The Ultimate Guide to Become a Sports Coach

A sports coach isn’t only someone who is well-versed in sports but also someone who has mentorship abilities. A sports coach doesn’t only motivate athletes but also trains them psychologically and physically.
So, if you wish to become a sports coach, then you need to do it right. So, let’s dive in and find out what a sports coach does, what their responsibilities are, and how you can be one.

What Does a Sports Coach Do?

A sports coach is tasked with many different responsibilities. While it depends on the nature of the position, the responsibilities of the sports coach remain the same. For instance, whether it’s a coach for a boxer or for a footballer, their primary tasks would be:

• Instruct and train athletes;
• Motivate and help overcome issues;
• Work with athletes to improve skills;
• Analyze team/athlete performance and encourage teamwork;
• Create training plans and regimens;
• Analyze strategies and tactics;
• Feedback on performance and encourage improvement;
• And develop new talent/athletes or build teams/athletes up.

They might also be required to handle a staff of coaches in specific areas if they are the head sports coach. That’s why coaches are usually trained to handle multiple responsibilities.

How to Become a Sports Coach?

Experience in a certain sport is one of the best ways to become a sports coach. But sports coaches usually aren’t just people who have played or have experience. They are also physios, fitness experts, or those who are good at mentoring or motivating.
However, these aren’t exactly skills that can’t be taught yet they can be developed. If you are reading this article, that means you do have a knack for coaching and that’s why there are sports certifications and degrees in the US that can help you get on the path. So, you will have to focus on a few things like:

• Getting a bachelor’s degree in sports science, coaching, or athletic training;
• Get certifications offered by sports organizations;
• Have some prior experience in sports (not necessary, but better if you do);
• Volunteer coaching work in schools and local communities;
• Find internships and coaching gigs at lower levels;
• And find clubs or schools looking for professional coaches (after a degree or certification).

Now there’s barely anything like prior experience in any sports, but it’s better to start off strong with a proper bachelor’s degree or certificate. Then it’s important to attend seminars or workshops to learn more about coaching methodologies as well as athletic training.

Is a Sports Coach Career a Good Choice?

A sports coach career is a very challenging one. In any competitive sport, coaches are responsible for not only team performance but also the well-being and management of athletes. This is particularly prevalent in team sports.
But it’s definitely a good choice for not only the compensation but also the glory and respect that comes with it. While there’s not a definitive answer to “what makes someone a great coach?” sports coach certification and a sports management degree might help one understand the science of it.
And since some aspects of it can be taught, anyone with a love for a particular sport can find it quite a rewarding career. And here are some of the reasons that make it a good career:

• Great pay and a lot of career growth potential;
• Recognition and usually in a thankful industry;
• Constant changes and challenges;
• Constant opportunities to grow as a professional;
• Opportunities to continuously learn and adapt;
• Helping teams or athletes be better versions of themselves;
• And fulfilling the love for sports with professional fulfillment.

Now any coach would start at a junior level and that’s why it’s important to know how to become a high school sports coach. And while it is possible to become a sports coach without a degree, the chances of getting a degree and becoming a sports coach also make it a great career.
Now as for professional growth, studies estimate that the sports coaching industry is growing steadily at around 5.87% every year. On the other hand, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 9% growth for job outlook in 2023—more than any year previously.
BLS also divides the categories into various sectors for sports coaches, such as:

• Schools and institutions;
• Colleges, universities, and professional sports schools;
• Elementary or secondary schools;
• Amusement or recreation industry;
• And spectator sports (the most popular choice).

Then there’s the median pay, which is on average around $51,000 for coaches on high-school and college levels. These are coaches with level 1 and 2 sports coaching courses, and anyone with advanced skills might be earning well above the $200k territory.
And there are at least 25+ coaches in the college football industry who are paid at least $5 million per year. Of course, these are coaches with 10+ years of experience, but they aren’t or weren’t necessarily athletes themselves.
That’s why being a sports coach is a good choice for a career and one that’s not only fruitful but also quite fulfilling.

What Sports Coach Degrees and Courses Do You Need to Become a Sports Coach?

Sports coaching degree aren’t exactly difficult to find in any university across the United States. That’s simply because it’s an ever-growing field and US universities aim to provide all the tools and skills necessary for students to succeed in this industry.
Now there are various types of degrees that one can pursue to get a career chance in sports coaching, and that includes:

• Sports coaching bachelors;
• Sports coaching masters;
• Or sports coaching associate.

