The main role of a sports coach is to educate a team or individual about the attributes or skills that lead to success in a particular sport. An applicant for this role needs to evaluate an athlete or team and develop an effective training program based on this analysis. Most coaches nowadays work as professionals, or within institutions like schools and colleges.
There are a number of valuable skills sports coaches must have to perform well at their job. Excellent personal skills and people management are essential, not to mention an in-depth knowledge of the technical features in their particular sporting field. However, excellent time management skills, communication skills and an ability to share health advice to an athlete are also highly valued
Candidates generally possess a bachelor’s degree or higher in one or more of the related educational fields, including coaching, sports science, sports management, physical education, and even psychology. Diploma and accreditation courses are also available across the United Kingdom. Apart from coaches that work in the higher echelons of professional sports, an employee in this field can expect a salary of between £15,000 and £22,000.