I have worked previously as a coach running holiday soccer schools, but moved away from that because of a dodgy boss, irregular wage and I wasn't comfortable with the costs than the kids had to pay to train. I moved into a job with much better prospects which allows me to do a bit of football coaching within it as and when I choose. I have also done lots of voluntray coaching to keep me up to date. Next year I hope to be finally Level 2 qualified.

However I am still getting loads of offers to do paid coaching. So I am considering going self employed and do a bit added onto my normal working hours. This ties in nicely with me buying a house. Could someone who has expereice let me know what I should be considering before I go into this. e.g Insurance and other costs. I am CRB checked with the FA and have links with several local clubs but the one I am linked with most often I find is taking much more from me than they are giving to me at present.

Thoughts and advice appreciated.

Teilo, I run something called The Football Coaching Academy and admire your want to go down the selp employed route. Your best bets will be to contact your local FA's County Development Officer and speak to them about what you want to do and where you want to go. They will near on give you everything you need to know. If you have any questions feel free to PM mate and best of luck.

Thanks Jack for your response. The company I worked for was a cowboy company. How they are still in existence 4 years later I don't know. I wasn't police checked, Level 1 qualified (although was part way through Level 2) and nor were the lads who would help me out. I was on a commission basis in that I would get a % of how many kids signed up and paid. However if a kid was to pay, but not turn up for any reason - all the money would to go the boss even though I sold the place. I could go on whinging, but it made me realise that I did not need to carry on with this person or company.

I then went onto do voluntary coaching (as a result of contacts made through the paid coaching) having found a decent job which enabled me to get CRB checked and subsequently qualified as a Level 1 and a referee. Fast forward to 2006 and I am now managing a Ladies team, on my 2nd bite at Level 2 (which I will pass I am determinded of that) and have played a big role in setting up several girls teams in the area.

However, I am under financial pressure to bring in money and I find that the club I am with is too reliant on me at times and a lot is given, but not received. Also with the professional training I have with my current job, I have ended up as CWO for the club. I ran a 5 week coaching course for 5 year old kids in the summer which went down a storm and have about 30 kids and their parents wanting me to run something similar again. I also get random phone calls from parents wanting bits of coaching doing as well as a training provider wanting me to do some sessional stuff.

I want to find the balance between bringing in a reasonable amount and raking it in. We have other coaches in the area who operate as a business but are perceived as being more motivated by money and not the kids, and I don't want to be seen like that, because I am not. I know the local officals in my FA so will have a chat with them when I see them.

do it cash-in-hand.


no tax or anything

i'm doing coaching which is effectively cash in hand but it's not always the best.

Thats rank bad advice to do suggest doing cash in hand coaching.
First, if and WHEN you get shopped by envious coaches or disgruntled dads of kids you've coached, the authorities will backdate ANY tax owed to them (and probably fine you too).

Before going full time, find out the situation regarding schools (primary ones at the best) and see if there is any contract work to be gained.
Then I would suggest you work in tandem while increasing the hours doing paid coaching.
One on one coaching is also lucrative and its more flexible.

just get whoever your working for to pay you in cheques and the authorities cant touch you. merely say it is a gift for helping them out and other coaches wont know and you wont pay tax.

get one over the system

Don't you realise that ANY cheques that have YOUR name on it, the person you coached for names on it and an amount, then THAT is a PAPER TRAIL and you COULD be traced. Then you would have to satisfy the Tax people that those sums were for TRAVELLING EXPENSES or BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT purposes.

I dont want to alarm you but IF you have been doing this then IF the Tax people catch you they will BACKDATE any fines to incorporate ANY income which you havent declared or can produce evidence that you were paid for expenses only.

f**k the tax man

Time for an update. Today I passed my Level 2 assessment so I can now say I am a qualified coach. This qualification meets the level I am coaching at so will use the next 12 months to decide whether I want to do the level 3. For now I will enjoy the moment.

Congratulations Teilo

And I hope you're not fiddling your taxes

Don't worry, I haven't done any paid coaching since I've started the topic. I haven't had time to do that with the fun and games of running a Ladies team!!! It's something I'll do soon, though it will probably be freelance with an established company.

Well done.

Where do you live and coach?

I live in Cambs, and manage March Town Ladies. We had a good season last year in what was our first as a ladies team (as March Rangers). This year we are supported by the Town who have a good set up, and hopefully will be entering the Ladies FA Cup. I also do various other pieces of voluntary coaching and will be involved in my son's team in his first season as Under 7's.

Well done Teilo,I run a womens team and have for some time and lets say!!well its interesting haha.
I think its better than coaching men as they listen more.
By the way why dont you enter your girls team into my tournament in Leeds.Lets see if your coaching has paid off.
Mail me if you want the details
Cheers

Thanks for the offer/challenge Craig but Leeds is about 2 1/2 hours from here, and I don't really take small sided tournaments seriously. We tend to enter 2 teams, splitting sides equally based on ability though I haven't seen any other team locally do this yet. I've also purposely left them to do their own substitutions and have fun. Also, I see the 2 month end of season break important for me in order to refresh myself.

This year will be my 4th season with the team, who have progressed from total novices at under 15s.At our level we are hard to beat and I'm proud of that. Its grown to the extent where we play at our towns ground and on one occasion had about 300 down to watch, and we need another coach/manager to help them progress further.

Good stuff mate,keep up the good work
Regards
Craig