How to Become a Soccer Coach

Whether it is a recreational soccer team for young children or a World Cup champion national team, one thing that all soccer teams have in common is a coach. To become a coach, you first must have a knowledge of the game, with that knowledge being more in depth and complex with the more advance player that you want to coach. As a coach, you must also have a passion for the game and the ability to communicate your knowledge to your players.

Step 1

Volunteer to coach a youth or recreational team. The majority of youth teams rely on volunteers for their coaches, but the volunteer pool is not limited to parents of the young players. If you want to get a start in coaching, the best place to start would be a youth team for a number of reasons. Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, so many communities have youth programs with teams that need coaches, and if you volunteer your time, your odds are good that you will be able to find a coaching job somewhere.

Step 2

Take classes to earn higher coaching certificates and licenses. The United States Youth Soccer Association has classes that you can take to earn certificates ranging from an "E" certificate, which is the basic certificate needed by many clubs to coach 11 on 11 soccer, to a "A" license, which can only be obtained after progressing from an "E" to a "D" to a "C" to a "B" license first. The courses required to obtain an "E" or "D" license take between 15 and 40 hours to complete and cost somewhere between $50 and $150. The higher level licenses require a greater time commitment as well as the passing of rigorous examinations.

Step 3

Apply and interview for more prestigious, higher-paying jobs. If you find success at the youth level, you could apply for a position at a high school coaching soccer. These jobs are often paid, and while they might not be a full-time job, you will still receive compensation for doing something you most likely enjoy doing anyways. If you can latch on as an assistant or junior varsity coach, you can begin to work your way up the coaching ranks and perhaps get to a point where your full-time job could be coaching soccer.

Tip

Play soccer and learn the nuances of the game. It is often easier to communicate specific aspects of the game when you have experience playing.