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Coaches and Scouts
Instruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports for the primary purpose of competition. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. May evaluate athletes' strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes' technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching certifications should be reported in the appropriate teaching category.
Other titles employers use
Baseball Coach · Basketball Coach · Coach · Cross Country Coach · Football Coach · Gymnastics Coach · Soccer Coach · Softball Coach
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions.
- Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours.
- Adjust coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
- Instruct individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles, such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, or feet, to achieve desired results.
- Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games or sports seasons.
- Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, persuading and practical work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Instructing
- Speaking
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
Subjects to know
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Originality
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.8 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.2 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 2.5 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 49%
- A master's degree 19%
- A two-year degree 17%
- High school or less 13%
- A doctorate or professional degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Presentation software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Video creation and editing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 36,600
- Job openings each year
- 4,770
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 17.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 36,600 | 4,770 | 17.7% |
| New York | 20,550 | 340 | 20.0% |
| Washington | 19,910 | 3,010 | 21.3% |
| Texas | 18,170 | 2,390 | 22.4% |
| Florida | 16,780 | 2,210 | 22.1% |
| Ohio | 15,400 | 1,960 | 6.3% |
| Illinois | 11,760 | 1,500 | 9.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 10,910 | 1,390 | 8.7% |
| Michigan | 10,050 | 1,270 | 5.3% |
| Virginia | 8,350 | 1,070 | 10.3% |
| North Carolina | 8,160 | 1,080 | 24.4% |
| Tennessee | 7,980 | 1,070 | 32.1% |
| New Jersey | 6,890 | 890 | 13.1% |
| Indiana | 6,720 | 860 | 10.9% |
| Iowa | 6,650 | 860 | 14.1% |
| Colorado | 6,610 | 860 | 17.8% |
| Wisconsin | 6,410 | 830 | 14.5% |
| Kansas | 5,340 | 680 | 9.2% |
| Connecticut | 5,090 | 660 | 16.2% |
| Missouri | 4,980 | 640 | 7.6% |
| Arizona | 4,840 | 630 | 19.2% |
| Oregon | 4,700 | 620 | 25.7% |
| Georgia | 4,580 | 600 | 17.4% |
| Utah | 4,370 | 590 | 40.1% |
| Minnesota | 4,350 | 560 | 12.7% |
| Maryland | 4,340 | 570 | 17.0% |
| Alabama | 4,280 | 550 | 12.3% |
| South Carolina | 3,690 | 480 | 16.8% |
| Oklahoma | 3,230 | 410 | 8.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 2,970 | 390 | 18.3% |
| Idaho | 2,840 | 380 | 30.9% |
| Massachusetts | 2,590 | 340 | 18.3% |
| Arkansas | 2,580 | 330 | 10.3% |
| Nevada | 2,450 | 320 | 10.9% |
| Louisiana | 2,210 | 290 | 11.6% |
| Kentucky | 2,030 | 260 | 8.6% |
| Nebraska | 1,880 | 240 | 6.8% |
| Mississippi | 1,820 | 240 | 11.7% |
| Montana | 1,780 | 230 | 14.8% |
| Maine | 1,740 | 220 | 3.6% |
| South Dakota | 1,550 | 200 | 11.5% |
| North Dakota | 1,440 | 190 | 18.0% |
| New Mexico | 1,260 | 170 | 28.6% |
| New Hampshire | 1,080 | 140 | 14.9% |
| Delaware | 1,040 | 140 | 13.0% |
| West Virginia | 1,030 | 130 | 12.0% |
| Rhode Island | 870 | 110 | 8.8% |
| Wyoming | 760 | 100 | 24.6% |
| Vermont | 750 | 100 | 15.4% |
| District of Columbia | 740 | 100 | 17.5% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Iowa
- Degrees each year
- 620
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 542
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 466
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Degrees each year
- 485
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Memphis
- Degrees each year
- 443
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Texas State University
- Degrees each year
- 423
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
California State University-Northridge
- Degrees each year
- 397
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
California State University-Fresno
- Degrees each year
- 463
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Compare every college offering sports, kinesiology, and physical education/fitness