Recreation instructor career

Kaitohutohu mahi rēhia

Recreation instructors plan and direct recreational activities for groups at sports centres, parks, schools, and health care and aged care facilities.

Recreation instructors plan and direct recreational activities for groups at sports centres, parks, schools, and health care and aged care facilities.

What would you do as a Recreation instructor?

Recreation instructors

  • usually work regular business hours but may work evenings or weekends
  • usually work in offices, recreation centres, schools and care facilities and may travel locally
  • need to be reliable, organised and communicate well

Tasks

  • enforce rules or regulations
  • promote products, services, or programmes
  • organise recreational activities or events
  • gather information in order to provide services to clients
  • monitor recreational facility operations
  • administer first aid
  • prepare operational reports or records
  • explain regulations, policies, or procedures
  • demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use
  • liaise between departments or other groups to improve function or communication

How can you become a Recreation instructor?

You usually learn on the job to become a recreation instructor and a qualification may be useful.

You need

  • to pass a police check

You may need

  • a relevant tertiary qualification in sport and recreation
  • a driver licence

If you're in school

You usually don't need specific NCEA levels for this job, but NCEA Level 2 may be useful.

Studying this at the University of Waikato

View all qualifications

Study a Sport Development and Coaching or Human Performance Science major in our Bachelor of Sport and Human Performance. You'll build the skills to lead activities that help people take part safely and confidently, whether in sport, exercise or outdoor recreation. Like all our undergraduate degrees, it includes work-integrated learning.

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Recreation instructor FAQs

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to help with the cost of studying at Waikato. Options are available across a wide range of subjects and study levels, including scholarships for new students, current students and specific areas of study.

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QS rankings

QS World University Rankings 2027

Waikato is ranked equal 293rd globally, placing us in the top 1.5% of universities worldwide, and 2nd in New Zealand by citations per faculty.

QS Ranking - Sports-related subjects

Waikato is ranked among the top 150 universities worldwide for Sports-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings.