Becoming a Coach

If you are considering becoming a sports coach then this section of the website is for you. People enter sports coaching through a variety of routes, such as having been participants themselves and being a parent to an active sportsperson. 

It is not essential for you to have great sporting prowess, and key characteristics of successful sports coaches include an ability to communicate and empathise with their charges, a desire to help people to fulfil their potential and a willingness to constantly develop and improve their own knowledge.

The first steps to becoming a sports coach are to gain a coaching qualification through the relevant National Governing Body of Sport (NGB). Further information can be found on each NGBs website regarding when and where courses are held, and what the courses involve. A coach should also develop his or her experience, which is usually through a local sports club. 

Coaches can continue to develop their knowledge through attending workshops such as those that are run by sports coach UK, Tees Valley Sport and the University of Teesside. Details of all of these courses can be found here.

The major employment opportunities for sports coaches are via the Community Sports Coach Scheme (CSCS) and further information is available by clicking here.