Sports Authority of India Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026 — Apply Online for 323 Posts
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, has officially released its Assistant Coach Recruitment Notification 2026 for 323 vacancies spanning 26 sports disciplines. This is one of the most significant recruitment drives in Indian sports administration, offering trained and accomplished coaches a structured career path within the nation’s premier sports development body.
The post of Assistant Coach carries a pay scale of Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) under the 7th Central Pay Commission. Candidates holding a coaching Diploma from SAI NS-NIS Patiala or an equivalent institution, or those with international-level sports participation credentials, or Dronacharya Awardees, are eligible to apply. The upper age limit is 30 years as on the opening date of the application (01 February 2026). The online registration window was open from 01 February 2026 to 15 February 2026 through the official SAI website.
SAI Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026 — Key Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Sports Authority of India (SAI), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India |
| Post Name | Assistant Coach |
| Total Vacancies | 323 Posts across 26 Sports Disciplines |
| Pay Scale | Level 6 — ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 (7th CPC Pay Band-II with Grade Pay ₹4,200) |
| Age Limit (as on 01.02.2026) | Maximum 30 years |
| Educational Qualification | Diploma / equivalent in coaching from SAI NS-NIS Patiala or recognised Indian / Foreign University; OR Participation in Olympics / Paralympics / Asian Games / World Championship with Certificate Course in Coaching; OR Dronacharya Awardee |
| Application Start Date | 01 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 15 February 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only via sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in |
| Job Location | Anywhere in India (transferable across SAI centres) |
| Official Website | Click here |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Opens | 01 February 2026 |
| Online Registration Closes | 15 February 2026 |
| Age Limit Reckoning Date | 01 February 2026 |
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click here |
| Official Notification PDF | Click here |
| Official Website | Click here |
Vacancy Distribution — Discipline-Wise Breakdown
The 323 Assistant Coach vacancies are distributed across 26 sports disciplines as follows:
| Sports Discipline | Number of Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Athletics | 28 |
| Shooting | 28 |
| Swimming | 26 |
| Wrestling | 22 |
| Boxing | 19 |
| Badminton | 16 |
| Table Tennis | 14 |
| Field Hockey | 13 |
| Cycling | 12 |
| Gymnastics | 12 |
| Archery | 12 |
| Basketball | 12 |
| Football | 12 |
| Rowing | 11 |
| Fencing | 11 |
| Taekwondo | 11 |
| Weightlifting | 10 |
| Volleyball | 10 |
| Tennis | 8 |
| Canoeing | 7 |
| Judo | 6 |
| Handball | 6 |
| Kabaddi | 6 |
| Wushu | 6 |
| Sepak Takraw | 3 |
| Kho-Kho | 2 |
| Total | 323 |
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must meet one of the following qualification criteria to be eligible for the post of Assistant Coach:
- Diploma in Coaching or an equivalent qualification from SAI NS-NIS, Patiala, or from any other recognised Indian or Foreign University or Institution; OR
- Participation in Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, or World Championship at the senior level, along with a valid Certificate Course in Coaching from a recognised body; OR
- Dronacharya Award recipient (India’s highest honour for sports coaching).
All qualifications must be obtained from Government-recognised institutions or universities. Candidates whose results for the final qualifying examination are awaited are also permitted to appear in the written examination, subject to producing the final result certificate before the next stage of the selection process.
Age Limit (as on 01 February 2026)
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| General / Unreserved (UR) | 30 years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC — Non-Creamy Layer) | 33 years (3 years relaxation) |
| Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 35 years (5 years relaxation) |
| Ex-Servicemen & Departmental Candidates | As per prevailing Government of India norms |
| Contractual Employees of SAI | Relaxation equivalent to the duration of SAI contractual service |
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee (including bank charges & service tax) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) / EWS / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | ₹2,500/- |
| SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen / Women Candidates | ₹2,000/- |
The application fee is non-refundable under all circumstances. Payment must be made through the integrated online payment gateway at the time of application submission.
Pay Scale & Salary
| Post | Pay Matrix Level (7th CPC) | Pay Scale | Grade Pay (Pre-7th CPC Reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Coach | Level 6 | ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 | ₹4,200 (Pay Band-II: ₹9,300 – ₹34,800) |
In addition to the basic pay, selected candidates will be entitled to all applicable Central Government allowances including Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance, and other perquisites as per the rules applicable to SAI personnel.
