The purpose of this master’s thesis was to examine the remuneration of basketball coaches in Slovenia and to analyze the factors influencing its structure. The study focused on the age category coached, the role within the team, the level of professional qualification, the club’s location, and the time spent on preparation, administration, and other off-court activities. Data were collected through a survey completed by 179 coaches. For comparability, all payments were converted into gross hourly wages based on the number of training hours delivered.
The results showed that coaches of older age categories are, on average, significantly better paid than those coaching younger teams, although wages do not increase linearly with each age level. Notably, U16 coaches, despite the demanding nature of their work, reported the lowest gross hourly wages. Furthermore, professional qualification proved to be an important determinant of salary, as higher qualification levels were associated with substantially higher earnings. The analysis of the competition level of senior teams revealed differences in pay; however, these were not consistent across successive league tiers, suggesting that club finances are not strictly dependent on league status. No significant differences were found regarding club location or settlement size. Time spent on additional off-court activities showed a weak positive correlation with pay.
During the 2024/25 season, the average gross monthly salary of analysed coaches amounted to €1103 (± 887), while the average gross hourly wage was €25 (± 16.2), dropping to €16.7 (± 10.1) when additional activities were considered. The findings suggest that basketball coaches in Slovenia may earn less than other sports professionals, reflecting specific characteristics of club financing and work organization. The study provides an overview of the current valuation system and can serve as a basis for future comparative analyses and discussions on potential improvements.
|
