Every legendary coach started somewhere – from Bill Belichick running errands for the Colts to Pete Carroll coaching at the high school level. Strong coaching skills go far beyond the X’s and O’s – leading a football team takes strategy, dedication, and a deep understanding of the game.
Successful coaches know that Friday nights under the lights pack the stands and electrify entire towns. These are the moments that bring communities together, with coaches directing over 100+ players toward their full potential. It takes solid coaching knowledge, sharp instincts for player development, and battle-tested coaching techniques to build champions.
The path to becoming a football coach opens up different doors at each level. From youth leagues to the NFL, each step brings bigger opportunities – and demands deeper expertise.
In this guide, you’ll discover:
- The real requirements for coaching at every level
- Why some rookie coaches succeed while others struggle (it’s not what you think)
- Which coaching level matches your goals and lifestyle
- Insider tips that experienced coaches wish they’d known when starting out
- Time-saving tools and resources that make game planning easier
- Smart strategies to land your first coaching position
- How to build your coaching skills while working a full-time job
- Straight talk about coaching salaries and time commitments
How To Become A Youth Football Coach
To become a youth football coach, contact your local youth league and talk to the directors. Most youth football coaches are parents who want to coach their children.
Football programs will encourage you to get certifications, such as the Heads Up Certification, which ensures that coaches know when players may have a concussion. It’s also important that coaches don’t put young players in drills or scenarios vs bigger players where they may get hurt.
Because football is a contact sport and the players are so young, each league may require additional certifications.
Youth football coaches are not paid. They donate their time to the team, which can be over 10+ hours a week: game planning, practice planning, and drawing up plays.
If you want to learn more about coaching football, we recommend checking out our Football Coaches Training Program.
How To Become A High School Football Coach
To become a high school coach, you must contact your local high school coach or athletic director. Explain to them your intentions (whether it be a paid coach or a volunteer) and how you can help support their current program.
Each state has different qualifications and certifications. For example, in Massachusetts, coaches are required to take a concussion certification test and a CPR test.
In Texas, coaches must be state-certified and complete the Atavus tackling certification, concussion certification, and more, depending on your district.
As you can see, certifications vary state by state. But ultimately, it’s up to the head coach and the athletic director to decide if they want to hire you.
How To Become A College Football Coach
To become a college football coach, you must start as a GA (Grad assistant). From here, you work your way up to a position coach, coordinator, and then a head coach.
The college coaching profession is much more corporate, and your expertise and coaching history matter when it comes to getting your next job.
Grad assistants are often paid 10-20k a year and work long, tiring hours. They are responsible for doing tiring work such as cutting up film, setting up drills, and making sure their position coach has everything he needs.
High school coaches who have worked hard may also move up to the college ranks, bypassing the grad assistant position and going straight to a position coach. While it’s uncommon, it does happen from time to time.
How To Become A Professional Football Coach
To become a professional coach in the NFL or any other professional league, you must start at the bottom and work your way up. Most NFL coaches start as ball boys, equipment managers, quality control officers, and assistants to the position coach.
Once they have worked their way up the ladder, quality control coaches are often promoted to position coaches, coordinators, and eventually head coaches.
It’s common for college coaches to make their way to the NFL and step right in as a position coach.
One thing to note about coaching football at the college and NFL level is coaches are quickly hired and quickly fired. Staff turnover is common, so new jobs often require moving to an entirely new state.
This is why coaching football for a full-time job is a high-stress job, mainly because families are constantly moving to accommodate the new job, which could only last a year.
If you truly love coaching football, it’s worth the chase for college and NFL coaching. There are great benefits such as pay, status, and the ability to coach some of the best athletes in the world.
If you have a great family and want to help out within your community, youth and high school coaching would be your best bet.
Knowing about the basics of coaching is one thing, but there’s so much more to learn about coaching! Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
How to Be a Football Coach: General Tips for Aspiring Coaches
The best football coaches never stop learning.
Master the Fundamentals
Study every position on the field. A coach who understands the nuances of each role makes better decisions and earns player trust. Start with core coaching techniques for the positions you know best, then expand your coaching knowledge across the board.
