Sports coach

The work of sports coaches can range from community level up to professional, international coaching where competition will be fierce

As a sports coach, you'll help people participating in sports to work towards achieving their full potential and improving their performance. You could work with a variety of people at different levels, ranging from school or community teams to professional teams and individuals who may be competing at a national or international level. You may also have a role in encouraging underrepresented groups or young people to participate in sporting activities.

You'll aim to improve sporting ability by identifying needs and planning and implementing suitable training programmes. Whatever the context and level, coaching involves developing the participants' physical and psychological fitness and providing the best practical conditions in order to maximise their performance.

Depending on the level you're working at, you may need to combine coaching with another job to supplement your income. Some coaching roles, particularly at school or community level are voluntary and part time.

Responsibilities

Activities vary depending on the context of your role but in general, within performance management, you'll need to:

• evaluate performance and provide suitable feedback, balancing criticism with positivity and motivation
• assess strengths and weaknesses in a participant's performance and identify areas for further development
• adapt to the needs and interests of group or individual participants
• communicate instructions and commands using clear, simple language
• demonstrate an activity by breaking the task down into a sequence
• encourage participants to gain and develop skills, knowledge and techniques
• ensure that participants train and perform to a high standard of health and safety at all times
• inspire confidence and self-belief
• develop knowledge and understanding of fitness, injury, sports psychology, nutrition and sports science
• work with IT-based resources to monitor and measure performance
• act as a role model, gaining the respect and trust of the people you work with
• liaise with other partners in performance management, such as physiotherapists, doctors and nutritionists
• work to a high legal and ethical standard at all times, particularly in relation to issues such as child safeguarding and health and safety requirements.

Within planning and administration, you'll need to:

• produce personalised training programmes
• maintain records of participant performance
• coordinate participants' attendance at meetings and other sports events
• plan and run programmes of activities for groups and individuals
• transport participants to and from training sessions and sports events
• seek and apply for sponsorship agreements
• find appropriate competitions for participants
• market and promote your services, if you're self-employed
• plan your own work schedule.

Salary

• Typical starting salaries for newly qualified sports coaches working for local authorities range from £18,000 to £28,000, depending on location and qualifications.
• Typical salaries for senior coaches employed by National Governing Bodies (NGBs) or professional sports clubs are usually over £30,000.
• Experienced coaches working at the highest national level have the potential to earn in excess of £100,000.
• Hourly rates for coaches working with amateur teams or individuals start at around £10 to £12.

In professional sport, coaches may earn a basic salary with additional bonuses related to competition results, prize money earned or standard of performance achieved. Packages may include company cars, medical insurance and other benefits.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Many posts include early morning, evening or weekend work. Work may also be seasonal for some sports and hours may increase in the run up to major competitions and events. Part-time work and self-employment are common.

What to expect

• The majority of sports coaches in the UK are volunteers so finding a full-time paid job may be challenging. You might need to build experience in voluntary roles or get a part-time job to go alongside your coaching duties.
• Coaching work can be carried out in different environments including schools and universities, gyms and leisure centres and playing fields. You may be outside in adverse weather conditions.
• Women are currently underrepresented as coaches. However, initiatives are in place to help redress the balance. For example, UK Coaching has a Women Who Coach Toolkit to help encourage women into coaching. They also have an Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to support people from all backgrounds and abilities into coaching.
• It's likely you'll need to work unsocial hours. Some jobs are offered on a fixed-term contract meaning there could be a constant need to secure further work.
• Frequent travel to reach facilities or to attend competitions, often involving considerable distances, may be necessary.
• Absence from home overnight and travel throughout the UK and abroad may be necessary, depending on the sport and the level at which you're involved.

Qualifications

Relevant degree and HND/foundation degree subjects include:

• health science
• sport coaching
• sports management
• sport and exercise science.

While relevant academic qualifications may provide a useful background, you can only become a qualified coach by gaining the appropriate coaching qualification, offered by the National Governing Body (NGB) of your chosen sport. For a list of NGBs, see UK Sport.

Coaching qualifications vary in length and cost depending on the NGB. Most offer a Level 1 coaching course as an entry level, which generally allows you to work as a coaching assistant under supervision. If you wish to plan and lead coaching sessions on your own, you'll typically need a Level 2 coaching qualification.

Depending on the NGB you may be able to complete a Level 1 course from the age of 16 however, you may not be able to get paid, particularly within schools or work with younger children, until you are 18.

You can progress through the coaching qualifications as you gain experience, with Level 4 qualifications being available for international, senior or high-performing coaching roles.

Courses may be full time, part time or taken by distance learning.

Some sports-related degrees may offer the opportunity to gain coaching qualifications while you’re studying.

The number of vacancies and level of competition for jobs tends to be related to the popularity and participation rates for the sport. Some areas are particularly competitive, with progress dependent on reputation and results. Increasingly, there are opportunities for multi-skilled coaches with coaching certificates in several activities.

