Sports coach

You can take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• sports coaching and development
• sports and exercise science
• sports studies
• physical education

You can do a college course as a way into this career, for example:

• sport
• sports coaching and development
• coaching sports and fitness

You may be able to do a coaching qualification that's specific to your chosen sport.

Sports include:

• tennis and cricket
• netball and basketball
• hockey
• martial arts

You can apply to do an apprenticeship to begin your career in coaching.

These include:

• Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Personal Trainer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Community Sport and Health Officer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Sports Coach Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These can take up to 2 years to complete.

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

• sports development or management
• sports coaching
• sports science
• leisure studies

It's important to get work experience in community sport during your studies as most employers expect this. Talk to your university careers service for help and advice on finding internship, year placement and volunteering opportunities.

You could take a college course to give you some of the skills and knowledge needed to start out as a trainee in this role.

Courses include:

• community sports leadership
• sports development
• sports coaching and performance

You may be able to apply for an apprenticeship with a local authority or community organisation.

Options include:

• Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Community Sport and Health Officer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take up to 2 years to complete, and are a mix of on-the-job learning and study with a college or training provider.

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need to get a trainee position with a riding centre.

Courses include:

• horse care
• horse management
• equine studies

You may be able to apply for an Equine Groom Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, or Senior Equine Groom Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

Once you complete your apprenticeship, you could apply for jobs as a riding instructor's assistant and take further coaching qualifications on the job.

Volunteering and seasonal work at a local stables or riding centre can be a good way to get work experience. This could be useful when you apply for paid jobs.

You can complete training and pass exams with The British Horse Society (BHS) or The Association of British Riding Schools, Livery Yards and Equestrian Centres (ABRS+).

You'll need to be a member of The BHS to follow their Coaching Pathway. You can train for the Stage 3 and Stage 4 Coach award to qualify as a riding instructor.

The ABRS+ training route leads to an Equestrian Coaching Certificate. You do not need to be a member of the ABRS+ to take their exams.

You can also complete other specialist instructor awards through organisations like the Pony Club.

You can work with people with disabilities by following the Riding for the Disabled Association's Coaching Pathway.

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

• outdoor adventure education
• adventure sports science
• outdoor leadership
• outdoors learning

Subjects like physical education, coaching and sports development are also useful for getting into this career.

You could take a college course to learn some of the skills and knowledge needed for this job. This may help when looking for work as a trainee outdoor leader.

Courses include:

• sport and outdoor activities
• education and training - outdoor learning
• sport and active leisure

You'll also need a coaching or instructor qualification approved by the relevant national governing body for the sports or activities you want to teach.

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with an activity centre or outdoors adventure organisation.

For example:

• Outdoor Activity Instructor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Outdoor Learning Specialist Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with study.

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.

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.

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.

You could work towards this job by doing a sport and outdoor activities college course.

You'll need to check that your chosen course includes the professional qualifications to become a sailing instructor.

You could start by doing an Outdoor Activities Instructor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This usually takes around 12 months to complete and is a mix of learning on the job and study.

You can do Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses. The RYA is the national governing body for sailing, and sets standards for training instructors.

You'll need to be:

• over 16 years old
• physically fit and able to swim
• a competent, experienced sailor

You'll also need to pass a sailing assessment and do further study before you can start training as a sailing instructor with the RYA.

Courses are done at local sailing clubs or with private training companies.

You could apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

As part of this apprenticeship, you will be able to gain one of the following qualifications:

• Swim England Level 2 in Teaching Swimming
• Swimming Teachers' Association Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming

You can qualify as a swimming teacher by doing Level 1 and Level 2 teaching qualifications awarded by Swim England or the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA). You do not need teaching experience to enrol.

These qualifications allow you to teach non-swimmers, improvers and people looking to learn advanced swimming skills.

You may be able to train on the job and become qualified while you work, with support from your employer.

Courses are often flexible so you can fit them around your other commitments.

You can become a referee through a structured training programme run by the Football Association (FA).

To start, you'll need to register with your local County FA and complete the FA Referee Course.

The course is a mix of online and face-to-face training. You must finish the online learning and do safeguarding training before you complete the face-to-face module.

The online learning covers the laws of football, including:

• pre-match responsibilities
• signals and communication
• how to manage common issues
• the offside rule
• dealing with with restarts and set pieces

You'll then need to complete 11 hours of face-to-face training that includes classroom-based learning and practical work on the pitch.

To qualify, you must referee at least five 11-a-side games and be assessed by a referee mentor.

You would usually start to referee at youth football level then progress to higher levels as your experience grows. You can do further training with the FA to help you advance in both the men's and women's game.