Are you interested in becoming a coach but don’t know where to start? This guide should hopefully point you in the right direction.
Coaches are needed at all levels of sport, from beginners through to elite performers. The coach's role is to create the right learning environment to provide participants with the best possible opportunity to improve their sporting skills and ultimately their performance. A good coach will make a coaching session challenging yet enjoyable, will show enthusiasm and will inspire the participant to continue taking part.
What qualities should a good coach have?
- Enthusiasm for helping people to learn and develop their skills
- The ability to inspire others
- A good knowledge of the sport
- Good communication skills
- Good organisational skills
What qualifications are needed to become a coach?
To become a qualified coach you will need to undertake the appropriate National Governing Body (NGB) qualification for your sport.
The first sports-specific qualification that you would need to take is a Level 1 Award which will enable you to become an assistant coach. These courses are available to anyone over the age of 16 years.
To become a head coach you would need to gain some coaching experience as an assistant coach, and then undertake a Level 2 qualification in your chosen sport. A Level 2 qualification will then enable you to lead a session.
If you are unsure of whether or not coaching is for you, or you don’t know which sport you would like to coach, then there are also entry level qualifications which may be a good starting point. These courses help to develop a range of generic skills such as planning, communicating, delivering and evaluating sessions – all the skills needed to become a good coach/leader. These courses are usually multi-sports and are available from the ages of 14 years upwards. For more information on the types of courses available, see the link to the SportsleadersUK website.
How do I find out about coach education courses?
For a list of coach education courses that are currently planned within Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, please see the Coach Education Courses link on this page.
Are there any other requirements?
In addition to the relevant national governing body qualification, you will also need the following in order to coach:
- Appropriate insurance cover
- Criminal Records Bureau check
- First aid qualification
- Attendance on a Safeguarding & Protecting Children workshop (or NGB equivalent)
Further details of the above are available as part of the national governing body Level 1 Award courses.
What employment opportunities exist for coaches?
Although the majority of coaches work part-time in a voluntary capacity, there are, increasingly, more paid positions available. Posts vary in the nature of the contract, (e.g. casual, contracted part-time, contracted full-time), the setting in which the coaching is taking place, the objectives of the coaching programme and the target audience to be coached (e.g. age, gender, ability). Coach employers include sports clubs, local authorities, schools, private leisure centres and national governing bodies of sport.
For details of part-time and full-time coaching posts currently available within Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, follow the links to the Shropshire Council job vacancies page and the Energize STW website, or refer to the contacts section at the bottom of this page to register your interest in any casual coaching opportunities.
Although the process involved in becoming a coach may seem a little daunting, it really isn't. There are a number of organisations that can help to signpost and support you to develop your skills by taking the next step on the coaching ladder.