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Being a coach is a great way to be involved with the world of sports. The positions are limited, though, and securing one takes a great deal of work. If you want to become a coach, there are a few factors you should keep in mind. Below we’ll discuss various aspects of coaching to consider as you try to decide if this is the career path for your future or not. You’ll need to complete all three of the tasks below if you want to become a coach.

Look At The Requirements

It may come as a surprise, but most paid coaching positions do have an educational requirement that you must meet for the job. If you want to coach at the high school or college level, you will probably need a four year degree. While the actual piece of paper may not be as important for a local amateur team or for a professional team, most of these organizations want you to have some high school or college experience—which, of course, makes the degree necessary once again. Find out exactly what degree your dream position requires and start making strides towards that diploma.

Clean Up Your Act

You’ll also want to start thinking about your public image. The coach plays a major role in defining a team and most teams will want someone who can be a good face for the organization. If you’ve got any kind of legal issues in your past, you might want to talk to professionals like those at Duffy Law to help you figure out your next move. If you can show that you will be a public relations asset—or at least not a detriment—you will have a much easier time pursuing a coaching position.

Volunteer

Finally, it might be a good idea to start volunteering for local teams. This can be a great resume builder and help to expose you to the community in which you might be working. You can also use these volunteer positions as a networking opportunity, putting you in contact with others in the field. While volunteering certainly won’t pay the bills, it will give you some real-world experience to put on your resume. With a little luck, you can parlay your success with one of these teams into a paid position elsewhere. Volunteering is not always a nice way to network and connect with people in the community, but it also gives you valuable experience to help you gain skills for the future.
Coaching can be a great field, but it is one that requires a great deal of dedication. The dedication can pay off to an incredible career and the opportunity to help influence the lives of others in a very positive way. The tips above will be a great place to start in helping you explore coaching as a possible career. If you’re willing to put in the work, though, you might find coaching to be a very rewarding career.

Author's Bio: 

Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston, MA. She writes most often on education and business. To see more from Emma, say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2