Coaching as a Career?

[Magi-Raistlin]

Is it possible? I have just accepted my first coaching position as the varsity boys coach at a local high school. Just wondered if anyone had any insight as to how possible it was to coach full time as one's chosen occupation. Obviously there are hundreds of colleges across the nation that have soccer programs, and after searching via the web I have found that there are openings out there. What type of resume should one have before applying other than a few years of "successful" coaching experience at the youth level. Thanks.

[Twenty26Six]

Is it possible? I have just accepted my first coaching position as the varsity boys coach at a local high school. Just wondered if anyone had any insight as to how possible it was to coach full time as one's chosen occupation. Obviously there are hundreds of colleges across the nation that have soccer programs, and after searching via the web I have found that there are openings out there. What type of resume should one have before applying other than a few years of "successful" coaching experience at the youth level. Thanks.

You'd want a USSF National C License or a NSCAA National Diploma to get a head college job.

You could make a career, just don't expect to be rich. :)

[Magi-Raistlin]

I don't need to be rich. Just be able to pay most of my bills! Thanks.

[FRYE!]

teaching AND coaching is a full plate, lemme tell ya.

[Magi-Raistlin]

Yea...this is my first year teaching and coaching. I'm hoping that getting out there and kicking the ball some with the kids will help to reduce some of the stress from my day with the little kids (5th grade).

[dncm]

Great Dragonlance reference for a screen name.

Couple of options:
1. Receive national level licensing either through USSF or NSCAA as already mentioned
2. If College is your stated goal - being an assistant coach at college, learning the ropes and rules of the NCAA, and building your network will almost be a must. Sometimes, you might have to even do this as a volunteer to get your foot in the door initially.
3. Get involved with high level summer college camps as a consuelor. Networking a must.
4. Continue to coach: high school, club, ODP, Super-Y

Good Luck.

[Magi-Raistlin]

Thanks for the suggestions.

One more question for you though...

How important is it to have played at the college level or higher to progress as a coach? I could have played at a higher level if I would have gone to a smaller college; however, I chose not to. One of my good friends who is also coaching his first year of high school soccer and attended a small college. He took the opportunity to play for his college team. Reason I ask is because I was checking out the SCYSA website and it said that a requirement for coaching ODP was to have played college soccer or a higher level. Now surely there have been some great coaches in the past that have not been excellent players...in fact they've been far from it. For example there's Jose Mourinho, and I believe Arsene Wenger (could be wrong). On the otherside of that is that there have been incredible players that have tried coaching and it simply hasn't worked out. For example Hirsto Stoichov and Gheorghe Hagi. Thoughts?

[Twenty26Six]

Thanks for the suggestions.

One more question for you though...

How important is it to have played at the college level or higher to progress as a coach? I could have played at a higher level if I would have gone to a smaller college; however, I chose not to. One of my good friends who is also coaching his first year of high school soccer and attended a small college. He took the opportunity to play for his college team. Reason I ask is because I was checking out the SCYSA website and it said that a requirement for coaching ODP was to have played college soccer or a higher level. Now surely there have been some great coaches in the past that have not been excellent players...in fact they've been far from it. For example there's Jose Mourinho, and I believe Arsene Wenger (could be wrong). On the otherside of that is that there have been incredible players that have tried coaching and it simply hasn't worked out. For example Hirsto Stoichov and Gheorghe Hagi. Thoughts?

Unfortunately, playing reputation goes a long way to convincing people that you know your stuff. How that holds water in a country that has never had any success in producing talent via youth development is beyond me.

But, it's the way it is. If you want to beat out the ex-pro/ex-player for a job, you need to get two levels ahead of him in understanding and approach. That means read, study, coach, talk to peers, read, study, coach, talk to peers. :)

[Golazo]

Thanks for the suggestions.

One more question for you though...

