Sports Coach

Level 4

Sports Coach

Level 4

5 GCSE Qualifications (grade 4-9), or a Level 3 qualification
Level 4 Sports Coach
21 months (6 of which will be in EPA)

Standard Overview

The Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship blends on-the-job experience with advanced study, equipping apprentices with the skills to excel in elite, community, or school sports coaching.

This apprenticeship develops coaches with in-depth technical and tactical expertise, empowering them to design and deliver impactful programs that enhance participant engagement, motivation, and skill progression. 

Standard Overview

The Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship blends on-the-job experience with advanced study, equipping apprentices with the skills to excel in elite, community, or school sports coaching.

This apprenticeship develops coaches with in-depth technical and tactical expertise, empowering them to design and deliver impactful programs that enhance participant engagement, motivation, and skill progression. 

5 GCSE Qualifications (grade 4-9), or a Level 3 qualification.
Level 4 Sports Coach
21 months (6 of which will be in EPA).
  • Professional Sports Clubs and Teams: Rugby, football, cricket clubs. 
  • Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges. 
  • Local Authorities and Community Sports: Youth sports foundations, local councils.
  • Health and Wellness Centres: Gyms and fitness centres, rehabilitation clinics and physical therapy centres.
Typical responsibilities for a Sport Coaches Apprentice could include:
  • Design and deliver programmes: Create high-quality sport programmes that consider the needs of a range of participants, the sport, and the organisation across a range of sport activities including the national curriculum.
  • Influence local and national key stakeholdersApplying and using coaching philosophy and practices to influence local and national key stakeholders in the sporting context about sport and community activation programmes.
  • Promote wellbeingHelp participants manage stressors and promote their holistic well-being and support employers to analyse data to measure the impact of their coaching strategies.
  • Support the coaching team: Demonstrate the value of the wider coaching team and help develop their skills as part of the overall continued professional development plan. Contribute toward employers coaching systems ensuring they are legal, ethical, and effective.
  • Professional Sports Clubs and Teams: Rugby, football, cricket clubs. 
  • Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges. 
  • Local Authorities and Community Sports: Youth sports foundations, local councils.
  • Health and Wellness Centres: Gyms and fitness centres, rehabilitation clinics and physical therapy centres.
Typical responsibilities for a Sport Coach Apprentice could include:
  • Design and deliver programmes: Create high-quality sport programmes that consider the needs of a range of participants, the sport, and the organisation across a range of sport activities including the national curriculum.
  • Influence local and national key stakeholdersApplying and using coaching philosophy and practices to influence local and national key stakeholders in the sporting context about sport and community activation programmes.
  • Promote wellbeingHelp participants manage stressors and promote their holistic well-being and support employers to analyse data to measure the impact of their coaching strategies.
  • Support the coaching teamDemonstrate the value of the wider coaching team and help develop their skills as part of the overall continued professional development plan. Contribute towards employers coaching systems ensuring they are legal, ethical, and effective.

Functional Skills

Apprentices must have 5 GCSE Qualifications (grade 4-9), or a Level 3 qualification.

Initial assessments and checks will be done during enrollment.

Functional Skills

Apprentices must have 5 GCSE Qualifications (grade 4-9), or a Level 3 qualification.

Initial assessments and checks will be done during enrollment. 

Modules

Modules

Modules

  • Coaching Philosophy
  • Workforce and Organisational Structure
  • Learning Theories, facilitating development and Skill Acquisition
  • Coaching Behaviours
  • Coaching policy, culture and context 1
  • Coaching policy, culture and Context 2
  • Coaching policy, culture and Context 3
  • Programme and Curriculum 1 
  • Programme and Curriculum 2 
  • Profiling participants 1
  • Profiling participants 2
  • Profiling participants 3
  • Inclusive Coaching 1
  • Inclusive Coaching 2

Employer Testimonials

Employer Testimonials

Where do you see yourself?

This apprenticeship equips you with the skills to go onto:

A Lead Sport Coach takes responsibility for designing and delivering high-quality training sessions, mentoring other coaches, and ensuring athletes or teams develop their skills, confidence, and performance.

