There is never been a better time to get into children’s sports coaching – it’s an exciting career with potential for progression and the chance to make a positive impact every day. Most people only consider the activity itself when thinking about quality coaching, but the reality is that there are many skills you need to excel. Here’s five that we think are the most important for being the best in the field.

1. Communication

In coaching, you’ll find yourself interacting with a broad spectrum of people. For example, Premier Education’s activities are for children aged between 4 and 11 – that’s a big age range! But it’s not just the children attending, it’s also their parents and teachers. Communication isn’t about having a big vocabulary – it’s about listening, understanding and speaking to each person on their level. If you’re a good listener and a good talker, you may well have found your calling!

2. Enthusiasm

If you want the best response from the children you coach, enthusiasm is a must. In many ways, enthusiasm is an attitude, but it’s also a skill that can be learnt just like any other. Drumming up excitement and engagement keeps the children focused and means they’re having more fun. Not only does this create memorable experiences for them, it also makes your job easier and more enjoyable.

3. Being on your feet

If you’re after a desk job where you spend all day sitting down in an office, then sports coaching is not for you. On the other hand, if you’re after a job where you get paid to stay fit, then look no further. Coaches can spend hours a day on their feet, getting active in school halls and on playing fields. You don’t need to spend all day training at full pace, but you at least need the energy to keep up with the kids!

4. Thinking on your feet

Every session may be planned, but not all plans work out. Maybe the weather changes, maybe the children have just come from a quiet activity, or maybe something has them distracted. As a sports coach, it’s your job to understand how they feel and then adjust your plan there and then. Knowing when to calm a session down or ramp it up is the difference between a good coach and a great one. It’s a skill that comes from experience and confidence in your qualifications – if you’re not there yet, we’ve got plenty of training opportunities that can help.

5. Willingness to learn

Coaching has amazing potential for career progression, with loads of choice in how you want to move up the ladder. At Premier Education we support continual learning opportunities for all our coaches. We have a reputation across the UK for our coaches being at the top of their game, and that doesn’t happen overnight. There are plenty of opportunities to grow your skillset as you go along, if you’re willing to put in the effort to get the most out of them.

Your next step

If you think you’ve got what it takes to join us, then apply for your next chapter today. Premier Education has positions across the country, working with over 2,500 primary schools. Come and join our network of over 1,300 coaches and discover your true potential.