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Football coach
Football coaches teach skills and tactics to individuals and teams, and motivate them to fulfil their potential.
Average salary (a year)
£19000
Starter
£29000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
20.0 to 37.0 hours
variable
Work Hours
evenings / weekends / bank holidays
flexibly
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a university course; a college course; an apprenticeship; volunteering; specialist courses run by a professional body
University
You could study for a foundation degree or degree in a subject like
football coaching and development, coaching science, coaching and performance
There are also undergraduate and postgraduate courses that combine football coaching with other subjects, such as
sports business, management, talent development
You'll usually need some experience in coaching to apply for a postgraduate course.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College
You could do a college course, which could help you to get started in football coaching.
Courses include
sports coaching, sport - football coaching, UEFA C Licence (this used to be called the FA Level 2 Coaching award)
If you hold a UEFA coaching licence, you could do a course in coaching game based football.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
    Apprenticeship
    You could apply for a place on a Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or the Sports Coach Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
    These typically take 1 year and 6 months to complete and are a mix of workplace learning and study.
    Entry requirements
    You'll usually need:
    • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
    • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
    More Information
    equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
    guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
    Volunteering
    You can start as a volunteer at your local amateur football club. This will help to build up your experience and could lead onto training for coaching qualifications.
    You can contact your county football association to learn more about volunteering opportunities.
    You can also do online introductory courses while volunteering, through England Football Learning. These include:EE Playmaker, Introduction to Coaching Football
    Other Routes
    If you're currently coaching a football team, you could apply to do a coaching course or licence.
    These start at foundation level and UEFA C Licence, and go up to UEFA Pro Licence aimed at coaches working in professional football.
    You can also do courses which cover different age groups, abilities and types of football, such as futsal.
    More Information
    Career Tips
    Many paid coaching positions are part time, so the salary will reflect that. Salaries for coaches in English professional football are much higher than for those working in education, the community and for smaller football clubs.
    Further Information
    You can find out more about a career in football coaching through England Football Learning and UK Coaching.
    What it takes
    Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
    Skills and knowledge
    You'll need:
      Leadership skills
      The ability to teach pupils how to do something
      The ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
      Excellent verbal communication skills
      Knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
      To be thorough and pay attention to detail
      The ability to use your initiative
      The ability to motivate and manage staff
    Digital Skills Level
    to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
    Other Requirements
    Depending on the age groups you work with, you might need to do the Football Association's Safeguarding Children Course.
    Related Restrictions
    be over 16 years of age
    pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
    What you will do
    Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
    Day to day tasks
    As a football coach, you would
    plan and run coaching sessions, work on game tactics, give feedback on performance and fitness, and set targets, offer guidance on nutrition and injury prevention, keep up to date with good coaching practice, motivate players to develop a positive mental attitude, confidence and self-discipline
    Working environment
    You could work in the community, at a school, at a college, at a university or at a sports arena.
    You may need to wear a uniform.
    Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, physically demanding and you'll travel often.
    Career Path & Progression
    Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
    As a community football coach, you could move into sports development or youth work after further training.
    As a coach with a professional or semi-professional team, you might move to a bigger club to advance your career.
    You could also complete higher level coaching awards, or specialise in a particular area like
    goalkeeper or set piece coaching, sports psychology, mentoring new coaches
    Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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