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What They Do
About This Career
Instructs or coaches groups or individuals in the fundamentals of sports for the primary purpose of competition. Demonstrates 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.
This career is part of the Education and Training cluster Teaching/Training pathway.
A person in this career:
- Plans, organizes, and conducts practice sessions.
- Provides training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours.
- Adjusts coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
- Instructs individuals or groups in sports rules, game strategies, and performance principles, such as specific ways of moving the body, hands, or feet, to achieve desired results.
- Plans strategies and chooses team members for individual games or sports seasons.
- Monitors the academic eligibility of student athletes.
- Counsels student athletes on academic, athletic, and personal issues.
- Analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams to develop game strategies.
- Coordinates travel arrangements and travels with team to away contests.
- Evaluates athletes' skills and reviews performance records to determine their fitness and potential in a particular area of athletics.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
- Irregular hours
- Overnight travel
- Weekend work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Baseball Coach — Organizes and leads a baseball team by planning and organizing practices, signaling strategies during games, giving motivational pre-game speeches and post-game talks and are expected to give their clubs the best possible chance for victory.
- Basketball Coach — Directs and strategizes the behavior of a basketball team or individual basketball player.
- Football Coach — Organizes and leads a football team by planning and organizing practices, signaling strategies during games, giving motivational pre-game speeches and post-game talks and are expected to give their clubs the best possible chance for victory.
- Volleyball Coach
- Track and Field Coach
- Gymnastics Coach
- Cross Country Coach
- Softball Coach
- Soccer Coach
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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