Coaches & Scouts
Learn about this occupation – including typical duties, education required, salary and job outlook information, job boards and more.
Coaches prepare and train individual athletes or teams for competitive events. They are employed by national and provincial sports organizations, professional and amateur sports teams, sports clubs and universities or they may be self-employed. Sports scouts identify and recruit athletes for professional sports teams and are employed by professional sports organizations. (National Occupational Classification)
Occupational profile
Find detailed information about the occupation, including typical duties and working conditions, in the links below:
- National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Canadian occupational descriptions
- OCCinfo by alis - Alberta-based occupational information
- O*NET Online - U.S. resource for occupational descriptions and information
- A Day in the Life of a Coach - The Princeton Review
- Sokanu: occupational profile and videos (U.S.)
- NHL Seattle Pro Scout Cammi Granato: A Day in the Life (Forbes)
Education
Coaches
Coaches come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Many Canadian coaching positions require completion of the National Coaching Certificate Program (NCCP) with the requirements varying based on the type of coaching. Some positions may also require the completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree. The University of Manitoba offers related degrees in physical education and kinesiology as well as an Advanced Coaching Theory and Practice course that prepares students for certification from the National Coaching Certification Program (Competition B). Please view the links below for more information.
Sports Scout
Sports Scouts come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some may have worked previously as coaches or athletes. Some positions may require the completion of a degree. The University of Manitoba offers degrees in physical education and kinesiology that can meet this requirement.
U of M Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar & Catalogue outlines program admission and course requirements. Use the left menu to navigate to a specific faculty and program. To determine which degree path suits your unique occupational goals, speak with a Career Consultant. For support with course registration and academic issues, speak with an Academic Advisor.
Faculty and Department Homepages
Visit U of M's faculty and department homepage to learn about program application deadlines and processes, as well as additional in-house resources and opportunities.
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management - offers courses relevant to coaching including PHED 3722 which introduces students to the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) of Canada and the coach certification pathway
Exploring Other Education Options
Labour market information
Labour market information informs users of supply and demand for specific occupations and sectors. It includes such things as salary and job outlook information. These resources support informed career decision making and job search efforts.
Resources
- Trend Analysis: Job Market Reports (Winnipeg Region) - Gov. of Canada Job Bank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook - Job outlook for the U.S.
- OpportuNext - salary range and job growth prospects - Manitoba
Professional Associations
Professional associations may organize events and provide directories, job postings, career and labour market information. Student membership opportunities may also be available: engage, learn and network!
- Canadian Colleges Athletic Association
- Coaching Association of Canada
- Athletics Canada
- Athletics Manitoba
Directories, Industry Associations, and Sector Councils
These resources provide industry news, labour market information and a list of potential employers. Remember, there are usually multiple industries worth exploring.
- U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport)
- National College Athletics Association (U.S)
- International Council for Coaching Excellence
- Canada's National Sport Organizations (NSOs)
- National Women's Soccer League
- Major League Soccer
- Canadian Football League
- Premier Hockey Federation: Women's Professional Hockey - Teams
- National Hockey League - Teams
- National Football League - Teams
- National Basketball Association - Teams
- Women's National Basketball Association - Teams
Job Boards
Search occupations of interest in the industry-specific job boards below to learn about skill requirements, employers, job duties and available jobs. You may also wish to search more general online job boards.
Other links
These external resources may provide you with additional information about the occupation and opportunities to build experience.