Coaches

(NOC 5252)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Coaches prepare and train individual athletes or teams for competitive events. They work for national and provincial sports organizations, professional and amateur sports teams, sports clubs and universities or they may be self-employed. This group also includes sports scouts who identify and recruit athletes for professional sports teams. They work for professional sports organizations.

Job Outlook

Average

Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2019-2021
Estimate 20 openings due to growth and retirements, 2018-2020
Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2019

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Estimate 60 employment change, 2019-2021
Estimate 765 openings due to growth and retirements, 2018-2020
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is not a large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities may not be that frequent. The number employed in this occupation is expected to grow slightly over the next few years, which should provide some additional opportunities for employment. With a moderate percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to contribute somewhat to employment opportunities over the coming years. Coaches may either be working full-time or part-time hours.

The median employment income for 42% of Coaches who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $38,118. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)

Hourly Pay

$12.95

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$26.44

Maximum

Annual Pay

$1,238

Minimum

$25,146

Median

$85,072

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$12.55

Minimum

$24.73

Median

$36.29

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Job duties

Coaches:

Identify strengths and weaknesses of athletes or teams. Plan, develop and implement training and practice sessions.
Nurture and develop athletes' potential skills and abilities.
Develop, plan and coordinate competitive schedules and programs.
Motivate and prepare athletes or teams for competitive events or games.
Draft competitive strategies and develop game plans.
Direct athletes and players during games or athletic events.
Study and evaluate athletes' or teams' performances and change training programs.

Sports scouts may do the following duties:

Identify and recruit developing athletes for professional sports teams.
Watch and evaluate upcoming athletes' skills and performance and review their past records.
File reports on scouting assessments and recommendations with professional team employers.

Sample job titles

coach
figure skating coach
football scout
gymnastics coach
head coach
hockey coach
hockey scout
soccer coach
sports scout
swimming coach
volleyball coach

Skills

You should be determined, patient, and self-confident. You must be able to organize and plan activities as well as motivate and encourage others to perform at their best. Leadership and decision-making skills may be needed in coaching and training. Both spoken and written communication skills are essential for teaching and coaching. Good physical stamina and an interest in sports and physical fitness are also important.

Job requirements

Coaches:

Completion of the National Coaching Certificate program is usually necessary for individual and team sports coaches in all sports.
National Coaching Certificate Level 3 is usually necessary for provincial coaches.
National Coaching Certificate Level 4 is usually necessary for coaches of national team athletes.
A degree in physical education may be required.
Experience in, and technical knowledge of, the sport is necessary.

Sports scouts:

Experience in, and technical knowledge of, the sport is required.

Other considerations

Workers may work only part of the year and be unemployed in the off-season.

By the numbers

Quick look

285

employed in 2016

59.6%

employed full-time

12.3%

self employed

43.9%

56.1%

43.1

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%

44.4%

38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

64.9%

Halifax

17.5%

North Shore

10.5%

Annapolis Valley

3.5%

Southern

3.5%

Cape Breton

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

54.0%

Educational services

32.0%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

6.0%

Other services (except public administration)

4.0%

Finance and insurance

4.0%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

What is the age of Employment?

22.0%

35-44

22.0%

25-34

19.0%

45-54

19.0%

55-64

12.0%

15-24

5.0%

65+

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

45.6%

Bachelor

$19,119 median annual income

21.1%

High school

$22,156 median annual income

19.3%

Master

$31,096 median annual income

7.0%

College Diploma

N/A

3.5%

Apprenticeship

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income

24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income

19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income

13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income

7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Kinesiology and Exercise Science

College or University Program

These programs focus on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of human movement, and applications to exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation. They include courses in biomechanics, motor behaviour, motor development and coordination, motor neurophysiology, performance research, rehabilitative therapies, the development of diagnostic and rehabilitative methods and equipment, and related analytical methods and procedures in applied exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Website

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

admissions@dal.ca

Website

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

admit@stfx.ca

Website