Soccer, known as football in most of the rest of the world, provides many opportunities for experienced individuals to find part-time or full-time work. Required qualifications vary by country, but here is some information to help you find soccer jobs in the USA. It is important to have an updated resume including all playing, coaching, and other experience with soccer. Organizations will want to know your highest level of involvement and any unique skills that you bring to the table.
Playing college intramurals might not win you any bonus points, but volunteering at youth tournaments or interning with the local semi-pro team probably will. Ask yourself some questions to really zero in on the kind of soccer job you want. Do you want to be a coach? If so, what age and gender? Are you available as a part-time coach during evenings and weekends, or are you looking for a full-time position? At what level are you qualified to coach? Do you want to help with the administrative side of soccer? Would you prefer to work at a school or at a club? Are you looking for a job in marketing or promotions? As you ask these questions, be as specific as you can about your answers and determine your ‘dream’ soccer job because this will help get your search headed in the right direction.
Here are some specific resources and job sites to guide you in your search:
Coaching
To coach youth soccer, contact your local YMCA, AYSO, or youth clubs. The YMCA and AYSO offer recreational or developmental opportunities for youth players to learn basic soccer skills. Many positions with these organizations are of the volunteer variety, but they are a great way to gain experience and build your resume. Local youth clubs typically offer both developmental and competitive (sometimes called ‘travel’) teams for players aged 4-18. Individual clubs determine coach salaries based on a variety of factors.
Coaching a competitive youth team involves several nights of practice each week, games on weekends, and occasional tournament participation. These jobs are usually part-time, but full-time work (coaching several teams) may be available. Contact a club directly for employment opportunities. Coaching opportunities are also available at public and private high schools (and middle schools, depending on your location). Typically, a high school team has a season of about three months, with practice and/or games six days out of the week. Many schools will offer several teams for their students, starting with varsity and continuing to JV and freshman, as numbers allow. These jobs are part-time, seasonal jobs, and availability is required afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
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High School Coaching - Northeast Region
Contact a school athletic director to ask about coaching openings. Full-time coaching jobs are most readily found at higher levels: college and university programs and professional teams. To coach at this level, you need equivalent playing experience and a coaching license (available through the US Soccer Federation or the National Soccer Coaches Association of America). These jobs are full-time, year-round jobs that typically involve a fair amount of travel. Check the NCAA job site or the NAIA career page for current openings.
Refereeing
Many opportunities exist to officiate soccer games at all levels. State soccer associations offer referee training, and most referee jobs do require training of some sort. Refereeing is a great part-time or weekend job to supplement regular income and provide a way to stay involved with the game. There is always a need for quality referees! Check with state soccer associations and local clubs and institutions to get started as a referee.
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High School Coaching - Northeast Region
Administration, Marketing, and Promotion
Many youth clubs need help in their office, handling a host of administrative details and other organizational tasks. Clubs have far more coaches than they do office staff, but if this is your niche — your skills are greatly appreciated by everyone who wants to be out on the field! Check with your local club about any openings for this type of work. Marketing and promotion jobs are most likely found with professional clubs, including MLS and NWSL. Colleges and universities often hire marketing and event management staff through their athletic department, and those jobs typically involve working with many sports throughout the school year.
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Administration/Management - West Region
Conclusion
You can find exciting, fulfilling work in soccer! As with many other career fields, it helps to be willing to pay your dues — volunteering is a great way to gain experience and make connections as you go. Who you know is just as important as what you know in this case! And remember, a big smile and a great attitude can go a long way in helping you achieve the job of your dreams! For more information about soccer and other sports jobs, contact us today.