Working with people of all ages, sports coaches and instructors help them achieve their full potential. This can be with professional sportspeople, teams, community teams or schools. Whatever group or individuals they work with, a sports coach is responsible for ensuring that their athletes are in the best physical, psychological and practical conditions to perform at their best.
In a competitive field like this, certification is a must. Virtually all fields have a clear structure of qualifications for prospective sports coaches and instructors that will take you from beginner level all the way through to working with professional or international level athletes.
There are a whole range of prospective employers, depending upon your exact role:
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Charitable sports trusts
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Local authorities
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Schools
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Colleges and universities
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Sports councils
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Sports national governing bodies
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Private sports clubs
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Hotels
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Fitness centres
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Leisure facilities
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Holiday camps (e.g. PGL Adventure UK)
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Working abroad (e.g. at a US summer camp through BUNAC or Camp America)
Word of mouth is still a key source, particularly for self-employed coaches, so being involved in your chosen sport is vital. You can also advertise yourself through a website such as Find Me A Coach. Other places to check would include:
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Leisurejobs
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Jobs With Balls
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The Leisure Media Company
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Leisure Vacancies
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Leisure Opportunities
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Local Government Job
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Local authority recruitment bulletins
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Local and national press
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SkillsActive
