Sports Coach/Instructor

Also known as:

Coach/Sports Instructor
Trainer/Instructor - Sports

Introduction

Sports coaches/instructors teach the skills and techniques of one or more sports. The aim is to develop ability, technique and performance. Work is often available on a part-time or voluntary basis.

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Work Activities

Sports coaches and instructors teach, encourage and pass on the skills and techniques of a sport, or several sports, to a wide range of people, from beginners to experts. In professional sport, the coach needs to be as committed as the sportsperson.

Coaches devise tailored training programmes for individual sportspeople to bring them to peak performance at the right time. Where they coach a team, they try to bind the members into a strong playing unit.

The coach's first priority is to teach the player to train safely. When a player is injured, the coach works out a recovery programme, liaising with other specialists.

Coaches/instructors use a range of training aids, including television and video. They work closely with the manager to select team members for a particular match or competition.

Coaches must know the rules and regulations of the sport's governing body and make sure that players are aware of them.

In professional sport, travel both at home and abroad can be expected. Coaches and instructors work both indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must be enthusiastic for the sport and the individual or team that you are training. You need to understand how to motivate and encourage people in order to get the best performance from them. You should be good at inspiring confidence.

You do not have to excel in the performance of a sport but you will need a great deal of expertise. You must be a good communicator and enjoy working closely with people. Sensitivity and patience are required at all times.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for sports coach/instructors vary depending on the sport and the employer.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Pay ranges from around £6 to £25 an hour. Salaries are in the range of £12,000 - £14,500 a year, rising to £20,500 - £29,000. Higher earners can make around £41,500. However, much of the coaching done in the UK is on a voluntary basis.

Opportunities exist with private sports clubs, local authority sports and leisure centres and in hostels and holiday complexes.

Employment may be on a fixed contract with the national governing body of the sport, or in recreation centres, salaried by a local authority. Some work on a self-employed basis in sports and leisure centres. Those who work in hotels and holiday complexes are usually engaged on a seasonal or part-time basis.

In professional sport, a club or an individual may employ coaches. In the Armed Forces (with the exception of the Royal Air Force), those who work as physical training instructors are recruited from serving members.

There is a demand for coaches/instructors at all levels as sports and leisure activities increase in popularity. There are opportunities to work in other countries for suitably qualified coaches/instructors.

Job vacancies can be found in the journals produced by the governing bodies of sport and most of the leisure management magazines.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Most coaches/instructors have skills and abilities gained in the sport that they wish to instruct in, usually at club level.

Some instructor qualifications can be taken on a flexible, part-time (day or evening) or distance learning basis.

Colleges sometimes relax entrance requirements for applicants with a relevant background in sport and recreation.

A large number of centres throughout the country offer relevant courses by distance learning.

• 32% of people in occupations such as sports coaching/instructing are self-employed.
• 51% work part-time.
• 7% have flexible hours.
• 10% of employees work on a temporary basis

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