Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Sports Coach
What sports coaches actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a sports coach?
Review practice plan and game film. From there, the day usually includes plan and run practices, teach skills and strategy, and analyze performance and game film. Coaching involves afternoons, evenings, weekends and travel during seasons.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a sports coach working full time.
- Review practice plan and game film.
- Lead warm-ups and skill drills.
- Run team plays and situations.
- Meet with an athlete about goals.
- Call parents about schedule changes.
- Review opponent film.
- Plan the next practice.
Where sports coaches work
Coaches work on fields, courts, gyms and pools, often outdoors, with travel for games.
Hours and schedule
Coaching involves afternoons, evenings, weekends and travel during seasons.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Plan and run practices
- Teach skills and strategy
- Analyze performance and game film
- Manage games and make decisions
- Motivate and mentor athletes
- Recruit or scout players
- Follow safety and eligibility rules
Tools you’ll use every day
- Sports equipment
- Video analysis software
- Whistles and stopwatches
- Practice planning apps
- Fitness trackers
- Team communication apps
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Share your passion for sports
- Mentor young people
- Competitive excitement
- Part-time options
What’s hard
- Long seasons and travel
- Pressure to win
- Part-time pay for many roles
- Parent and fan pressure
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love sports
- I enjoy teaching and motivating
- I can handle pressure
- I don’t mind evenings and weekends
- I want to mentor young people
- I like strategy
Not sure? Take the free Sports Coach fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Follow concussion and heat protocols
- Inspect fields and equipment
- Have emergency action plans
- Maintain appropriate boundaries with athletes