Sports coach
Help people maximise their ability and compete safely in their chosen sport.
About the job
A day in the life – Sports coach
What it's like
“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.” Those are the words of John Wooden, a famous basketball coach.
As a sports coach, you'll help people maximise their ability and compete safely. Your work will depend on who you're coaching and the type of sport you're involved with. You could coach anyone, from beginners to sports professionals competing at an international level.
This job could see you work across different levels of sport, including:
Sports and community groups. You'll plan fun and engaging activities, sessions or programmes. In this type of role, you'll work with schools, community groups and sports organisations. You'll give people feedback on their performance that'll help them improve.
Young people in competitive sport. You'll help young athletes develop more advanced skills and techniques. To do this, you'll design training programmes, support people at events or competitions and keep performance records. You may also advise them on how lifestyle choices can affect performance.
National or international level sports professionals. You'll use innovative training programmes, tactical prowess and psychological coaching to help athletes reach peak performance. You may be part of a sporting entourage – working alongside sports scientists, physiotherapists and nutritionists.
Sports coaches are often self-employed. This means you'll spend time marketing and promoting your services, alongside your coaching duties.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Disclosure Scotland – learn about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
UK Coaching – explore the country's only independent representative body for coaches
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Sports coach'
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- problem solving
- creative
- building relationships
- verbal communication
- developing a plan
- mentoring
- motivating others
- negotiating
- taking responsibility
- coaching
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Care
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Human Biology
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PE (Physical education)
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Skills for Work: Sport and Recreation
There are many routes into this career. Coaching qualifications are more important than academic qualifications.
If you've got lots of experience within a specific sport, or have competed at a high level, this can help you get into coaching. You may need to gain qualifications to move into a sports coach role.
Let's explore all the ways you can become a sports coach.
University
A degree isn’t required for this job. Although, you could improve your knowledge and skills by studying subjects, such as:
Sports Coaching
Sports and Exercise Science
Physical Education
Sport Studies or Sport Development
Nutrition or Sports Nutrition
Physiotherapy
Use the My World of Work course search to find degrees.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Sports Coaching and Development
Fitness, Health and Exercise
Sport and Exercise Science
Fitness, Health and Wellbeing
Sports Therapy
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You'll get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance.
Work
Are you already working in sport? For example, you may have a job in a leisure centre or hold a position with a local sports club.
To take that next step, you should study a professional coaching qualification that's relevant to your chosen sport. Check the national governing body for your sport to find sport-specific qualifications.
Volunteering
This is a common way to start a coaching career. Volunteering can also help you build the skills and experience you’ll need.
Search for sports coaching opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
You'll need to be physically fit and have practical experience, as well as skill, in your chosen sport.
You must have experience motivating others to improve their performance and play at their best. You could start gaining experience by assisting another coach or volunteering.
Most roles will require membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, run by Disclosure Scotland.
You'll need to know the rules of the national governing body of your chosen sport.
Many coaching jobs require you to have a First Aid certificate.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Sports coach'