A Sports Development Officer works to enhance sports participation and accessibility by creating initiatives, forming partnerships, and supporting clubs, schools, and community groups in delivering sporting opportunities.

An Outdoor Activities/Education Manager oversees the planning and delivery of outdoor adventure and educational programs, ensuring safe, engaging, and enriching experiences for participants of all ages.

A Sports Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of sports organisations, handling scheduling, logistics, and communications to support the smooth delivery of events, programs, and competitions.

Where do you see yourself?

This apprenticeship equips you with the skills to go onto:

A Lead Sport Coach takes responsibility for designing and delivering high-quality training sessions, mentoring other coaches, and ensuring athletes or teams develop their skills, confidence, and performance.

A Sports Development Officer works to enhance sports participation and accessibility by creating initiatives, forming partnerships, and supporting clubs, schools, and community groups in delivering sporting opportunities.

An Outdoor Activities/Education Manager oversees the planning and delivery of outdoor adventure and educational programs, ensuring safe, engaging, and enriching experiences for participants of all ages.

A Sports Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of sports organisations, handling scheduling, logistics, and communications to support the smooth delivery of events, programs, and competitions.

Want to find out more?

Wondering how an apprenticeship can influence your future? If you’re considering career paths or seeking practical experience, we’re ready to assist you. Contact us today to discuss your choices and move closer to your ideal career!

Want to find out more?

Wondering how an apprenticeship can influence your future? If you’re considering career paths or seeking practical experience, we’re ready to assist you. Contact us today to discuss your choices and move closer to your ideal career!

Understanding the industry (terms & relationships)

  • Health and safety standards including: manual handling, work at height, provision and use of work equipment, construction (design and management), noise, first aid, working hours, electricity at work, fire & emergency procedures, accident reporting and Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment.
  • Security and control of equipment protocols.
  • Management structures within a venue, etiquette and culture, including communication protocols and interdependencies of departments.
  • Relevant industry bodies and their roles e.g. HSE, ABTT, BECTU principles of stage and production management.
  • Creative venue safety systems.
  • The history, styles, architecture, terminology and acoustics of creative venues.

Planning

  • The selection of the correct tools and equipment for tasks such as assembling scenic components and truss and rigging lighting, audio and video equipment.
  • Computer-aided design – viewing, extracting information and realising specifications from system designs e.g. stage plans, lighting plans and sound schematics.
  • Environmental and sustainability protocols e.g. correct disposal of different lamp types and electronic equipment, reduction in use of PVC products.
  • Approaches to problem solving – to achieve the creative team’s requirements within the appropriate venue or production’s resources.
  • Competently use safety and access equipment e.g. personal and fall protection equipment, ladders, access towers and tallescopes.
  • Assemble and configure structures and systems from component parts.

Production Processes, Performance & Maintenance

  • The agreed industry safe working procedure: e.g. The Code of Conduct for Get-ins, Fit-ups and Getouts.
  • Recognition of production design elements – scenic, lighting, audio and visual e.g. means of scenic construction: timber, metal and textile. The properties of electricity, fixed and temporary electrical systems; theory, practice and safety e.g. to enable portable appliance testing of relevant technical equipment.
  • The properties of mechanical and electromechanical systems e.g. to enable the assembly and monitoring of hydraulic systems for scenic effect.
  • Lifting operations; theory and practice e.g. to enable monitoring of a lifting operation in compliance with LOLER such as performer flying.
  • How to identify potential improvements to systems and procedures to better enable the realisation of the creative team’s vision for the production.
  • Housekeeping – keeping venue work and storage areas clean, tidy and free from the build-up of waste materials.
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To be eligible, applicants must be aged 16 or over, living in England and not taking part in full-time education. If they are already employed, they can start an apprenticeship in their current job to help them progress to a higher level position.

Apprenticeships range from Level 2 to Level 7. The levels and their equivalent qualifications are listed below: 

Level 2 = 4 GCSEs

Level 3 = 3 A Levels

Level 4 & 5 = Foundation degree and HNC/D

Level 6 = Bachelor’s Degree

Level 7 = Master’s Degree

Access Industry currently offers apprenticeships up to Level 4, but we continually update available apprenticeships to meet learner needs and industry trends.