Cycling coach

If you're working with younger riders in schools and community groups, you could:

• plan fun, safe and engaging coaching activities
•  help riders to improve their riding technique
•  work with riders, schools, community groups and sports organisations to promote the sport

If you're working with riders involved in the competitive side of the sport, you could:

• work on developing more advanced riding techniques and tactics
•  design training programmes
•  support riders at races and competitions
•  maintain records of rider performance
•  advise on how lifestyle choices can affect performance
•  mentor other coaches
•  work with experts like sports scientists, nutritionists, physiotherapists and programme managers
•  market and promote your coaching services, if you're self-employed

• leadership skills
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• excellent verbal communication skills
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• getting specialist training from an industry body

You could work for British Cycling as a development coach, introducing people to cycling, or working on talent programmes to support cyclists.

You could work as a coach for a local authority or organisation with an interest in sports development at places like BMX tracks, mountain bike trail centres or indoor cycling tracks.

You could become a self-employed coach and design training programmes for amateur riders.

You could also become a cycling instructor through the Bikeability scheme, teaching young people how to cycle safety on roads. If you work with young people, you could move into sports development or youth work.

With experience, you could transfer your skills and abilities to other areas of the sports industry.