Cycling coach

Cycling coaches motivate and train riders to develop their cycling skills, competition performance and enjoyment of the sport.

Also known as: Cycling instructor

• Starter salary£24,000 a year
• Experienced£32,000 a year
• Typical hours35 to 38 a week

What you'll do

As a cycling coach with younger riders, you could:

• plan fun, safe and engaging coaching activities
• help riders to improve their cycling technique
• work with schools, community groups and cycling clubs to promote the sport

In competitive cycling, you could:

• design training programmes
• help riders to develop advanced riding techniques and tactics
• monitor performance data to make improvements
• support riders and teams at races and competitions
• advise on performance and how lifestyle choices can affect this
• mentor other coaches
• work with experts like sports scientists, nutritionists, physiotherapists and programme managers

Working environment

You could work at a sports club, at a sports arena or at a race track.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• leadership skills
• the ability to teach and motivate learners
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• excellent verbal communication skills
• physical fitness and endurance
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to become a cycling coach

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• training with a professional body

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• sports coaching and development
• sports and exercise science
• sports studies

You could combine your studies with part-time or voluntary work at your local cycling club .

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a sports and leisure organisation, such as:

• Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Sports Coach Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Volunteering

You can develop your coaching skills by volunteering with a cycling club .

British Cycling has details about how to get involved with coaching classes and cycling events.

There are opportunities in road and track racing, BMX and mountain biking.

Other routes

You can take training to gain your coaching qualifications through a professional body like British Cycling .

They offer training from introductory level onwards in several forms of cycling, for example:

• off-road biking
• BMX racing and freestyling
• road and track racing

Bursaries or grants may be available to help you train as a cycling coach.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks
• have insurance
• have a first aid certificate
• be over 18 years of age

Career path and progression

You could work for British Cycling as a development coach, introducing people to cycling, or working on talent programmes to support competition cyclists.

You could work as a coach for a local authority or organisation with an interest in sports development at places like BMX tracks, mountain bike trail centres or indoor cycling tracks.

You could become a cycling instructor through the Bikeability scheme, teaching young people how to cycle safely on roads. If you work with young people, you could move into sports development or youth work.

With experience, you could use your skills in other areas of the sports industry, for example building partnerships with sponsors and kit suppliers.

Career tips

Pay can vary, depending on how many hours you're contracted to work each week. There may be more part-time opportunities in the earlier stages of your career.

Salaries will be higher for coaches working at professional and elite levels in cycling.

Guides for this industry

• Sport & Leisure: pay, interviews and getting started →

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