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Occupation Details

Sports Coach



Fact Sheet

Discussing blocking techniques

Sports coaches teach individuals and teams how to improve the way they play their sport by analysing their performances, instructing players in relevant skills, and motivating and enhancing players' performances.

Duties and Tasks

Sports coaches may perform the following tasks:

  • observe individuals' performances to determine the level of instruction required
  • teach techniques to help players acquire additional skills or improve existing skills
  • supervise practice sessions
  • plan training programs
  • supervise the physical development of athletes
  • organise and liaise with sports science support staff - arrange entries into competitions
  • plan and direct game strategy, sometimes in consultation with club officials
  • analyse the progress of games or competitions, and give signals and instructions to players
  • carry out after-competition analysis of performance and evaluate strategy
  • undertake related administrative tasks such as booking venues, organising tours and budgeting
  • travel with individuals and teams to competitions
  • recruit players and other coaching staff

Quick Facts

School subjects that include some aspect of BIOLOGY provide a useful background to these jobs. In some cases a biology-related subject is a pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
School subjects that include some aspect of physical education provide a useful background to these jobs. In some cases a physical education subject is a pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
The main duties and tasks involved in these jobs require daily physical exertion, such as bending and twisting, lifting, climbing, pulling, pushing, carrying or other effort where physical fitness is required. People with heart, back or other conditions who should avoid physical strain may wish to avoid these jobs. Jobs requiring physical effort have been excluded.
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing skills.
Included are jobs in the visual and graphic arts, in the crafts and in the performing arts, such as music, theatre, radio, film & television, as well as general entertainment and sporting jobs.
These jobs involve WORKING WITH PEOPLE, to help, inform, teach or treat them. Activities include discussing personal issues, listening to people's problems, and providing advice, instruction, information or treatment to meet their needs.
These jobs involve WORKING WITH THINGS in the natural world, such as conservation, handling animals, raising crops or livestock, or sport. Activities include growing and caring for living things, or an involvement with sport, leisure or the environment.
These jobs involve WORKING WITH DATA to order, process or retrieve facts and figures, or to develop or administer policies and procedures. Activities include organising, using or updating information, such as files or accounts, developing or following procedures or systems, and the planning, budgeting, and staffing of an organisation.
These jobs generally require no specific education for entry. Practical skills are often more important than level of education. Certificate I or II training is available for some jobs.
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree, or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study, such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.

Work Conditions

Sports coaches operate on a professional (paid) or honorary (unpaid) basis. They usually specialise in a particular sport. The degree of personal proficiency required to coach a sport varies widely and can include a voluntary junior coach through to an elite coach of a highly commercialised sport.

Personal Requirements

  • thorough understanding of preferred sport
  • good communication skills
  • good interpersonal skills
  • enthusiastic, disciplined and dedicated
  • flexible and innovative
  • prepared to travel and to work long hours, evenings and weekends

Related Courses

New South Wales / ACT

See State Specific Information below for further education and training options.

Instructing players on ways to improve their volleyball shots