By Julia Pearlman

Once, at a focus group, I claimed that I was an ice-skating coach (marketeers generally don't allow journalists into their sessions for fear of bad write-ups – so, for £30 cash-in-hand, I told a little porkie). I relished the 'ooohs' and 'ahhs' at the mention of my sporting prowess and fantasised about the idea of coaching a sport I love.

In fact, I realised, it wasn't a complete lie. Even though I'm not an official coach, most weeks when I'm skating a bunch of overexcited, bruised ten year-olds ask me to show them how to spin, go backwards and how to stop! I end up spending half an hour teaching them about 'fishes', 'tea pots' and two-legged spins, and before I know it it's time for my lesson and I've hardly done any of my own practise!

It goes to show that sports coaching isn't something reserved for the experts - although ice-skating might not be the best choice if your experience is limited to jam-packed disco sessions. As long as you have good knowledge of the sport, dedication, patience, good social skills and motivation, you could help others get better at their chosen sport.

Be a tiger

London Tigers, for example, a community-led sports and youth charity organisation, is looking for volunteers to go into schools, youth clubs and sports centres to help young people from the age of eight.

Elias Cotelo, 20, has been working as a volunteer football coach with London Tigers for nearly a year, having once been a member himself.

"I was really inspired by the motivation the coaches brought to the youngsters and started off by watching them and gaining experience with the players and listening to their feedback," Elias says. "I volunteer up to four times a week for about two hours a time, but that's just my choice to do that many days. You have to be really motivated and enjoy the sport to be a good volunteer coach. It's really inspiring to see the development of the players and I feel privileged to work with them and see how they progress."

"Being a football coach isn't just about being on the pitch though," Elias continues. "I help drop leaflets off to young people who may be interested in joining a team to inspire them to get involved and attend meetings."

If you're struggling to narrow down your love of sports into one volunteer role, then the Northamptonshire Federation of Disability Sport is offering the chance to gain a generic coaching education by volunteering as a sports coach.

Down and dirty

Further up the country, there's the opportunity to get down and dirty as a rugby coach at the Bloxwich Rugby Club. Here you will help eight to 18 year-olds hone their scrum and tackling skills. You'll be offered financial assistance towards your Rugby Football Union Level 1 course and will get a full refund after you've fulfilled a level of commitment. The club is also looking for women to help the club form a girls or ladies team.

If you want to get more experience and benefit from funding towards a coaching qualification – and you like netball – then the London Borough of Hackney is seeking a netball coaching assistant.

"I'm looking for women over the age of 16 to help me run a netball coaching session for 11 to 16 year-olds," says Gwen Edwards. "It doesn't necessarily matter if they don't have any coaching qualifications, as long as they are positive and enthusiastic."

"In the past," Gwen explains, "I've had people help out who've worked part time and needed something to keep them occupied, but they've not been that long-term. It would be great to get a volunteer on board who's really interested in the game and has some idea of how it works."

If running is your thing, but you've resigned yourself to the fact that you won't make it into the next Olympics, then the Manchester Harriers and Athletic Club is looking for a volunteer coach. You'd be needed on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and occasional weekends to help keep junior athletes safe while they train.

Volunteer coaches are required in just about every sport, including mountain biking, sailing, long-distance swimming, basketball, and tennis. Why not give it a go - it's a great way to motivate yourself to get up off the sofa and do some exercise, while at the same time helping others.

Search the do-it.org.uk database  for sports volunteering opportunities in your area.

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