Cross country attracts people who enjoy running long distances but want the fun of being part of a team. Becoming a college cross country coach requires an understanding of the team dynamics involved as well as the ability to motivate individual runners.
Instructions
1. Learn all you can about the sport. Scoring is done differently than one might imagine in cross country. Only one runner per team can be counted although more may run, and a lower score wins a meet.
2. Understand the level of physical fitness required. Cross country runners need to have endurance, as most races will be at least 5K. Track and field, by contrast, requires speed and agility. Knowing what is required of runners will make it easier to coach them.
3. Start at the recreational or high school level. You likely won't land a job without some experience coaching, so volunteer at a recreational league if needed. Try coaching high school cross country for a year or two to see how you do.
4. Get a formal education. College positions typically require coaches to have bachelor's degrees at a minimum. This type of education, usually in a life science or sports management, not only provides you information to use in your coaching career but permits you to help students deal with balancing life as students and athletes.
5. Compete. Coaches with some experience in their chosen sport may have an easier time relating to runners and convincing athletic directors of their worthiness to coach.
Tags: cross country, high school, some experience