Sports coach
Sports coaches teach sports skills to individuals and teams of all abilities.
- Starter salary£19,000 a year
- Experienced£28,000 a year
What you'll do
As a sports coach, you could:
- plan fun, engaging and safe coaching activities and sessions
- give feedback on performance and how to improve skills and technique
- motivate and inspire your students to fulfil their potential
- offer advice on nutrition, lifestyle and preparation
- design advanced programmes for elite sportspersons
- support performers at events and competitions
Working environment
You could work at a fitness centre, on a sports field, at a university, at a school or at a college.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- leadership skills
- the ability to teach pupils how to do something
- the ability to monitor performance
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- the ability to use your initiative
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a sports coach
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- volunteering
University
You can take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
- sports coaching and development
- sports and exercise science
- sports studies
- physical education
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
College
You can do a college course as a way into this career, for example:
- sport
- sports coaching and development
- coaching sports and fitness
You may be able to do a coaching qualification that's specific to your chosen sport.
Sports include:
- tennis and cricket
- netball and basketball
- hockey
- martial arts
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You can apply to do an apprenticeship to begin your career in coaching.
These include:
- Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Personal Trainer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Community Sport and Health Officer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Sports Coach Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
These can take up to 2 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
If you're working in sport already, for example in a leisure centre, as a sports teacher or with a sports club, you can take a professional coaching qualification recognised by the national governing body for your sport.
Volunteering
You could get experience as an assistant sports coach by volunteering for a few hours a week with a club or amateur team. This is a common way to start a coaching career.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
You may need a first aid certificate for some jobs.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a coach development officer, helping other coaches improve their skills and gain qualifications.
You might also move into:
- sports development in the community
- sports psychology
- physical education teaching
- coaching people who have specific conditions or impairments
Career tips
Coaching pay can vary, as many jobs are part-time or paid by the session.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleSports development officer
- Job rolePerformance sports scientist
- Job rolePersonal trainer
- Job roleSports professional
- Job rolePhysiotherapist
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