Becoming a trainer can be a full-time career or a part-time volunteer position. Professional coaches need extensive experience and formal sports education, while casual coaches need some experience and familiarity with the sport. A college degree is essential for a professional coaching career, but not necessarily in a sports-related field. Starting small by volunteering with a local children’s team is a good way to gain experience and move up to coaching positions.
While there isn’t a single formula you can follow to become a trainer, there are generally a few things you can do to help make the possibility a reality. The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to make coaching your full-time career. Most people who coach professional teams or who work at the college level make work their life’s work. This is not necessary; Many people coach more informal teams in communities and schools, on a voluntary or part-time basis. Requirements can vary substantially depending on the configuration. Volunteer and casual coaches usually need some experience and familiarity with the sport, but a commitment to time is often the most important thing. Professionals, on the other hand, usually need extensive experience, usually as a player and sometimes as an analyst as well, as well as at least some formal sports education. Doing a little research early on and talking to people who fill the types of positions you want can be invaluable as you look to make the transition.
Professional training basics
Professional coaches are those for whom coaching is a full-time job. Many of the highest paid people in this line of work are employed by professional sports teams or highly ranked universities, but there are plenty of options out there. Some people coach private teams or may even work with individual athletes, as is often the case in Olympic sports. Most Olympic gymnasts and ice skaters, for example, have their own coaches – people who work full-time to develop that athlete’s skills and chances of winning. In most cases, becoming a coach in a professional capacity requires a combination of intense personal experience, formal education, and connections in the field.
Importance of Experience
With very few exceptions, professional coaches are people who have direct personal experience with the sport they are working on. Most performed at a college or semi-professional level and generally had careers as athletes before considering coaching. You don’t necessarily need to be an experienced player before training, but it will help. A well-known history with the sport proves that you know the inside of how things work and also lends some credibility to your ideas and advice.
If you know in advance that coaching is something you’d like to do, it’s a good idea to try playing at the high school and college levels. Many student players go on to coach at the collegiate, semi-professional, or professional levels. Not only do they know the game, but they are also in tune with the players’ needs and the challenges athletes face.
educational requirements
Formal education is also something to think about. If you are interested in a career as a professional sports coach, a bachelor’s degree is virtually essential. You don’t necessarily need to study or major in a sports-related field to qualify; in most cases, simply having a college degree is the most important thing. Taking classes that can help your career path is usually a good move.
Courses of study conducive to a professional coaching career include physical education, sports medicine, nutrition and fitness, sports science, and sports management. Students in these programs will be involved in a variety of sports, learning the games and how to coach them. Many sports management programs also offer classes in marketing, public relations, and facility management; basic aspects of law, economics and information technology are also often included. Studying these aspects more formally can make you more complete and adaptable.
More Casual Trainers
Not all trainers see the job as a full-time career, and you can probably become a trainer on a more casual basis by simply getting involved. Many youth coaches have little or no experience with the sport they are representing but are parents of players or are interested in seeing children succeed. It is common for secondary schools to recruit teachers to act as team coaches or assistants as well. In these cases, enthusiasm for the sport, willingness to learn its nuances and willingness to dedicate a lot of time to training and games – many of which take place on weekends or in the evenings – is one of the most important things. Some casual trainers are paid a stipend or basic salary, but not all are. It is more common for this type of person to offer their services or expertise.
Be willing to start small
The best way to start working at a local level is to volunteer to help the local children’s team. Depending on the size of your city or town and your location, there are likely youth soccer, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, and basketball leagues looking for volunteers.
Once you get involved with the team, you can start to learn what it takes to become a coach by observing the way the existing leader handles the team. You’ll also know when a coaching or assistant coaching position becomes available and you’ll have accumulated some experience, making you a natural choice for the job. In youth leagues, you can move into an assistant position on a local school team. While a college degree is usually required for a coaching position, you may be able to volunteer at your local school without much formal education or training.
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