What education is needed to become a coach?
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What minimum degree or certification is required to become a coach?
Are there different educational requirements for different types of coaches?
What steps should you take to achieve this required education?
Are there different educational requirements for different types of ?
If you are a coach, what educational path did you take to become one?
5 answers
Donna’s Answer
Q : What minimum degree or certification is required to become a coach?
A : There's actually no minimum degree but with the technologies improving nowadays, having atleast a bachelor's degree is an advantage. You can also utilize online training re: Coaching to get certification
and license.
Q. Are there different educational requirements for different types of coaches?
A: Not that I am aware of, it only varies on the field you are into. Say you are a people manager, atleast you have a knowledge of diff coaching models and style, RCA tools. If you are a volleyball coach - of course you need to know everything about volleyball so you could be working one on one in competitions with the individual so they can perform to the best of their abilities - you dont have to be a BS graduate to be able to do that but at least a coaching qualification that is recognized by the governing body of your sport/field.
Q: If you are a coach, what educational path did you take to become one?
A: I am a coach and I have started with the Coaching 101 training, then enrolled on some coaching related courses online and then practice it everyday.
Q : How to become a better coach?
1. Observe other coaches
2. Remember that it is more than just strength training
3. Record yourself coaching
4. Know the people you are coaching
5. Read more coaching related material.
6. Get out there and coach!
Charles Anderson
Charles’s Answer
Alexandra,
I will try to answer some of these questions, as a Middle School coach, as well as knowing some coaches that I'm acquainted with.
Q. What minimum degree or certification is required to become a coach?
A. I can only speak for soccer, since I'm acclimated to that. There isn't a minimum degree, but having a Bachelor's is better than not having anything. As for certification, to make more money and/or be considered for higher level coaching jobs, you need to have a coaching license. They start out low at "F" and work your way up to "A". Each one costs more money and each one requires more time. They can research this through US Club soccer (https://www.ussoccer.com/coaching-education/licenses) OR through their local soccer organization (ie: http://www.ntxsoccer.org/coaching__education/)
Q. Are there different educational requirements for different types of coaches?
A. Not that I'm aware of, however if one were to take Kinesiology, Physical Therapy, Sport Management, etc, those would be good starters. If the person wants to work at a middle or high school and be a coach, I would suggest getting a teaching degree in what they enjoy (math, science, PE, etc).
Q. What steps should you take to achieve this required education?
A. I would recommend taking any sport related licenses when you can. If they offer them during winter or summer break, I would try to get those in, when not going to college & studying. So you continue to learn throughout the year, as well as getting a license or more, and learning more about actually coaching the sport versus kind of knowing what to do, just because you played it.
Q. Are there different educational requirements for different types of ?
A. Not that I'm aware of. The only thing I'm aware of is coaching licenses, and each license teaching something more and intricate than the previous course didn't.
Q. If you are a coach, what educational path did you take to become one?
A. I am a coach, but took the coaching lead after working 19+ years with the company. I'm coaching middle school girls soccer, so the Athletic Director didn't need me to have an actual degree. He knew I knew the sport and had coached soccer previously.
New Q. What other recommendations would you suggest for a coach?
A. In the process of continued learning - and knowing the ins and outs of the sport. I would also look into taking referee courses in the sport you are interested in (ie: basketball, soccer, football, etc).
Brad’s Answer
I have spent time working within sports including at the collegiate level. I have volunteered as a coach across camps hosted by collegiate basketball programs and through partnerships with the performance apparel company I currently work with. I will do my best to provide some perspective to the questions below.
What minimum degree or certification is required to become a coach?
I don't believe there is a minimum degree or certification required to become a coach. However, the higher the level the greater the experience and background plays a role in "breaking" into the career path. I think experience matters more than what a diploma might offer. However, a degree certainly helps on a resume. There are various certifications and programs within different sports that present opportunities to not only gain knowledge, expertise, but also visibility and connections that will help as you develop as a coach.
Are there different educational requirements for different types of coaches?
There are certification levels that probably weigh more depending on the level you want to coach and might be requirements to coach at certain levels.
What steps should you take to achieve this required education?
I would recommend looking into the governing bodies of the sport someone is interested in coaching and seeing what is available and what might be required to coach at certain levels. I still think experience and who you know matters most.
Are there different educational requirements for different types of ?
I think all certifications or educational opportunities are roughly the same but with a focus on the specific sport.
If you are a coach, what educational path did you take to become one?
While not in a career as a coach but experience with coaches at some of the highest levels I believe bottom line that experience is most important. It will require a lot of hard work often hard work for minimal pay before getting to the position you ultimately want to be in. Leaning on those with the most experience, observing, asking questions and applying all this will be paramount. Being truly committed to being a coach takes time, effort, and sacrifice. At the end of the day, what you put in will determine what you get out of the experience.
Veronica’s Answer
In my personal experience, I would suggest doing some kind of these workshops that help you unveil how are you livnig your life, what are the believes you have and which ones are stopping you or preventing you from getting the results you have. THese workshops will provide you with the first set of tools for you...which is very important and you will be sharing with others so at the same time, you will get a sense on how people react to challenges, to suffering, to "being stuck". To me these really helped to understand me and my attitudes and from there you can understand others. The more you practice on yourself the better as you will "live" the tools and then will be able to apply to others. I think that is the very first step.
After that, you can decide whether you want to work with personal coaching or executive coaching or coaching for kids. Getting the certification as a coach will just take you to take another course with just a certification to then work with people.
Something that I notices is that people are your mirror. So in general, the universe works in a way that when you start "coaching" people, you will realize that they are talking about something that you have as well, therefore why i think that doing a couple of your own workshops before the certification will open up the opportunities.
Veronica recommends the following next steps:
Julie’s Answer
You can be a sports coach, a personal coach, a career coach, cooking coach, exercise coach and the list goes on.
While there isn't official education for coaching, there are many coaching courses that will enable you to get certified as a coach. I highly recommend you look into more than one and take advantage of at least one fully certified program.
Practice Coaching with friends and family and take feedback before coaching yourself...
The biggest tip for coaches - BE A LISTENER FIRST.
Second, help the person you are working with to come to their own solution - don't provide this yourself or it will be your choice not theirs.
Love the ideas above too!!