning and strategising for the next game begins.

Many coaches will watch a replay of the game straight afterwards, so in lots of cases the routine involves getting home from the game, listening to my boys’ honest assessment of the performance and putting the kids to bed.

Then the analysis begins and you're back looking at ways to improve regardless of the day's result.

Often the best times are the mornings after a win at the players' recovery session. These are times where you might bring the kids along as you share some time with the players. That small window of the week after a win is one of the times players and coaches really do enjoy.

A challenge for all AFL senior coaches is to ensure an adequate work/life balance for our assistants, which is an issue the AFL Coaches Association has been addressing for the past year.

For the senior coaches, it is about making sure our assistants do have some time away from the club. Most coaches will still be working even when they're at home but at least you're keeping them away from the club environment. It can also be about keeping an eye on all staff and reminding them that family comes first.

The coaching game is a test of resilience, work ethic, focus and durability. Maintaining the right balance personally and ensuring a healthy environment for all staff is key to any successful organisation.