How important is it to have played at the college level or higher to progress as a coach? I could have played at a higher level if I would have gone to a smaller college; however, I chose not to. One of my good friends who is also coaching his first year of high school soccer and attended a small college. He took the opportunity to play for his college team. Reason I ask is because I was checking out the SCYSA website and it said that a requirement for coaching ODP was to have played college soccer or a higher level. Now surely there have been some great coaches in the past that have not been excellent players...in fact they've been far from it. For example there's Jose Mourinho, and I believe Arsene Wenger (could be wrong). On the otherside of that is that there have been incredible players that have tried coaching and it simply hasn't worked out. For example Hirsto Stoichov and Gheorghe Hagi. Thoughts?

I think this is one of the the biases that holds back the quality of youth coaching the most in this country. Club administrators and -- in particular -- parents are often wowed by college or pro experience to the point where they seem to ignore how skilled a coach is with teaching and motivating kids.

[dncm]

Thanks for the suggestions.

One more question for you though...

How important is it to have played at the college level or higher to progress as a coach?

I assume by "progress" you mean - get job opportunities.

Having played in college is used as a measuring stick much like any other job application, ie a Masters degree. There are probably plenty of people who do not have Masters degrees who could potentially do a job better, but a company wants to set that at least as a measuring stick. The only issue with this comparison is that you can always go back and get your Masters - you cant go back and play 4 years of college soccer.

That is why it is not the end all to be all.

If you continue your education, get Nationally licensed through USSF or NSCAA, and have demonstrated continually strong coaching that is then backed up with good references from senior coaches - then not having played in college is not a key difference maker, but the reality is - it is still viewed.

That is why I suggested getting involved and networking as well as a volunteer assistant and working college summer camps. Again, if getting college coaching opportunities is your goal.

The other comment for you is patience - be committed to your plan and map it out - but you have to wait a year in between Nationally licensed courses, and sometimes it takes some time to get hooked up with a college coach or a summer camp.

Another suggestion to help get your foot in the door is to contact SCYSA and just offer to help with ODP evaluations (if they do tryouts).

[FRYE!]

teaching and motivating kids.


the most essential qualities of a successful coach!

[ButlerBob]

You'd want a USSF National C License or a NSCAA National Diploma to get a head college job.

You could make a career, just don't expect to be rich. :)


A number of colleges will also require or prefer that you have at least a Masters. The position may be tied with a teaching one or some other admin type position.

Someone else mentioned it, but it's thought it was good to mention again. Try to work a number of the various college camps. It's a great way to network and learn form more experienced coaches. I think attending the NSCAA conference/convention is another great networking approach.

[JoseP]

I don't know if your stuck on the idea of being a college coach. It is possible to make money at the youth level.

Granted I'm in a hot bed of soccer, but, my daughter plays on a competetive team. We pay our coach a salary of 16k a year. On top of that, the coach is an assistant coach for another team, is a high school coach (poor soccer, but rich high school), does individual training for $125 an hour and gets paid to help in soccer camps. That $125 an hour for training is pretty standard here and plenty of people willing to pay.

So, the money is there.

[shuvy87]

I am a sophomore at Penn State, currently getting a science degree. Call me crazy but I have a big dream of coaching professionally; maybe in MLS, Europe, or NT.

Currently I have two obstacle.
1) My conservative Asian parents, who thinks that being doctor is the only way to survive in this country.

2) I do not know where to start. I know that in Massachusetts (I am from MA originally), you have to start from G, F, E and D, but as far as I am concerned getting license is not the problem. I just needs to be in the right environment, and some connection, preferably a club, that will give me experience in coaching, and income that will pay my bills.

So where do I start?

[Crimson Ace]

2) I do not know where to start. I know that in Massachusetts (I am from MA originally), you have to start from G, F, E and D, but as far as I am concerned getting license is not the problem. I just needs to be in the right environment, and some connection, preferably a club, that will give me experience in coaching, and income that will pay my bills.

So where do I start?
Here's my humble opinion to get you started...
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13887325&postcount=4

Best of luck.

[Th4119]

That $125 an hour for training is pretty standard here and plenty of people willing to pay.

Where do you live and do you have a basement I can rent?

[chadwick1875]

Wow... I would love to be able to cocah as a career... It would be a lot of work... you wouldn't be rich but it would be a really rewarding...