Watch and Learn
Study game film religiously. Break down both college and pro games. Pay attention to how successful coaches handle different situations. Notice their sideline management, clock strategy, and adjustments.
Network with Other Coaches
Connect with experienced coaches who’ve been in your shoes. The vIQtory community includes 200+ active coaches who share ideas and solve problems together.
Build Your Coaching Library
Smart coaches collect and memorize plays, proven drills, and practice plans. vIQtory Pro puts over 1,000 football drills and 750+ play breakdowns at your fingertips.
Build Your Network
Attend football clinics regularly – they’re goldmines for networking and learning new techniques. You’ll meet coaches at every level, from youth leagues to college football team staff. These connections often lead to mentoring relationships and job opportunities.
Focus on Player Development
Learn to spot potential, build confidence, and develop leadership. Take advantage of position-specific courses to sharpen your player development approach.
Stay Current with Football Coach Education
The game keeps changing. Stay ahead by:
- Taking coaching clinics and certification courses
- Studying new schemes and strategies
- Learning from proven coaching training programs
- Joining coaching organizations
- Attending football coaching conventions
Building Your Coaching Career While Working Full-Time
You don’t need to quit your day job to start coaching football. Most successful coaches start on the side, typically with youth or high school teams.
The schedule works better than you might think. Youth teams practice in the evening from 6-8 PM, while high school programs run from 3-6 PM. Start as an assistant coach with a program that understands you’re balancing work and coaching.
Use your downtime wisely. Watch game film during lunch breaks, sketch out plays on your phone, and review practice plans during your commute. Weekend coaching clinics and workshops help you build skills in the off-season without disrupting your work week.
Team up with other assistant coaches to split the workload. Focus on learning one part of the game at a time – you don’t need to master everything at once. With solid planning and help from your fellow coaches, you can build strong coaching skills while keeping your regular job.
I’m Chris, and I Help Football Coaches
As a coach myself, I understand the struggle of trying to run the right scheme or teaching the proper technique. This is why we built vIQtory Pro to help coaches like you have a one-stop-shop for everything coaching. Let’s get started!
Coaching football can be difficult and overwhelming. If you need guidance in the right direction, we recommend you check out our Football Coaching Training Program.
Inside, you’ll find everything you need to become a successful football coach.
If you need position courses or something to help you master the fundamentals, check out our course here.
How to Be a Football Coach FAQs
What’s the fastest way to get started in coaching football?
Begin by volunteering with local youth programs or your nearest high school team. Most programs welcome extra help, and you’ll gain hands-on experience while learning from established coaches. Start building your coaching knowledge now with free resources like vIQtory’s coaching bundle.
How do I find coaching opportunities in my area?
Start by searching for local football coaching jobs online and through school district websites. Many programs also post volunteer assistant coaching positions on local sports forums.
Do I need to know every position to be a good coach?
While you don’t need to master every position immediately, a good grasp of the basics of each role makes you a stronger coach. Focus first on your area of expertise, then gradually expand across other positions. vIQtory’s position-specific courses can help fill any knowledge gaps.
How much time does football coaching really take?
Be ready to commit serious time. Excluding game day, coaches typically spend 15-20 hours weekly on practice planning, film study, and player development. Youth leagues might require less, while high school and college programs often demand 40+ hours weekly during the season.
What’s the biggest mistake new coaches make?
Many new coaches focus too much on complex schemes rather than mastering fundamentals. Build your football team from the ground up – start with solid tackling, blocking, and ball security before adding elaborate plays.
How much can I earn as a football coach?
Pay varies widely by level. Youth coaches often volunteer, high school coaches might earn $2,000-$10,000 per season, while college and pro coaches can make six-figure salaries. Most successful coaches start for the love of the game, not the money.
What qualities separate great coaches from good ones?
The best coaches combine solid football coach education with strong leadership skills. They’re excellent communicators, quick problem solvers, and lifelong students of the game. Most importantly? They put player development and safety first.
