Sports and fitness occupations

How to become a sports coach, instructor or official

Official title: Sports coaches, instructors and officials

Also called: Instructor, Sports agent, Sports coach, Ski instructor, Swim instructor, Sports official, Scuba instructor, Karate instructor, Riding instructor, Sports coordinator, Gliding instructor, Outdoor instructor

Sports coaches, instructors and officials work with amateur and professional sportsmen and women to enhance performance, encourage greater participation in sport, supervise recreational activities such as canoeing and mountaineering, and organise and officiate at sporting events according to established rules.

Main tasks

Coaches teams or individuals by demonstrating techniques and directing training and exercise sessions
Controls team selection and discipline and recruits ancillary staff such as coaches or physiotherapists
Monitors and analyses technique and performance, and determines how future improvements can be made
Deals with administrative aspects such as arranging matches, contests or appearances for athlete or team, and organising required transport and accommodation
Provides information and develops facilities to encourage greater participation in sport, and to enhance the standards of participants
Understands health and safety aspects of various activities and ensures any statutory requirements are met
Inspects and maintains specialised clothing and equipment
Manages the playing areas and competitors, starts race, competition or match and controls its progress according to established rules

How to become one

There are no formal academic requirements although individuals must have experience in their sport and the relevant coaching and refereeing qualifications. Applicants to coaching courses must normally be over 18 years old and hold a first-aid certificate. Some courses encompass coaching awards within broader programmes of study. Vocational qualifications in coaching are available in the context of certain sports. Background checks including a DBS check are required for those working with children.

Ways in

Apprenticeship (England): Outdoor activity instructor (level 3). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0479.
Apprenticeship (England): Sports coach (level 4). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0770.

Pay · Outlook

Median full-time pay: £30,108 a year The middle half earn £24,855 to null.
About 82,800 people work in this job now, and about 92,000 are projected by 2035. (+11.1%)

Questions people ask

How do I become a sports coach, instructor or official?

How much does a sports coach, instructor or official earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £30,108 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Is a sports coach, instructor or official a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 82,800 to about 92,000 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a sports coach, instructor or official?

Not always. 32% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Outdoor activity instructor (level 3).

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03