Career: Coaches and Scouts
Most athletes are highly goal-oriented, but when the going gets tough, their determination may flag.
As a coach, you’ll need to work hard to keep up their spirits and their motivation -- even when your athletes are stuck in a losing streak or can’t seem to beat their own best time. You’ll also evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in order to help them improve their game.
Coaches are responsible for the training and development of athletes and sports teams. Scouts, who at the college level might also work as coaches, search for talented players who would contribute to team success.
Did You Know?
- For high school coaching jobs, schools usually hire teachers willing to take on the work part time. If they can’t find someone already on staff, they’ll hire someone from outside.
Are You Ready To...?
- Use your knowledge of physiology, nutrition, and corrective techniques to help players improve their game
- Help motivate players to reach their goals
- Develop personal relationships with players
- Plan and oversee practices
- Instruct groups or individuals in the basics of sports
- Demonstrate techniques
- Find and recruit potential athletes, often arranging athletic scholarships
- Negotiate contracts with pro athletes and their representatives
- Travel often
It Helps to Be...
A flexible, resourceful athlete who knows the game inside and out. You’ll also need to be an excellent communicator and a leader who cares about others.
Make High School Count
- Pay attention in biology, chemistry, and health science. You’ll learn how the body works and build a strong base for college study.
- Build communication skills in English, drama, and speech.
- Gain extensive knowledge of your sport, build skills, and learn about teamwork by playing as much as you can in high school (and before).
- Try for leadership roles in school clubs, activities, sports, and government.
- Volunteer to help a sports coach or instructor at your school or in the community.
Did You Know?
- Scouts often have experience playing a sport at the college or professional level, which helps them spot promising young players.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for coaches and scouts to grow faster than the average for all careers through 2016.
Athletic programs for girls and women are growing, creating more coaching jobs. In general, school athletic programs are expanding, although that can change when budgets are tight. Coaches who are state-certified to teach an academic subject in addition to physical education should find the most opportunities.
Compensation
While the salaries of top professional athletes and those who coach them can be astronomical, most people with careers in sports and fitness have far more modest incomes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following average yearly wages for 2007:
- Coaches (not including those who hold teaching degrees): $34,720
- Middle school teachers: $50,630
- High school teachers: $52,450
Keep in mind that these figures reflect full-time employment. However, most coaches who are not also teachers work part time.
