Coaches work with all standards of sports participants, from novices to the very top sportsmen and sportswomen.
Full time jobs in coaching are scarce. They usually involve sports such as football, golf, athletics, tennis or horseracing.
Opportunities are more likely on a self-employed or part-time basis in sports centres, sports clubs, schools, activity centres, hotels and holiday camps. Many coaches are volunteers and therefore do their work unpaid.
Coaches monitor athletes' physical and mental condition, devise training programmes and help meet performance targets. Besides commanding a highly elaborate technical knowledge of their sport, coaches must be sensitive and supportive, while still being able to motivate their athletes.
Every coach needs to possess a recognised qualification in coaching, and each governing body of sport devises a training programme for coaching qualifications.
Many Scottish colleges offer Scottish Qualifications Authority courses in sports coaching and development. Some of these courses include the opportunity to study for national governing body awards. For a list of colleges offering this type of course, contact your local careers service or, if you are at school, contact your guidance teacher.
For more help and advice contact sportscotland's Coaching Team or Sports Coach UK, an organisation dedicated to coach development and education throughout the UK.