Find a football coach who actually coaches your position
Most players get generic sessions because they book the nearest coach rather than the right one. Filtering by specialism first — goalkeeping, finishing, first touch under pressure, return-to-play strength — is what makes an hour a week actually change something on a Saturday.
Free for coaches
- Public coach profile with specialisms and availability
- Directory listing athletes can filter and search
- Direct enquiries — no lead fees, no commission
- Athlete roster with measurables and progress
- Share training plans, drills and video feedback
What to filter for
A good match is specific. Decide the one thing you want measurably better in twelve weeks, then look for a coach who talks about that thing in their profile rather than listing every service.
- Specialism: goalkeeping, striker finishing, midfield scanning, defending 1v1
- Age group and level — youth academy, grassroots adult, semi-pro
- Format: 1-to-1, small group, remote video feedback
- Location, travel radius and whether they use a pitch or a 3G cage
- Qualifications, safeguarding status and years coaching your age group
Questions worth asking before you book
Ask what the first session measures, how progress gets reviewed, and what a typical twelve-week block looks like. A coach with a real method answers in specifics; a coach selling hours answers in adjectives.
Agree the cancellation policy and rate in writing before session one. It prevents almost every awkward conversation later.
Coaching helps you improve, not guarantee outcomes
No coach can promise a trial, a signing or a scholarship. What good coaching does is make you measurably better and help you become more discoverable — clearer film, better numbers, a profile scouts and clubs can actually find.
Step by step
- 01
Define one target
Pick a single measurable outcome for the block — not 'get better at football'.
- 02
Shortlist three coaches
Filter by specialism and age group, then read full profiles rather than headlines.
- 03
Message with context
Position, level, availability, the target. Specific messages get specific replies.
- 04
Book a first session
Treat it as a baseline: measure, film, agree the plan.
- 05
Review at week six
Compare against the baseline and change the plan if nothing moved.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a football coach cost?
Private football coaching in most markets ranges from roughly the price of a gym day pass for small-group work up to a premium hourly rate for ex-professional 1-to-1 coaching. Coaches set and keep their own rates on AthletiLink; we take no commission.
Is small-group coaching worse than 1-to-1?
Not for most players. Small groups create competitive reps and cost less, which usually means more sessions over a season. Use 1-to-1 for technical rebuilds and goalkeeping.
Does it cost anything for coaches to join?
No. Creating a coach profile, appearing in the directory, messaging athletes and posting to the feed is free. There is no listing fee and no commission on the work you win.
Can athletes see my profile before signing up?
Yes. Coach profiles and the directory are publicly browsable, so an athlete or parent can read about you first. An account is only needed to message, book or save you.
Coaching guides
How to find a good sports coach
How to find a good sports coach: define the outcome, check qualifications and safeguarding, ask the right questions, judge a trial session, and know when to move on.
How coaches can find more athletes
A practical guide for coaches: get found in search, convert enquiries, build referral loops, retain athletes longer, and grow a coaching business without ad spend.
How to become a youth sports coach
The realistic route into youth coaching: entry qualifications, safeguarding and first aid, finding a club to volunteer with, and building the experience that leads to paid work.
How to start a sports coaching business
A practical setup guide for self-employed coaches: legal and insurance basics, setting rates, finding your first ten athletes, and the systems that keep a schedule full.
How to promote a sports coaching business
Low-cost marketing for coaches: local search, a profile written for how athletes actually search, weekly content, partnerships with clubs and physios, and a referral loop that compounds.
Coach here
List your specialisms, get found by athletes in your sport and area, and manage your roster in one place. Free, with no commission.
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How to find a good sports coach
How to find a good sports coach: define the outcome, check qualifications and safeguarding, ask the right questions, judge a trial session, and know when to move on.
How coaches can find more athletes
A practical guide for coaches: get found in search, convert enquiries, build referral loops, retain athletes longer, and grow a coaching business without ad spend.
How to become a youth sports coach
The realistic route into youth coaching: entry qualifications, safeguarding and first aid, finding a club to volunteer with, and building the experience that leads to paid work.
How to start a sports coaching business
A practical setup guide for self-employed coaches: legal and insurance basics, setting rates, finding your first ten athletes, and the systems that keep a schedule full.
How to promote a sports coaching business
Low-cost marketing for coaches: local search, a profile written for how athletes actually search, weekly content, partnerships with clubs and physios, and a referral loop that compounds.
Keep going
Free recruiting readiness score
Ten questions, an honest score, and your prioritized next steps.
College athletic recruiting guide
Timelines by grade, division fit and a readiness checklist.
NCAA Eligibility Center
What the NCAA Eligibility Center requires: 16 core courses, D1 and D2 GPA rules, registration timing, transcripts, amateurism and a step-by-step checklist.
Athletic scholarships
How athletic scholarships work: head-count vs equivalency sports, scholarship limits by sport, stacking academic aid, and how to compare real net cost.
How to email college coaches (with templates that get replies)
How to email college coaches: subject lines, what to include, follow-up cadence, and copy-paste templates for first contact, camps and senior-year outreach.
NCAA recruiting rules
NCAA recruiting rules explained: contact periods by division, when coaches can call, official and unofficial visits, dead periods, and what you may do first.
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For clubs and coaches
- For clubs
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- How to grow a sports club
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- Sports club membership management: the complete guide
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For coaches and trainers
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- Find a coach
- Coach directory
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- Remote coaching
- Training plans
- How to find a good sports coach
- How coaches can find more athletes
- How to become a youth sports coach
- How to start a sports coaching business
- How to promote a sports coaching business