Skills

You'll need to show:

• the ability to quickly develop successful working relationships with people from different backgrounds and with varying levels of sporting ability
• a desire to help other people succeed
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• team building ability and leadership skills
• enthusiasm, flexibility and patience
• awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion issues, including those related to sport and disability
• motivational skills and an understanding of the psychology that underpins successful competition, particularly at senior coaching levels
• organisational skills
• a strong interest in maintaining professional skills and knowledge.

Community coaching roles require the ability and enthusiasm to work with large groups of children. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this area of work.

Work experience

Volunteering and part-time work are the main ways into coaching, and many coaches continue in this capacity alongside other employment. Try to get involved with the sport of your choice at a community, local or regional level. This may begin by helping out at the club in any capacity and then becoming an assistant coach.

Being a member of a sports club at your university will also help to give you useful experience. Networking with sports development officers within local authorities can also be a productive way of gaining employment.

You can also consider joining the UK Coaching ConnectedCoaches community. This aims to bring together coaches at all levels to share tips and support each other with career progression and development.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Different employers offer different kinds of opportunities. The range of employers includes:

• charitable sports trusts and local authorities
• schools
• colleges and universities
• sports councils
• sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
• private sports clubs
• hotels
• fitness centres
• leisure facilities.

It’s also possible for you to work one-to-one with professional sportspeople on a self-employed basis. You'll need good results to retain clients and maintain job security.

Holiday camps and organisations such as PGL recruit coaches to deliver a variety of activities, mainly in school holidays. You can also arrange to work abroad as a sports coach over the summer, particularly in the USA, through organisations such as BUNAC and Camp America.

Many professional football clubs run football in the community schemes in which coaches employed by the clubs train others to become involved in fundraising events and sporting activities in primary schools. Appropriately qualified and experienced coaches may be able to find work within such schemes. There are numerous opportunities to coach in football, disability sport and activities covering teacher non-contact time in schools, including out-of-school clubs.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Careers in Sport
• Leisure Opportunities
• Local Government Jobs
• Sport Scotland

Sporting bodies and individual sports clubs advertise vacancies directly on their websites. Therefore target your search on the sport you’d like to be involved in to find opportunities. For links to sporting bodies, UK Sport.

While word of mouth is a key source of work for self-employed coaches, many also advertise through their own websites or through directory-style websites. Using social media, such as LinkedIn, can be an effective way of advertising your services.

In some cases, for example in professional football, jobs may not be advertised, but suitable candidates will be approached directly. In many areas of coaching and instruction you need to be proactive in seeking opportunities and networks must be maintained, perhaps through voluntary work, even during periods of unemployment.

Professional development

A Coach Learning Framework has been set up by UK Coaching, which aims to help coaches to grow and develop their knowledge and confidence. It covers nine themes which include topics such as understanding the individual, skills acquisition, sport psychology and lifestyle, health and well-being. Some courses match up to this framework and it can help you to identify your skills gaps and what training you may need. Find out more about the Coach Learning Framework.

UK Coaching also offers a wide variety of courses and training opportunities. These include online courses, webinars, face-to-face training and formal coaching qualifications. A range of topics are available which can help you to develop your career, including:

• safeguarding and protecting children
• concussion awareness
• creating a successful coaching environment
• equality in sport
• behaviour change tactics.

See UK Coaching Courses for a full list.

It's also possible to become a member of UK Coaching, which gives you access to relevant resources, free and discounted CPD learning and networking opportunities.

Further training may take the form of gaining more advanced coaching qualifications, following the structure provided by the relevant sport's National Governing Body (NGB), or by developing expertise in a specific area, such as strength and conditioning.

The Level 1 coaching award is sufficient for you to take up employment, usually at an assistant coach level, but continuing to develop professional skills and knowledge is an important part of career progression and further certificates will enhance your employability. You’ll need to keep up to date with a range of issues within the professional sports sector, including nutrition, scientific research and sports psychology.

Work with children will require you to study for courses in child safeguarding and protection, and you'll typically need to be a qualified first-aider.

Career prospects

It takes time to develop coaching skills and a good reputation, so career progression can be slow and may be dependent on personal motivation. Geographical mobility is an advantage.

For coaches working with professional sportspeople, career progression often depends on results, which may be measured by a performer's achievements and progress, or by the level of the participants' enjoyment.

Career development in this area is also dependent on effectively marketing your services and skills to potential clients. Even in this area, coaches tend to continue to diversify in the range of services they offer. This is supported by an ongoing development of professional skills through courses and workshops and by keeping informed of any arising issues and changes to sporting practices.

Senior coaching posts usually require completion of advanced coaching qualifications and are also more likely to need a degree. The number of posts at this level is limited and they are likely to be with sport National Governing Bodies (NGBs) or national teams.

A degree is also helpful for progression into sports development roles. Other areas of possible career development include coach education and volunteer management.