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Sports Coach/Official

Pouako/Kātipa Hākinakina

Sports coaches/officials coach and instruct athletes, and are the officials in charge of sporting events.

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Secondary education

There are no specific secondary educational requirements for sports coaches/officials, though NCEA Level 1 is recommended. Useful subjects include physical education, home economics, maths and English.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3
  • Diploma
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for sports coaches/officials includes:

  • participating in sport at a competitive level
  • working as an assistant or volunteer coach or official
  • teaching
  • working in sports administration.

What you will do

Sports coaches/officials may do some or all of the following:

  • help athletes learn the skills, rules and tactics of a sport
  • organise practice sessions and develop training programmes and drills
  • motivate teams or individuals
  • identify and encourage talented players
  • select players for teams and events
  • referee, umpire and keep time for sports competitions or games
  • judge and award points in sports competitions
  • look after equipment and ensure players use it correctly.

Skills and knowledge

Sports coaches/officials need to have knowledge of:

  • the skills, rules and tactics of the sport they coach or act as officials in
  • coaching and teaching techniques that support a sportsperson's learning and development
  • how different weather conditions could affect an event or a sportsperson's performance
  • sport science and first aid.
Pay

Coaches can earn

$49K-$80K

per year

Job opportunities
Poor
Chances of getting a job as a sports coach/official are poor due to lack of demand.
Length of training
>1
year of training usually required

Industry

Sport and Recreation

Sports coaches/officials coach and instruct athletes, and are the officials in charge of sporting events.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for sports coaches/officials vary, as each national sporting body has its own requirements. Usually sports coaches need: 

  • previous experience and success as a sportsperson
  • previous work as a sports coach, which could be on a volunteer basis
  • a good working knowledge of the sport they wish to work in so they can pass theory exams and practical tests.

Sports coaches who work with children may need to pass a police background check and/or hold a first aid certificate.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.

Coaches who want to work with high-performing sportspeople can apply to the High Performance Sport New Zealand for support such as the Coach Accelerator Programme.

Chances of getting a job

Few opportunities for sports coaches/officials

It is difficult to find work as a sports coach/official, as few sports are played year-round in New Zealand. This means most sports coaches/officials need a second job to make a living.

According to the Census, 8,478 sports coaches/officials worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Sports coaches/officials can be self-employed or work for:

  • sports clubs or facilities such as golf clubs, ski fields or swimming pools
  • regional, national or international sports organisations such as Tennis Auckland, New Zealand Rugby Union or the International Cricket Council
  • schools or tertiary education providers
  • sport organisations such as regional sports trusts or the New Zealand High Performance Unit
  • indoor sports venues.

Find out more about training

High Performance Sport New Zealand
0800 GOLDMEDAL- info@hpsnz.org.nz - www.hpsnz.org.nz
New Zealand Snowsports Instructors Alliance
(03) 451 1534 - admin@nzsia.org - www.nzsia.org
Skills Active
0508 4SKILLS - info@skillsactive.org.nz - www.skillsactive.org.nz
Sport New Zealand
(04) 472 8058 - info@sportnz.org.nz - www.sportnz.org.nz
Te Mahi Ako
0508 475 455 - info@temahiako.org.nz - www.temahiako.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

Sports coaches/officials usually specialise in a role such as:

Diving Instructor
Diving instructors train and instruct recreational or commercial divers in diving techniques, safety, and the correct use of diving equipment.
Dog or Horse Racing Official
Dog or horse racing officials co-ordinate and direct dog or horse racing activities, and liaise with other officials to enforce racing regulations.
Gymnastics Coach
Gymnastics coaches train and instruct gymnasts by analysing their performances and developing their skills.
Horse Riding Instructor
Horse riding instructors teach people how to ride horses. They analyse the performance of horse riders and jockeys, and develop their skills.
Skydive Instructor
Skydive Instructors teach people how to parachute.
Snowsport Instructor
Snowsport instructors teach people how to ski or snowboard and improve their technique.
Sports Official
Sports officials enforce rules during sporting events or judge the performance of those taking part.
Swimming Coach
Swimming coaches train and instruct swimmers and help them to develop their speed and technique.
Tennis Coach
Tennis coaches work with tennis players to help them develop their skills and technique.

Working conditions

Sports coaches/officials:

  • may work long and irregular hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends
  • work at indoor sports facilities such as sport centres, or outdoors – for example, on rugby fields – in all weather conditions
  • may work in stressful conditions
  • may travel around New Zealand and overseas to sports events and competitions.

Physical Requirements

Sports coaches/officials need to have excellent fitness and health.

Useful personal qualities

Sports coaches/officials need to be:

  • fair
  • able to make decisions quickly
  • able to motivate, lead and inspire athletes and teams
  • good at planning, management and organisation
  • patient, tactful, observant and analytical
  • excellent at communicating.

Related Wintec courses

Industry

Sport and Recreation

Sports coaches/officials coach and instruct athletes, and are the officials in charge of sporting events.

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