Selection Process
The SAI Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026 follows a structured two-stage selection methodology with defined weightage for each stage:
- Stage 1 — Computer Based Test (CBT) — 40% Weightage:All eligible applicants will be called to appear in an online objective-type written examination of 2 hours duration. The CBT comprises 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the following areas:
- Sports-Specific Knowledge — 65 marks
- Sports Science — 25 marks
- General Awareness, Reasoning & Aptitude — 10 marks
Negative Marking: A penalty of one-fourth (1/4) of the marks allocated to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks will be deducted for unattempted questions.
Candidates who qualify the CBT will be shortlisted for the Coaching Ability Test in the ratio of 1:3 — meaning 3 candidates per vacancy in each sport and each category will be called for the next stage.
- Stage 2 — Coaching Ability Test (CAT) — 60% Weightage:The Coaching Ability Test is a practical assessment designed to evaluate a candidate’s capacity to apply foundational coaching knowledge in building positive, effective, and transformative coaching relationships. The CAT comprises 40 assessment parameters. Candidates must achieve the minimum qualifying marks or standards prescribed by SAI in the CAT to remain eligible for final selection — failure to meet the qualifying threshold results in disqualification regardless of CBT performance.
Final Merit: The overall merit list will be prepared based on a composite score calculated with 40% weightage from CBT and 60% weightage from CAT. The final selection will be based on this merit list, subject to availability of vacancies, category-wise reservation norms, and document verification.
The online written examination (CBT) will be conducted at the following centres: Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and Imphal. SAI reserves the right to increase or reduce the number of exam centres based on the volume of applicants.
How to Apply for SAI Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026
- Download and carefully read the official SAI Assistant Coach Notification 2026 PDF from Click here before commencing the application.
- Visit the official SAI website at Click here and navigate to the recruitment section to locate the Assistant Coach 2026 online application link.
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number. Ensure the email address remains active throughout the entire recruitment process, as all future communications — including call letters for CBT and CAT — will be sent to the registered email ID only.
- Fill in the online application form with accurate personal details, educational qualifications, coaching credentials, sports participation history (for Olympic/Asian Games/World Championship candidates), and category information.
- Upload the following mandatory documents in the prescribed jpg/jpeg format (photograph not exceeding 80 KB; signature not exceeding 30 KB): scanned passport-size colour photograph, specimen signature, proof of age, valid government-issued identity proof, qualification certificates (coaching diploma or equivalent), SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Ex-Servicemen certificates (as applicable), and SAI contractual service certificate (if claiming relaxation).
- Pay the applicable application fee — ₹2,500 for UR/EWS/OBC and ₹2,000 for SC/ST/Ex-Servicemen/Women — through the integrated online payment gateway. The fee is non-refundable.
- Review all entered details before final submission, as no changes will be permitted after the form is submitted.
- Upon successful submission, download the system-generated registration slip bearing a unique registration number and password. Retain this securely for all future correspondence and examination-related reference.
Important Notes: Only Indian nationals may apply. Candidates employed in Government Departments, PSUs, or Autonomous Bodies must produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of document verification. All selected candidates are liable to be posted anywhere in India. Candidature is subject to cancellation at any stage if information is found to be false or inconsistent with eligibility criteria. SAI reserves the right to modify, cancel, or discontinue the recruitment process without prior notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is SAI Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026?
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has released a recruitment notification for 323 Assistant Coach posts across 26 sports disciplines. The post carries a pay scale of Level 6 (₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400) under the 7th CPC. Online applications were invited from 01 February to 15 February 2026 through the official SAI website.
Q2. How many vacancies are available, and in which sports?
A total of 323 vacancies are distributed across 26 disciplines. The highest vacancies are in Athletics (28), Shooting (28), Swimming (26), Wrestling (22), Boxing (19), Badminton (16), Table Tennis (14), and Field Hockey (13), among others. The lowest are in Kho-Kho (2) and Sepak Takraw (3).
Q3. What qualifications are required for the SAI Assistant Coach post?
Candidates must fulfil one of three criteria: hold a Diploma or equivalent in coaching from SAI NS-NIS Patiala or a recognised Indian/Foreign university; OR have participated in Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, or World Championship along with a Certificate Course in Coaching; OR be a Dronacharya Awardee.
Q4. What is the age limit for SAI Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026?
The maximum age is 30 years as on 01 February 2026 for General candidates. OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates receive a 3-year relaxation (maximum 33 years), and SC/ST candidates receive a 5-year relaxation (maximum 35 years). