Sports Coaching Guide

What is Sports Coaching

In sports, a coach is a person involved in the direction, instruction, and training of the operations of a sports team or individual sportspeople. Coaches assist athletes in developing themselves to their full potential through analysis of performance, teaching relevant skills, and providing encouragement.

Coaches are responsible for the creation of the right conditions for athletes to learn, excel, and stay motivated to perform their best. Job roles include youth development coach, community coach, high performance coach, etc.

Skills and knowledge of an effective coach:

• Able to communicate effectively with athletes;
• Able to design effective training programmes;
• Able to assist athletes to enhance and develop skills; and
• Able to assess and monitor athletes to predict performance.


Sports coaches help people participating in sports to work towards achieving their full potential. They may support professional sportspeople, sports teams, community teams or school groups, working with them closely to improve performance. They may have a role in encouraging underrepresented groups or young people to participate in sporting activities.

Sports coaches bring out ability by identifying needs and planning and implementing suitable training programmes. Whatever the context, coaching involves developing the participants' physical and psychological fitness and providing the best possible practical conditions in order to maximise their performance.

Coaches must also be aware of their ethical and legal obligations to their clients.


Coaching is a great way to express your passion for a sport and become actively involved instead of being on the sidelines.