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Sports coach

Sports coaches teach sports skills to individuals and teams of all abilities.

Potential salary
£19,000 starter to £28,000 experienced per year
Typical hours
Variable. Working pattern: evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home.
Career area
Hospitality, sport and fitness
Where they might work
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.
A typical task
plan fun, engaging and safe coaching activities and sessions
Subjects that may help
1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
Typical route
You can take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in: sports coaching and development; sports and exercise science; sports studies; physical education.
Interest area used here
Helping and teaching

Career actions

What you might do

  • 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

Could this suit me?

Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.

  • ambition and a desire to succeed
  • 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
More skills
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Routes into this career

University route

  • You can take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in: sports coaching and development; sports and exercise science; sports studies; physical education.

University courses that could lead to this career

These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.

  • Physiotherapy

    Related, but not enough on its own. Coaching is a different qualification. Physiotherapy can be a later special interest, not the coaching licence.

  • Sport and exercise science

    Alternative route. A degree can help. Coaching qualifications and experience are the usual requirement, not this degree.

  • Sports Coaching

    Common route. A coaching degree can help. Many coaches qualify through governing-body awards instead.

  • Sports Therapy

    Related, but not enough on its own. It is not a coaching qualification.

Explore university routes

Apprenticeship or vocational route

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Other routes

  • 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.
Career 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.

Registration and requirements

pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

Subjects that may help

Subject guidance

  • 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
  • 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

What you could do next