3
FEBRUARY 2009 futures
futures FOCUS
SPORTS COACHES
FITNESS CENTRE MANAGERS
Sport
For more information call
0845 850 0766 (16+ further education)
0845 606 1144 (undergraduate)
0845 850 0760 (postgraduate)
www.cumbria.ac.uk/sport
Courses at a variety of levels--16+, undergraduate,
postgraduate--leading to qualifications and a career in sport
A
FITNESS centre manager is
responsible for managing a centre
which promotes activities related to
physical fitness.
Managerial responsibilities usually
include attracting new members (and
retaining existing ones), generating
revenue, recruiting and managing staff,
organising and publicising events and
overseeing maintenance of equipment.
The manager is also accountable for the
overall profitability of the centre.
There are also differences between local
authority or educational establishments
and those run on a fully commercial basis.
Typical work activities usually include
designing and promoting activities to meet
customer demand and generate revenue;
advertising and promoting the centre to
increase usage; organising, training and
supervising staff; carrying out health and
safety checks on equipment and plant;
maintaining high levels of customer care
and handling complaints, as necessary; and
delivering fitness training.
Managers also prepare and check
budgets; write reports and prepare cash
projections; and manage the fitness centre
timetable.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS
THE range of typical starting salaries are
�14,850 to �26,500. Typical salaries at senior
level with experience range from �29,000
to �43,000.
Salaries vary widely depending on the
size and type of facility and the pay scales
offered within a particular organisation.
Rapid expansion in the sector is
beginning to force salaries up.
Organisations with a policy of graduate
recruitment, who may target a wealthier
clientele, tend to pay better. Bonuses
related to targets, such as membership
retention or attracting new members, are
frequently paid.
Working hours can include regular
unsocial hours, with early and late shifts
and weekend working.
Self-employment and freelance work are
uncommon, except as a personal trainer or,
occasionally, as a consultant.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
THIS area of work is open to all graduates,
but degrees in the following subjects may
increase your chances: sports science or
sports management; leisure management
or recreation management; physiology;
psychology; or education.
Although this area of work is open to all
diploma-holders, the following HND and
foundation degree subjects may increase
your chances: sports science or sport and
leisure management; recreation
management; travel, tourism or leisure
studies; business, management or other
business-related subjects.
Personal qualities, business and
management interests and skills, and
relevant fitness qualifications can be as
important as the subject you have studied
at university or college.
Entry without a degree or HND and
foundation degree is fairly common,
although entrants are increasingly
educated to degree level. Some
organisations specifically target graduates.
Pre-entry experience in a fitness or
leisure centre is almost always essential.
Fitness instructor qualifications and first aid
or pool lifeguard certificates can be useful.
Ideally, fitness qualifications should be
recognised by the Register of Exercise
Professionals (REPs).
Candidates will need to show evidence of
an interest in physical fitness and sport;
good interpersonal, time management and
organisational skills; the ability to work
within a team; proven business and
commercial acumen, and problem-solving
skills; self-motivation; a customer-focused,
approachable and outgoing personality.
The first step is to gain experience in a
fitness centre. Part-time and casual staff are
often employed, particularly for evening
and weekend shifts, in roles such as
swimming pool attendant, membership
sales adviser or fitness centre assistant.
Learn as much as you can about the
management of the centre and start to
establish a network of contacts.
Develop commercial skills and experience
in areas such as sales, marketing and
finance. Counselling skills can also be
useful, as entry roles often involve working
with clients on a one-to-one basis.
TRAINING
MANY of the larger commercial
organisations offer extensive programmes
of in-house training. Topics covered may
include corporate memberships; payroll
management; teamworking skills; health
and safety; customer care; employment
law; business planning; and IT skills.
In the local authority sector in particular,
it is common for staff to study on a
part-time basis for the certificates and
diplomas of the Institute of Sport and
Recreation Management (ISRM) or the
Institute of Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL).
It may also be possible to gain NVQs in
customer care, information technology and
management skills.
Sector specific qualifications also include
the NVQ Levels 3 and 4 in Sport, Recreation
and Allied Occupations (Operations and
Development). Information on training,
education and standards can be found in
the Health and Fitness section of
SkillsActive � The Sector Skills Council for
Active Leisure and Learning.
S
PORTS coaches help people to work
towards achieving their full potential.
They may support professional sports
people or teams or school groups.
Coaches bring out people's ability by
identifying needs and planning suitable
training. It involves developing the
participants' physical and psychological
fitness.
Roles vary hugely according to context,
but typical work activities are likely to
include evaluating performance and
providing feedback; developing knowledge
of fitness, injury, nutrition and sports
science; encouraging participants to gain
and develop skills and techniques; and
planning and running programmes of
activities for groups and individuals.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS
STARTING salaries range from hourly rates
of around �10 to annual salaries of
�15,000-�25,000, depending on location
and qualifications. Senior coaches might
expect �25,000-�35,000 while experienced
coaches working at national level have the
potential to earn in excess of �50,000.
In professional sport, coaches may earn a
basic salary with additional bonuses related
to competition results, prize money earned
or performance standard.
The number of full-time, paid coaching
positions is limited but growing. The 2012
Olympic Games are expected to boost
certain areas of the profession.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
RELEVANT degree and HND or foundation
degree subjects include sports science;
health science; sport coaching; or sports
management.
Academic qualifications may provide a
useful background but you can only
become a qualified coach by gaining the
appropriate coaching qualification offered
by the national governing body of your
chosen sport.
Courses vary in length and may be
full-time, part-time or taken by distance
learning. Practical coaching competency
must be demonstrated.
Some higher education sports-related
courses offer the opportunity to gain
coaching qualifications in conjunction with
the degree programme. Progress as a sports
coach is impossible without these, even if
you have a sports-related degree.
Candidates will need to be able to
quickly develop successful working
relationships with people of varying levels
of ability; have a desire to help other
people succeed; have excellent
communication skills; have team-building
abilities; and have enthusiasm, flexibility
and patience.
Voluntary and part-time work are the
main ways into coaching, and many
coaches continue in this capacity alongside
other employment. Getting involved with
activities in your chosen sport at a regional
level is advisable.
The level of competition for jobs tend to
be related to the participation rates for the
sport.
TRAINING
SPORTS Coach UK provides a programme of
coaching essentials workshops on key
aspects of the role for new and existing
coaches, and is also working with sports
governing bodies to develop the UK
Coaching Framework.
The coaching role is developing in profile
and potential opportunities as a result of
government recognition of the health and
social benefits of sports at all levels.
This has led to the development of the
UK coaching certificate.
FIGHTING FIT:
Haven RL's Ade Adebisi
gets a bit of practice on
the bag at the West
Coast Community and
Fitness Centre at
Mirehouse, with
instructor Martin
McMullen (junior)
John Story

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