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Job Definition
View MovieInstruct or coach groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports. Demonstrate techniques and methods of participation. May evaluate athletes' strengths and weaknesses as possible recruits or to improve the athletes' technique to prepare them for competition. Those required to hold teaching degrees should be reported in the appropriate teaching category.
Job Zone

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Interests
Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Knowledge
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Skills
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Tasks
Negotiate with professional athletes or their representatives in order to obtain services and arrange contracts.
Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions.
Identify and recruit potential athletes, arranging and offering incentives such as athletic scholarships.
Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games and/or sports seasons.
Plan and direct physical conditioning programs that will enable athletes to achieve maximum performance.
Adjust coaching techniques based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
File scouting reports that detail player assessments, provide recommendations on athlete recruitment, and identify locations and individuals to be targeted for future recruitment efforts.
Keep records of athlete, team, and opposing team performance.
Instruct individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, and/or feet in order to achieve desired results.
Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams in order to develop game strategies.
Evaluate athletes' skills, and review performance records, in order to determine their fitness and potential in a particular area of athletics.
Keep abreast of changing rules, techniques, technologies, and philosophies relevant to their sport.
Monitor athletes' use of equipment in order to ensure safe and proper use.
Develop and arrange competition schedules and programs.
Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $41,840.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $20,830.00 and $66,800.00.

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 27,000 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 31,900 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 490 openings due to growth and about 690 replacement openings for approximately 1,180 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching - A program that prepares individuals to teach physical education programs and/or to coach sports at various educational levels.
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