Here’s everything you need to know to successfully become a football coach in South Africa.
While it doesn’t come easily and requires a lot of hard work and dedication, football coaching is one of the best-paying jobs in the country.
So if interested in becoming a football coach, this article will help you with the answers you need.
Let’s get started.
What is a Football Coach?
A football coach is a specialist in the game of football who is responsible for training and managing a football team and may be employed by a school or professional sports club. The coach can either be a head coach wherein they oversee the entire team or an assistant coach, focusing on one specific position on the field, such as offense or defence.
It is important for football coaches to have a good understanding of game rules and strategies in order to make good decisions during games, strong communication skills to effectively communicate with the players, and be able to motivate players, teach them new techniques, and develop game plans that will help the team win.
A football coach is the leader of the team and has the responsibility to lead, motivate and organise the players so that they can achieve their goals together.
Football coaches often work closely with the team’s offensive and defensive coordinators to develop strategies that will put the team in a position to win. They also closely monitor the progress of all the players on the team, making sure they are staying in shape and working hard to improve their skills.
If you are interested in becoming a football coach, it is important to have a deep knowledge of the game. You should also be able to demonstrate your ability to lead and motivate others.
In addition to that having a qualification as a base foundation of football, coach career is ideal as it will allow you to coach effectively as you will have the theoretical knowledge.
Thus, in this article, we will be taking you through where you can study to become a football coach, and what you can study, and also highlight some of the duties that a football coach is expected to perform. Let’s not waste more and get right into it.
What to Study to Become a Football Coach?
There is no one specific route to becoming a football coach. However, there are a few things that will give you a leg up in the process. First and foremost, you should have a deep understanding of the game of football. This can be gained through playing the game at a high level, coaching at lower levels, or simply studying the game extensively.
In addition, it is helpful to have a degree in a related field such as football coaching & administration, sports management, sports science, or physical education. This will give you a solid foundation in the principles of coaching and training athletes.
Through sports related education, you will understand how teams work together, how they handle injuries and other problems that may arise during games, and how they improve over time. You can also study psychology if you want to learn more about what motivates players and how they respond when they get injured or frustrated with their teammates’ performance on the field.
Where to Study to Become a Football Coach?
If you want to coach football at the high school or professional level, you will need to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. You can get this degree in many different areas of study.
Here is a list of some of the universities/colleges that offer qualifications that can enable you to become a football coach:
- University of Johannesburg
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- University of Witwatersrand
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of Pretoria
- North-West University
- University of Free-State
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Boston City Campus
- University of South Africa
- Tshwane University of Technology
What Does a Football Coach Do?
To become a football coach at any level, you will need to be prepared be knowledgeable about the game itself.
It is crucial for an aspiring football coach to learn all about football rules and regulations as well as how to teach players how to play the game properly.
In addition, you should also know about nutrition and fitness so that your players are able to stay healthy while they are playing on the field.
Some of the common duties of a football coach include:
- Developing a game plan for each opponent.
- Choosing players to fill positions based on their skill sets and strengths.
- Heading practices and drills to ensure that players are prepared for games.
- Keeping track of player stats and ensuring that they are recorded accurately.
- Knowing about the rules, regulations, and philosophy of your sport’s governing body.
- Developing effective strategies for upcoming games and adjusting when necessary.
How Much Does a Football Coach Earn?
The salary of a football coach may vary as it depends on the level of coaching experience one has, the employer, and the location. However, a football coach earns an average annual salary of R629 747.69.
In addition to attaining your qualification that will put you in the best position to be considered for a football coaching role, it is always helpful to have a strong network of contacts in the football world. This can help you get your foot in the door and land that first coaching job.