Job Description – Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Coach

Coaching school sports is both a challenging and rewarding career. Coaches must motivate student athletes toward top performance while teaching them the rules of a sport and helping them to work together as a team.

Job Description

School coaching jobs are available at all grade levels and may involve coaching one or several sports. Coaches also may supervise gym activities and teach physical education. A coach usually works under the supervision of a school athletic director. Some of the games coaches may supervise include:
  • baseball
  • basketball
  • football
  • golf
  • hockey
  • rowing
  • tennis.
Picking team players is the responsibility of a school coach. Part of a coaching job is recognizing athletic potential and attracting talented players. Once the team is formed, a coach helps students develop their athletic talents and team spirit, preparing them both physically and mentally for competition.
 
Many schools require students participating in sports to maintain a certain grade point average, and it falls to coaches to enforce these requirements. Coaches also handle these administrative tasks:
  • maintaining supplies and equipment
  • reserving facilities for games
  • scheduling practice sessions.

If you are thinking about a career as a school sports coach, it is important to consider the unique challenges and pressures you will face:

  • Coaches are measured by school officials, parents and students by their wins and losses. Regardless of how hard a coach works, if the team is not winning, his job performance will be under fire.

  • Even with a winning team, if parents believe a coach is too harsh on their children, that coach can also be criticized.

  • Parents are often extremely competitive, and may be more concerned about their children’s success than the students are themselves. They may pressure coaches to place their children in important team positions, and be critical if their children are not given enough time on the playing field.

Salary Guide

The outlook for coaching jobs is positive and expected to remain strong through 2014, according to the National Association of Sports Officials. The median coaching job salary is $32,780 annually, however the salary range for coaches can vary widely. High school coaches may earn $800 to $3,000 per year for coaching in addition to their teaching pay.
 
Job security for coaching jobs can be shaky. A coach with a team that is not winning may find his or her job in jeopardy. Coaches face constant pressure and may work long hours. Even with these challenges, most school coaches find their jobs rewarding and enjoyable.

Education and Training

To become a school coach, a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement in most districts. Many schools now require a master's degree for coaches, and state certification is a must in many areas.
 
A school coach must have a positive attitude and a thick skin. Here are some other skills needed to be a successful coach:
  • basic first aid (CPR certification may be required.)
  • familiarity with fitness equipment
  • good communication skills and the ability to encourage students to succeed without frustrating them
  • knowledge of nutrition.
A driver's license is required in some areas where coaches are responsible for transporting students to games and other events.

Prior Work Experience

Employers value prior experience playing varsity or college level sports and working with children. Generally, the older the students, the more important previous sports experience will be. Those without this experience might consider being a coach’s assistant as an entry into this field.
 
Because coaching may not be a full-time job, some coaches also become teachers or substitute teachers. If you are considering becoming a coach and also teaching, check your state’s requirements for becoming a teacher. Like other academic and teaching positions, coaches may be required to pass background and drug-screening tests.

Career Advancement

For a successful coach, advancement opportunities include promotion to athletic director or transferring to coach for a larger school or a university.

Related Associations and Groups

For more information about coaching jobs, you may want to contact:
  • National Association of Sports Officials
  • National Athletic Trainers Association
  • National High School Athletics Coaches Association.

 

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