HOW TO HIRE · LESSONS & TUTORING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a football coach in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A football coaching in Ireland costs €25–€80 per session, typically around €45. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a football coach in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers football coach work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — team Dynamics — coaches work on building team cohesion and communication among players.
- How does coach's experience change the price?Certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location of the sessions change the price?The hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the training required change the price?No two bespoke jobs take the same time, so quotes run higher. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Physical Conditioning — football coaching includes fitness training to improve players' stamina, strength, and agility — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a football coach job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Garda vetting, shown to you, with its date; A subject qualification, and how much of their work is this subject at this level; Whether lessons are one-to-one or shared, and where they happen; For online lessons, whether sessions are recorded and who holds the recording; Cancellation and payment terms in writing — block-paid lessons are the commonest dispute; Two references from current families.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers football coach work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — team Dynamics — coaches work on building team cohesion and communication among players.
A good answer: Certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: No two bespoke jobs take the same time, so quotes run higher. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Physical Conditioning — football coaching includes fitness training to improve players' stamina, strength, and agility — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a football coach job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and professional indemnity if they advise on exam strategy — game Strategy — coaches provide insights into game tactics and strategies, helping players understand positioning, formations, and decision-making during matches.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the football coach starts, and an itemised invoice after — skill Development — football coaching focuses on enhancing players' technical skills, such as dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: coach's experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate
- They will not talk about it: location of the sessions — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the training required — no two bespoke jobs take the same time, so quotes run higher
- A price for the football coach before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the football coach has begun
What a football coach costs: €25–€80 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Individual skill development and Team coaching each carry their own band. Football Coaching price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Football coaches near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstCoach's experience — certification costs the provider money, and it shows in the rate — that is what the football coach is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneLocation of the sessions — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the training required — no two bespoke jobs take the same time, so quotes run higher — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSkill Development — an expert spots in minutes what takes somebody else an hour — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the football coach is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, coaches may hold specific qualifications or certifications that demonstrate their expertise.
- Skill Development
- Football coaching focuses on enhancing players' technical skills, such as dribbling, passing, and shooting.
- Game Strategy
- Coaches provide insights into game tactics and strategies, helping players understand positioning, formations, and decision-making during matches.
- Physical Conditioning
- Football coaching includes fitness training to improve players' stamina, strength, and agility.
- Team Dynamics
- Coaches work on building team cohesion and communication among players.
- Individual Skill Development
- Focused sessions aimed at enhancing a player's technical skills, such as dribbling, shooting, and passing.
- Team Coaching
- Group sessions designed to improve team dynamics, strategies, and collective performance on the pitch.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a football coach: questions people ask
The cost of football coaching can vary based on the coach's experience, qualifications, and the location of the sessions. Coaches with specialised training or those working with elite teams may charge higher rates.
Most football coaching sessions last between 60 to 90 minutes. This duration allows for a comprehensive training experience, including warm-up, skill drills, and game-like scenarios.
While general football coaches can provide valuable training, hiring a qualified specialist may be beneficial for advanced techniques or specific areas of focus. Look for coaches with relevant certifications for specialised training.
Same-day bookings for football coaching may be possible, depending on the coach's availability. It's advisable to check with the coach or coaching service in advance to secure a spot.
Football coaching generally does not include physical therapy, nutrition advice, or equipment provision. Coaches focus on skill development and game strategies, while other aspects may require separate services.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PRIVATE TUTORS. Anyone may advertise as one. Where the student is under 18 the thing that matters is Garda vetting, obtained through an organisation under the National Vetting Bureau Acts 2012–2016 — and a parent cannot apply for it on a tutor's behalf, so the only practical check is to ask the tutor to show you the disclosure they hold and to read its date. A qualified teacher will also be on a teaching register, which is checkable.
MORE GUIDES