Athletic/Sports Coach

Working Schedule

• Full-time positions are common but many Athletic Coaches only work part-time and have other jobs. Work schedules may include non-traditional hours such as nights or weekends. During busy seasons, coaches can expect to work overtime. Frequent travel may be required. 

Typical Duties

• Plan training and practices for players or other athletes that will boost their strength, speed, agility, endurance, and other qualities needed
• Demonstrate proper exercise techniques and correct poor form 
• Monitor players to look for strengths that can be built up and leveraged, as well as areas for improvement
• Take notes and make videos of players’ performance to assess progress
• Forge strong teams that play to each other’s strengths and complement each other
• Watch other teams and customize strategies based on their strengths and weaknesses
• Offer motivation and encouragement during training and prior to games or events
• Call plays during games and provides continuous guidance as the game unfolds 
• Substitute players as needed 
• Help athletes understand the importance of proper rest, hydration, nutrition, and good behavior 
• Watch for signs of excessive fatigue, injury, or other problems 
• Model and enforce proper sportsmanship, teamwork, and compliance with rules
• Keep tabs on student-athlete academics, health and wellness, finances, and personal problems they may be facing
• Perform scouting and recruiting functions, as necessary. Attend high school games and events to look for potential recruits 
• Meet with recruits, parents, spouses, and/or agents to discuss and negotiate opportunities such as scholarships, contracts, and financial incentives 
• Discuss recruitment options and make recommendations to stakeholders

Additional Responsibilities

• Make travel arrangements as needed 
• Provide performance reviews and give praise and constructive criticism 
• Ensure athletes wear appropriate sports gear and take care of equipment
• Stay up to date on changes to rules, best practices, and new technologies
• Attend training camps, clinics, and try-outs
• Engage in public relations through the media or other outlets
• Supervise and lead assistant coaches and other staff
• Oversee budgets and fundraising. Ensure gear, equipment, and other items are ordered and stocked 

Soft Skills

• Analytical
• Budget-conscious 
• Calm under pressure
• Compassion
• Competence 
• Compliance mindset
• Consensus-building (i.e., group buy-in)
• Curiosity
• Detail-oriented
• Enthusiasm 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Flexible 
• Focus
• Goal-oriented
• Initiative
• Methodical 
• Motivated
• Observant
• Organized
• Patient
• Persuasive 
• Positivity 
• Reliable 
• Resourceful
• Respectful
• Sound judgment and decision-making
• Stamina
• Time management 
• Trustworthy

Technical Skills

• Intimate knowledge of applicable sports and their rules
• Knowledge of athlete contracts and scholarships
• Ability to provide effective motivation and feedback 
• Knowledge of high school and college academics
• Knowledge of sports rules and sport management 
• Good eye for spotting talent
• Leadership and management skills
• Negotiation skills

• K-12 schools
• Colleges and universities
• Professional sports and athletics organizations 

Athletic Coaches wear many hats and must make difficult decisions that can deeply affect the lives and careers of young athletes. They often develop close bonds with the players and teams they help develop, sometimes over a period of years. Some days, athletes might get frustrated or upset with a coach who is just doing their job. 

It can be tough to keep everyone motivated and in good spirits when people are tired, sore, hot, cold, wet, or feeling dejected because of an illness, injury, or a game or event not going the way they’d hoped. No matter how the athletes feel, it’s up to the coach to take good care of them and be the leader who keeps them going…and who makes the call to take them out of a training session, game, or competition, when necessary. 

Coach Vern Gambetta once said, “I’m a specialist in being a generalist.” Today, that sentiment is as true as ever! Athletic Coaches must focus on their core tasks but as the world gets more complex, so do their roles. They may need to offer increasingly individualized attention to players, work towards building better relationships, and be more attuned to generational differences. 

And as everything seems to be recorded and shared online in the 21st Century, Coaches must be extremely mindful of the things they do and say, and how those could be taken out of context. Speaking of modern culture, Coaches have access to better digital tools to help them capture, analyze, and track athletes' performances in order to provide feedback for improvement. 

Athletic Coaches usually played or participated in the same sports they will later coach. However, some were simply avid fans with a passion for a particular sport or activity. In addition to developing their subject matter expertise, they typically cultivated their leadership qualities in their formative years, as well, perhaps because they were given family, school, or work responsibilities early on. Coaches tend to be highly motivated and optimistic people who strongly empathize and advocate for their players and teams. These are qualities they may have gained through various life experiences.