Career Profile: Coaches and Scouts

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 244,300 people employed as coaches and scouts in the United States. The median annual salary is $38,970. Entry level employees earn approximately $22,200 per year and senior employees earn approximately $80,720 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Coordinate travel arrangements and travel with team to away contests.
• Evaluate athletes' skills and review performance records to determine their fitness and potential in a particular area of athletics.
• Monitor athletes' use of equipment to ensure safe and proper use.
• Keep abreast of changing rules, techniques, technologies, and philosophies relevant to their sport.
• Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations.
• Contact the parents of players to provide information and answer questions.
• Arrange and conduct sports-related activities, such as training camps, skill-improvement courses, clinics, and pre-season try-outs.
• Explain and demonstrate the use of sports and training equipment, such as trampolines or weights.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Plan and direct physical conditioning programs that will enable athletes to achieve maximum performance.
• Identify and recruit potential athletes by sending recruitment letters, meeting with recruits, and arranging and offering incentives, such as athletic scholarships.
• Hire, supervise, and work with extended coaching staff.
• Plan, organize, and conduct practice sessions.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, or tours.
• Adjust coaching techniques, based on the strengths and weaknesses of athletes.
• Instruct 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.
• Plan strategies and choose team members for individual games or sports seasons.
• Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
• Counsel student athletes on academic, athletic, and personal issues.
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams to develop game strategies.
• Serve as organizer, leader, instructor, or referee for outdoor and indoor games, such as volleyball, football, and soccer.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Develop and arrange competition schedules and programs.
• Keep and review paper, computerized, and video records of athlete, team, and opposing team performance.
• File scouting reports that detail player assessments, provide recommendations on athlete recruitment, and identify locations and individuals to be targeted for future recruitment efforts.
• Select, acquire, store, and issue equipment and other materials as necessary.
• Negotiate with professional athletes or their representatives to obtain services and arrange contracts.

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