Berufstrainer/Berufstrainerin im Sport

The training or further education takes place at educational institutions of accredited DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) member organizations (top federations, state sports federations, state sports associations) or at the DOSB Trainer Academy in Cologne. For in-person events, learning locations are classrooms of sports schools and educational centers/academies of sports federations, sports facilities, sports fields. For combined learning forms (e.g., blended learning), learning locations are classrooms, sports facilities, sports fields for in-person events, and at home for online learning units.

The profession is a further training profession. The type of further training is an education or further training offered at various educational institutions (regulated by state law or internally). The duration of further training varies depending on the license level, curriculum, and learning format. Sports coaches create suitable and performance-oriented training programs for different target groups. They provide pedagogical and psychological support to athletes, consider scientific findings, and react to current trends. When leading training sessions, they ensure that they convey the rules and guide towards fair play. In competitive sports, they prepare individual athletes or teams for competitions. In health sports, they focus on preventing illnesses and promoting lasting health literacy among those who exercise. In rehabilitation sports, they develop indication-specific offers. Work areas and locations are diverse.

If necessary, an aptitude test for the respective sport may take place.

Varies between 6 months and 3 years, depending on the license level, curriculum, and learning format.

The training or further education consists of 4 license levels that build upon each other. The distribution of hours is as follows: DOSB Trainer/C and Exercise Leader/C: at least 120 learning units; DOSB Trainer/B and Exercise Leader/B: at least an additional 60 learning units; DOSB Trainer/A: at least an additional 90 learning units; DOSB Diploma Trainer: at least an additional 1,300 learning units. Before acquiring a higher license level, the respective valid license below it is a basic prerequisite. Additionally, working as a trainer in a club for at least 1 year is mandatory.

Course fees are generally incurred for attending training and further education courses, and examination fees are usually incurred for the examination itself. Further costs may arise, for example, for work materials, travel to the training location, or external accommodation.

The training and further education content in this field follows the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) licensing system. Person and group-related content includes sports pedagogy and conflict management. Movement and sports practice-related content covers areas such as training and competition theory, sports biology, psychology, and pedagogy. Club and association-related content includes sports structures and anti-doping guidelines. The Diplom-Trainer/in (Certified Coach) program includes basic modules like nutrition in high-performance sports and biomechanical aspects, as well as reflection modules such as concept planning and training quality. Specialization modules focus on athletes and performance development. Sport-specific modules cover theoretical and practical teaching arrangements and 'learning on the job' projects.

In-depth knowledge in the following areas is a good prerequisite for successfully passing the further education examination: Sports (e.g., to assess the resilience of athletes), Biology (e.g., to understand biomechanical and sports medicine contexts), and Foreign Languages (e.g., to communicate with international athletes and colleagues).

The training and further education consists of theoretical and practical lessons, exercises, and internships. Depending on the education provider, one should expect the following conditions: Class times are usually part-time further education on weekends or in the evenings, or as block instruction. For in-person events, classes are held in a classroom setting at the educational institution. For combined learning forms (e.g., Blended Learning), there are in-person classes at the educational institution and self-directed learning via electronic learning platforms and systems from home.

Participation in further education is not remunerated.

The following further education alternatives are available for the profession of Berufstrainer/in im Sport (Professional Sports Coach): In the field of Sport and Movement, 'Geprüfte/r Sportfachwirt/in' (Certified Sports Business Administrator), 'Staatlich geprüfte/r Sportassistent/in' (State-Certified Sports Assistant), and 'Sportfachmann/Sportfachfrau' (Sports Specialist). The commonality of these professions is to encourage children, adolescents, and adults to engage in sports activities.

In 2020, the Berufsbildungsgesetz (BBiG - Vocational Training Act) and the Handwerksordnung (HWO - Crafts Code) were amended, introducing further education qualifications such as 'Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in' (Certified Vocational Specialist), 'Bachelor Professional,' and 'Master Professional' to emphasize the equivalence of vocational and academic education. The use of these professional titles depends on the enactment of corresponding new further training regulations.

Reductions in the duration of DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) license training and further education are regulated by the educational provider according to the framework guidelines. For the Diplom-Trainer (Diploma Coach) program, reductions in the duration of further education are governed by the study and examination regulations for the DOSB Trainer Academy Cologne.

This training or further education is legally regulated only in the specified Bundesland (federal state) and leads to the following qualification titles there: North Rhine-Westphalia: State-Certified Trainer. For further education according to the regulations of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB): Diploma Trainer of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, Trainer with C-License - Competitive Sports, Trainer with B-License - Competitive Sports, Trainer with A-License - Competitive Sports, Trainer with C-License - Mass Sports, Trainer with B-License - Mass Sports, Trainer with A-License - Mass Sports, Instructor-C - Cross-Sport Mass Sports, Instructor-B Sports in Prevention.

Becoming a professional trainer in sports is a vocational training or further education. It is regulated by state law or by the regulations of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). The further education typically lasts between 6 months and 3 years, depending on the license level.

After completing their training or further education, professional trainers in sports can find employment, for example, with federal or state sports federations, sports clubs, sports schools, sports performance centers or support bases, universities, and health and fitness centers. Continuing education helps keep professional knowledge current or up-to-date. The range of topics extends from specialized sports training to cross-sport topics such as nutritional counseling. Advanced training helps in career progression and achieving leadership positions. A natural step is to take the examination as a Fitnessfachwirt/in (Fitness Specialist). With their further education qualification, graduates of the DOSB Trainer Academy can also gain access to university studies without a general higher education entrance qualification and, for example, obtain a Bachelor's degree in Sport Management.

Framework guidelines for qualification in the field of the German Sports Confederation from 10.12.2005 (German Olympic Sports Confederation). Study and examination regulations for the Trainer Academy Cologne of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (decree of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia from 07.09.2022). Examination regulations of the federal and state sports federations. Generally for further education and activity: Law on the Central Register and the Education Register (Bundeszentralregistergesetz - BZRG) in the version of the announcement from 21.09.1984 (BGBl. I S. 1229), last amended by Article 5 of the law from 19.07.2024 (BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 245).

The prerequisites for admission to DOSB license courses are: membership in a sports club, a minimum age (usually 16 years for C-License), a medical certificate of athletic suitability, and a certificate of good conduct. For the further education as a State-Certified Trainer (Diplom-Trainer), generally: Fachoberschulreife (technical college entrance qualification), Trainer A-License, sports-specific endorsement from the respective specialized federation, proof of athletic performance and activities, a certificate of good conduct, a medical certificate of health suitability, and written proof of full-time or part-time employment at the time of application.