Football coach
Football coaches teach skills and tactics to individuals and teams, and motivate them to fulfil their potential.
Typical Salary
£19,000 – £29,000
per year
Working Hours
20–37
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a football coach, you would:plan and run coaching sessions; work on game tactics; give feedback on performance and fitness, and set targets; offer guidance on nutrition and injury prevention; keep up to date with good coaching practice; motivate players to develop a positive mental attitude, confidence and self-discipline
Skills needed
- leadership skills
- the ability to teach pupils how to do something
- 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
- the ability to motivate and manage staff
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Entry requirements
Depending on the age groups you work with, you might need to do the Football Association's Safeguarding Children Course.
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- volunteering
- specialist courses run by a professional body
Career progression
As a community football coach, you could move into sports development or youth work after further training.
As a coach with a professional or semi-professional team, you might move to a bigger club to advance your career.
You could also complete higher level coaching awards, or specialise in a particular area like:
- goalkeeper or set piece coaching
- sports psychology
- mentoring new coaches