Coaches and Scouts

Career summary

#No comparable wois occ

# review 3/25/19 lh

Coaches

Coaches of non-professional sports often work for schools or recreation programs. They teach individual and team sports, using their knowledge of sports techniques and players' abilities. They organize and lead indoor and outdoor games and tournaments. In addition, they plan, organize, and run practice sessions. They explain and enforce safety rules. Some coaches help referee games. Other coaches give advice about how to treat injuries.

Many coaches are also in charge of equipment. They select and order equipment and supplies. They issue it to players and store it between games. Coaches also teach and monitor the use of training equipment.

Coaches who work with children and youth may plan physical education programs. Their goal is to help children develop new physical and social skills.

At the college level, coaches' duties vary by the size of the school and the popularity of the sport. In small schools, one person may coach several sports. At large colleges and universities, coaching a single sport is a full-time job. These coaches have duties similar to coaches of professional sports teams. Both may supervise assistant coaches in addition to their other duties. They may also be in charge of monitoring eligibility for student athletes. 

Professional coaches observe athletes to determine where they need improvement. They also plan game strategy by evaluating the abilities of their own team and the opposing team. Coaches instruct and motivate their athletes. They correct technique with individual players. They demonstrate techniques and game strategies to the team. In addition, coaches plan and direct conditioning programs to help athletes reach their peak performance.

Scouts

Athletic scouts determine athletes' potential for college or professional sports. Most scouts recruit for professional sports, but it is also common for recruiters to scout high schools for college players.

Scouts observe and analyze athletes' performance. They also review game records and statistics and evaluate athletes' skills. They discuss or recommend trading or hiring players. In college sports, scouts may arrange and offer incentives to play, such as athletic scholarships. In professional sports, scouts negotiate contracts with athletes or their agents. They also prepare reports about individual athletes and future recruitment.

Scouts may work for:

• Professional sports teams
• College or university sports programs
• Scouting agencies

Some scouts work as freelance scouts. They hide their identity from potential recruits while they evaluate them. It is important for college and university scouts to follow NCAA regulations about recruiting players.

Related careers

This career is part of the Education and Training cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Adult and Vocational Education Teachers
• Agents and Business Managers
• Athletic Trainers
• Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
• High School Teachers
• Life Guards and Ski Patrollers
• Professional Athletes
• Recreation Workers
• Recreational Therapists
• Umpires and Referees

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to coaches and scouts.

• Plan, organize, and run practice sessions.
• Provide training, encouragement, and motivation to athletes.
• Plan game strategies and select team roster and positions.
• Plan and direct physical conditioning programs to help athletes achieve peak performance.
• Keep records of athlete, team, and opposing team performance.
• Teach, demonstrate, and monitor the proper use of training equipment.
• Explain and enforce safety rules.
• Observe athletes to determine areas of weakness.
• Evaluate own team's and opposing team's abilities when planning game strategy.
• Organize, lead, and sometimes referee indoor and outdoor games and tournaments.
• Select, store, and issue equipment to participants.
• Analyze athletes' performance and review game statistics to determine potential for college or professional sports.
• Evaluate athletes' skills and discuss or recommend hire, trade, or position of players.
• Negotiate with athletes or their representatives to arrange contracts or scholarships.
• Prepare scouting reports.
• Keep abreast of changing regulations regarding the recruitment of amateur and student-athletes.

Common work activities

Coaches and scouts perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Establish and maintain relationships
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Coach others
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Develop and build teams
• Get information needed to do the job
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Schedule work and activities
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Think creatively
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Develop goals and strategies
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Process information
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Analyze data or information
• Use computers
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Perform administrative tasks
• Teach others
• Document and record information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Assist and care for others
• Monitor and control resources
• Handle and move objects
• Evaluate information against standards

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, coaches and scouts:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a very high level of social interaction. Have face-to-face discussions with athletes daily.
• Occasionally deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous people. Are often placed in conflict situations.
• Are greatly responsible for the success of athletes and teams that they coach. Scouts are not as responsible for the success of the athletes they recruit.
• Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of athletes. Scouts are not as responsible for athletes' health and safety as coaches.
• Communicate with others daily over the phone and via email.
• Write letters and memos often. This is especially true for scouts.
• Often speak to groups of people.

Physical work conditions

• Work outdoors and indoors, depending on the sport.
• Are sometimes exposed to sound and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Work near other people, but usually have a few feet of space.
• Occasionally work in an enclosed vehicle or equipment, depending on sport.
• Are sometimes exposed to hot or cold temperatures, depending on the weather and location.

Work performance

• Are accurate in performing their job.
• May repeat the same physical activities over and over again.
• Work in a highly competitive environment.
• Must meet strict deadlines often.
• Rarely consult a supervisor before making decisions or setting tasks and goals.
• Make decisions daily that strongly impact teams and athletes.

