Although it is possible to land a coaching job out of your talent without attending a school, being a professional coach assures a steady supply of job opportunities in the future. There are various courses available to people interested in pursuing a career in coaching at the bachelor and master levels.
In some countries, coaches are certified by the state after passing a certain examination that tests their skills and knowledge. Like many other bachelor degrees, bachelor degrees in sports take four years and require a high school diploma to be enrolled. Academic qualifications help equip you with skills that make you stand out among employers.
Bachelor’s degree in coaching
A first degree in sports coaching is referred to by different names including;
- Bachelor of Science in Sports Leadership
- Bachelor of Sports Science in Coaching
The program brings together different programs like fitness training, anatomy and physiology, motivational theory, sports psychology, and leadership theory.
Majority of sports coaching programs are structured with sports science core courses together with electives.
Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching
Master’s degrees in sports coaching are meant to boost one’s professional experience in leading athletes or teams. Content covered in this course includes coaching philosophy development, game-day tactics, external economic, legal, and political factors that affect the sporting industry. Courses covered include;
- Sports law
- Sports medicine and injury prevention
- Sports administration
- Research methods
- Coaching and leadership principles
Professional coaching qualifications
To be regarded as a professional coach, you need to acquire appropriate coaching qualification, offered by the National Governing Body (NGB) of the chosen sport. After getting your coaching degree, you need to proceed to acquire the relevant qualifications in your field of specialization.
The time it takes to complete a professional coaching course differs from sports top another.
Sports coaching apprenticeships
There are several sports coaching apprenticeship programs that allow you to learn as you learn. These programs can be taken from various levels, including intermediate to advanced levels. Intermediate sports coaching apprenticeship includes tennis coach, swimming coach, diving instructor, and community sports coach.
Employment Opportunities for a Sports Coach
Their number of full-time employment opportunities in the sporting world are very minimal. Employers od sports coaches include government agencies, sporting clubs and associations, holiday resorts and centers, health clubs, swimming centers, community institutions, and educational institutions.
Some coaches end up being self-employed in their training facilities. In addition, many coaching professionals work as volunteers in many organizations. Employment opportunities largely depend on corporate sponsorship, the number of people playing various sports, and media coverage of the sporting event. Besides, a sport’s acceptance as part of a healthy lifestyle as well as the amount of money that clubs have invested in the sport. Effective promotion and developing trends towards sports professionalism also help boost the number of job opportunities available. Popular sporting careers include;
Sports coach
A sports coach can help sports personalities and trams hone their skills and abilities to get the best results. The job involves working with teams and sports professionals. Sports coaches are mainly involved in planning and implementing training programs that boost the fitness of the participant.
Sports therapist
A sports therapist is charged with ensuring that participants are competing in a safe environment. They are the first responders in case of injury and have a range of skills to help rehabilitate patients to full health. Although academic qualifications are important, professional training, experience at work, and appropriate coaching qualification are sufficient to make one a sports therapist.
Sport and exercise psychologist
Sports psychologists work with both professional and amateur sportsmen. Their roles are based on the sport as well as its impact on performance. They help to prepare athletes for the challenges that they may encounter. Sports psychologists are on high demand in sports teams and educational institutions.
Personal trainer
These are charged with creating training and fitness programs that fit individual clients. They assist clients in achieving full fitness, lose weight, build muscles, and achieve more strength.