There are also online and on-campus degrees, but online sports management degrees are more suited to administrative or management type roles. It’s better to sign up for a local or nearby university with track and field to dive into physiology or kinesiology and understand coaching better.
You can also look into how to become a sports coach online. However, it’s essential to know that online degrees aren’t exactly recommended for this field, as mentioned before. But they do provide good ground-work so it might be a good idea for some students to get started on the right foot.
All this definitely depends on the person aiming to get one of these degrees and how they wish to approach the coaching job. It’s a diversified career, but there are some degrees that stand out. Here are four of the best masters and bachelors options (two each) in the United States today:

1. The Ohio State University – BS in Sports Coaching, Recreation and Physical Education

The Ohio State University provides a lot of great programs and BS in Sports Coaching and Recreation is one of them. That’s because it has a well-planned curriculum that focuses on all the key areas of coaching, and some of the courses include:

• Concepts of Fitness & Wellness

• Coaching the Young Athlete

• Adventure Based Learning

• Lifespan Motor Development

• Introduction to Adapted Physical Activity

The degree also offers a Physical Education variant, but the former is the better option for sports coaches.

2. University of West Virginia – BS in Coaching and Performance Science

The University of West Virginia offers another great undergraduate option and it’s called BS in Coaching and Performance Science. This program is ideal for those who wish to train athletes and teams in any kind of sports.
The basic courses of this degree include:

• Principles and Problems of Coaching

• Coaching Education Administration

• Basic Strength/Conditioning for Coaches

• Sport-Specific Strength and Conditioning

• Training Theories for Coaches

That’s why it’s one of the leading options for anyone looking to become a coach for a team or individual athlete.

3. University of Georgia – MS in Kinesiology

University of Georgia’s MS in Kinesiology (Sport Pedagogy) is perhaps the best option for those looking to become athletic coaches. Not everyone who wants to become a sports coach would be an undergrad or high-school student. That’s why aiming to get this master’s is the right course of action.
The courses in this program make it great too:

• Motor Skill Behavior

• Teaching Methods for Fitness

• Health Promotion in Public Health

• Teaching of Striking/Target Activities

This is ideal for advanced athletic training and coaching.

4. Michigan State University – MS in Sports Coaching, Leadership, and Administration

Michigan State University also provides an outstanding all-around coaching program called MS in Sports Coaching, Leadership, and Administration. The degree is utterly focused on physical activities, analytical thinking, and team/athlete performance. That’s why the courses in this degree include:

• Sociocultural Issues for Sports Practitioners

• Theory and Practice of Modern Sports Leadership

• Special Topics in Sports Coaching and Leadership

• The Sports Enterprise

• Ethics in Sport Coaching and Leadership

That’s why it’s one of the best options you have, especially if you’re a graduate looking for a program that’ll give you the right set of skills and understanding of athletic training.

Bonus: Associate Degrees For Sports Coaching

You don’t need a master’s or a bachelor’s to become a sports coach. That’s why there are associate degrees for those who cannot commit to a 4-year bachelor’s or a master’s degree. And even though they are shorter (most are around 2 years) they do equip you with the right knowledge to become a sports coach.
Here are two of the best associate degrees for sports coaching that you can find today:

1. Hesston College, Kansas – Associate Degree in Athletic Training

Hesston College in Kansas is known for being one of the most affordable colleges with great programs. It has a lot of great programs and Hesston College’s Associate Degree in Athletic Training is one of them. It has great courses like:

• Principles of Nutrition

• Personal Training

• First Aid/CPRGeneral Psychology

Thus, it’s one of the best associate degrees you can find today.

2. Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California – Associate in Athletic Coaching

Santa Monica College in California is yet another incredible option. It’s one of the top colleges for associate degrees in the United States, and it offers some of the best options. One of them is the Santa Monica College’s Associate in Athletic Coaching.
This degree is ideal for many reasons because it teaches the basics of coaching in basically every major sport in the United States. The curriculum includes:

• Coaching of Racquet Sports

• Coaching of Track and Field

• Coaching of Football

• Coaching of Baseball

• Coaching of Soccer

• Coaching of Basketball

• Coaching of Volleyball

• Personal Trainer Preparation

That’s why it’s yet another good option for hopefuls, who want to be sports coaches.

Is Possible To Become A Sports Coach Without A Degree?

Now as to this question, the answer is it is possible to become a sports coach without a degree if you are certified and have prior experience in sports. This is likely the more suitable scenario for those who have strong and proven athletic backgrounds. Proven athletes are more likely to be coaches without any formal education or training themselves.

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