Hours/travel

• Work irregular schedules. Schedules very depending on the sport.
• Work a 40-hour week.
• May work weekends and evenings.
• Scouts may travel to meet potential recruits. Coaches may travel with athletes to away games.

Physical demands

Coaches and scouts frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for coaches and scouts to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for coaches and scouts to be able to:

• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

Skills and abilities

Coaches and scouts need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.
• Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.

Work with people

• Teach others how to do something.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Look for ways to help people.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Perceive and visualize

• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Fitness Instructing
• Recreation, Fitness, and Leisure Studies
• Sport and Fitness Management

Other programs of study to consider

• Athletic Training
• Exercise Physiology
• Exercise Science and Kinesiotherapy
• Middle School Education and Teaching
• Secondary Education and Teaching

Training

To work as a coach or scout, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have a bachelor's degree.

Education after high school

Most coaches and scouts have a bachelor's degree. However, the education and training required to coach depends on your employer. The sport you coach or teach and your level of responsibility also determine the training you need. Some entry-level jobs only require experience in the sport. Some coaching and scouting jobs require a great deal of education and experience. Coaches often must be certified according to the school district's policies.

College and professional coaches usually have a bachelor's degree, and some have a master's degree. In addition, most have many years of experience playing and then coaching their sport. Most have worked their way up through the coaching ranks.

Many colleges and universities offer degree programs in exercise science, nutrition and fitness, physical education, or sports medicine. Some universities also offer degree programs in sports marketing.

Work experience

You can begin by helping to coach a children's team. Many opportunities for volunteering exist in children's leagues.

No matter which sport you wish to coach or scout for, nothing is better preparation than expertise in the sport. Most coaches and scouts first played the sport. Being able to show someone the right moves and explain the reason for them is valuable. Knowing what skills are needed for a sport helps the scout find the best athlete.

On-the-job training

Most entry-level jobs for coaches are as assistant coaches. Coaches start in lower-level leagues or smaller schools. As they gain knowledge and experience, they often move up in level or school size. It usually takes several years as an assistant and a winning record before you can apply for head coaching jobs.

Scouts often begin their career as assistant coaches. In these positions, coaches learn to evaluate athletes' skills.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements . You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Physical Education

Many coaches and scouts are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers look for coaches who have participated in the sport they coach. College and professional coaches usually work their way up through the coaching ranks by showing they can develop winning teams. In this field, experience counts more than education.

In addition, many school coaches are also teachers. High schools often draw first from teachers when looking for a coach. Employers of all types of coaches and scouts prefer applicants who can relate well to and motivate people.

Employers who hire scouts look for candidates with experience evaluating athletes. They also look for people with strong organizational and communication skills.

Tips

Some coaches work part time at summer sports camps or at clinics offered on weekends or during holidays.

#Tip based on article on NBC Camps LLC which hires 650 coaches each summer at its sports camps, (Journal of Business, May 31, 2007), 3/12/08, cj.

Licensing/certification

Coaches who teach in public schools must have a teacher's license in that state. Licenses are not required for teachers in private schools.

For information on teacher certification requirements in Washington, contact:

Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Professional Education and Certification 
Old Capitol Building
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
360.725.6400

#Appended this general contact information since Natl DB licensing statement mentions coaches in public schools must have teaching certificate/license, 3/12/08, cj. Info ok 3/8/10, cj. Contact info ok 2/29/12 & 2/26/14, 3/28/16, 2/19/18 cj. 3/25/19 lh

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Coaches and Scouts 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Wages vary by sport, area of the country, and the worker's level of experience. For coaches, experience and success in competition are the most important factors. Some professional coaches earn over $1 million per year.

Benefits also vary by employer. Full-time coaches and scouts may earn typical benefits. These include vacation, sick leave, and health insurance. Those who are self-employed must provide their own insurance.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 11% of coaches and scouts are self-employed.

Major employers:

• Elementary and secondary schools
• Colleges and universities
• Sports academies, camps, and schools
• Recreation centers

National outlook

Demand for coaches and scouts will be good as high schools add new sports teams. Many smaller colleges are also adding new sport teams. Growing interest in college and professional sports will increase the demand for scouts.

Competition will be strongest at large universities and at the professional level. However, there is more opportunity at small colleges and high schools, especially for women's team coaches. At the high school level, job prospects will be best for people certified to teach.

Other resources

American Kinesiology Association 
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
800.213.7193
703.476.3410

Society of Health and Physical Educators 
PO Box 225
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
800.213.7193

References

Career cluster

• Education and Training

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Coaches and Scouts (27-2022.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Coach, Professional Athletes (153.227-010) 
• Head Coach (153.117-010) 
• Instructor, Physical (153.227-014) 
• Instructor, Physical Education (099.224-010) 
• Instructor, Sports (153.227-018) 
• Scout, Professional Sports (153.117-018) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Social/Enterprising/Realistic
• Social/Realistic/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Service Professional