In 2024, the Dutch Football Association launched an in-depth study to understand why football coaches leave their roles. The KNVB emphasized that the goal for this research is to develop better support systems for coaches and most importantly, to minimize dropout rates. As part of the research, all coaches who stepped down this year were invited to participate.
So far, insights have been gathered from 2,300 former coaches, shedding light on their motivations for leaving the game. Now, KNVB announce it's time to share this knowledge and help clubs take action! A total of 2,123 men and 178 women have contributed to the study, including assistant coaches and goalkeeper coaches.
Why Do Coaches Start Coaching?
To fully understand why coaches leave, it’s crucial to first explore their initial motivations for taking up the role. Did they aspire to build a career in coaching, or were they simply stepping in to support their child's team?
The research revealed that the majority of coaches (57.6%) started because they found joy in coaching. Additionally, 53.6% began their journey because their (grand)children played at the club and needed a coach. The third most common motivation (33.1%) was the desire to help others continue enjoying the sport. Interestingly, these motivations were consistent across both male and female coaches.
However, age differences did reveal some variation. Younger coaches (aged 21-40) were more likely to cite ambitions of reaching the highest coaching levels (23.3%) compared to their older counterparts (9.3%). On the other hand, older coaches (41+) were much more likely to start coaching due to family ties, with 67% mentioning this reason compared to only 23.5% in the younger group.
Why Do Coaches Quit?
So, why do these coaches eventually step away? According to the research, the top reasons include:
Lack of time (27.4%) – Balancing work, family, and other commitments often becomes overwhelming.
Personal circumstances (25.6%) – Factors such as job changes, relocation, or family obligations play a significant role.
Lack of appreciation (17.6%) – Coaches feel undervalued by their clubs and communities.
Among those who cited a lack of appreciation, a staggering 82% expressed a desire for more recognition from board or committee members. Additionally, 44.7% wished for greater acknowledgment from the Head of Development or Football Coaching Coordinator, while 18.5% felt underappreciated by parents and supporters.
When Do Coaches Leave?
An interesting trend emerged when analyzing the age at which male and female coaches stepped down. Among male coaches, nearly one-third (31.1%) quit after the age of 50. In contrast, only 8.4% of female coaches continued coaching past 50.
Another notable difference is the duration of coaching careers. Male coaches exhibit a wide range in years of service, with the most common durations being 5 to 10 years (23.7%) and 1 to 3 years (22.3%). Other significant ranges include 3 to 5 years (17.3%), 11 to 15 years (13.8%), and even over 20 years (12.2%). Very few men (4.9%) coached for less than a year.
Female coaches, however, show a different pattern. Almost half (48.3%) coached for only 1 to 3 years, while 21.3% stayed for 3 to 5 years, and 14% coached for 5 to 10 years. A smaller percentage (9.6%) had coaching stints of less than a year.
Unfulfilled Ambitions
A significant portion of coaches (25.5%) felt they did not achieve their coaching ambitions—whether at the amateur or professional level. Nearly 600 former coaches expressed this frustration, with 28.1% citing a lack of appreciation as a demotivating factor and 27% feeling they did not receive adequate support to achieve their goals.
Intentions to Return
Almost a quarter (24%) of former coaches consider it (very) likely that they will return to coaching. Of those, 58.2% expect to do so within one to two seasons. The likelihood of return is slightly lower for women (16.3%), but 58.6% of them also expect to return within one to two seasons. The biggest obstacle to returning is the lack of opportunities to coach at their desired level, cited by 20% of both male and female coaches.
Coaching Qualifications
Coaching at the desired level is often linked to obtaining proper qualifications. Of all former coaches, 59.2% did not hold a coaching license. The percentage is even higher (77.8%) among the youngest age group (under 15 years). Among those without a diploma, 41% reported a lack of time to pursue training, while 40.5% did not see the necessity. The latter was the most cited reason (48.8%) among coaches aged 50+.
To support aspiring youth coaches pressed for time, the KNVB offers an introductory 'Kickoff Module,' which provides fundamental coaching skills in just one practical session. Recently, the 10,000th participant completed the program.
Recruiting & Retaining Coaches
The insights from this research can help clubs develop better support systems to reduce coach dropout rates. Staying in touch with your coaches, understanding their needs, and addressing them proactively are key to retaining them for the long term. The KNVB itself has decided to offer a structured framework, the 'Kaderbeleid' plan, along with guidance from the Head of Development or Football Coaching Coordinator to support clubs in these efforts. At No Goalie No Game, we obviously hope more federations follow to actively improve the work environments for all coaches. Our future of football depends on the quality of coaching.
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