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Head coach vs assistant soccer coach

The differences between head coaches and assistant soccer coaches can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a head coach and an assistant soccer coach. Additionally, a head coach has an average salary of $44,062, which is higher than the $44,001 average annual salary of an assistant soccer coach.

The top three skills for a head coach include CPR, NCAA and athletic program. The most important skills for an assistant soccer coach are soccer program, NCAA, and training sessions.

Head coach vs assistant soccer coach overview

Head CoachAssistant Soccer Coach
Yearly salary$44,062$44,001
Hourly rate$21.18$21.15
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs22,02714,768
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age3636
Years of experience66

What does a head coach do?

A head coach is responsible for managing teams, monitoring each player's performance, conditioning the team's skills by conducting training sessions, and encouraging the trainees to reach their full potential. Head coaches assess the team's coordination during training or a game, adjusting strategies and improving techniques as needed. A head coach evaluates the team's strengths and weaknesses while educating them on the proper sports ethic. A head coach must have strong leadership and organizational skills to develop plans and reach set goals.

What does an assistant soccer coach do?

An assistant soccer coach helps soccer coaches oversee and manage players, aiming to help develop the players' skills and sportsmanship. As an expert of the sport, they typically perform support tasks such as preparing facilities and setting-up equipment, assisting coaches in developing game and training strategies, facilitating practice sessions, managing practice schedules, performing maintenance check on facilities, and motivating players to reach their goals. Moreover, an assistant soccer coach must monitor the progress of players, coordinating and reporting to the coaches regularly.

Head coach vs assistant soccer coach salary

Head coaches and assistant soccer coaches have different pay scales, as shown below.

Head CoachAssistant Soccer Coach
Average salary$44,062$44,001
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $63,000Between $29,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companyKern Community College DistrictFriends Select School
Best paying industryEducationHospitality

Differences between head coach and assistant soccer coach education

There are a few differences between a head coach and an assistant soccer coach in terms of educational background:

Head CoachAssistant Soccer Coach
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorKinesiologyKinesiology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Head coach vs assistant soccer coach demographics

Here are the differences between head coaches' and assistant soccer coaches' demographics:

Head CoachAssistant Soccer Coach
Average age3636
Gender ratioMale, 66.3% Female, 33.7%Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between head coach and assistant soccer coach duties and responsibilities

Head coach example responsibilities.

  • Coach and lead a group of 50 kids between 10 and 12 years old.
  • Manage JV squad during practice and games, preparing them to move to the varsity level.
  • Lead a professional hockey player camp during the summer consisting of NHL, AHL, NCAA hockey players.
  • Teach young student-athletes to relentlessly pursue their goals and achieve academic success while establishing an exemplary foundation of leadership.
  • Serve in a primary leadership role to manage training academy program logistics and to coordinate team participation in national tournaments.
  • Certify in CPR to ensure the safety of athletes.
  • Show more

Assistant soccer coach example responsibilities.

  • Lead team to win league championship.
  • Manage social media profiles for teams, field maintenance, equipment, necessary NCAA DIII paperwork, medical paperwork.
  • Develop excellent rapport with students as a head coach to JV girls soccer team.
  • Team go undefeated all season losing the championship game by one point.
  • Ensure players ability to maintain a good enough GPA to excel in school.
  • Assist and perform on field coaching duties with varsity, JV & red shirt team.
  • Show more

Head coach vs assistant soccer coach skills

Common head coach skills
  • CPR, 31%
  • NCAA, 7%
  • Athletic Program, 5%
  • Player Development, 4%
  • Softball, 4%
  • Leadership, 4%
Common assistant soccer coach skills
  • Soccer Program, 18%
  • NCAA, 15%
  • Training Sessions, 8%
  • Assist Head, 6%
  • III, 5%
  • Role Model, 5%

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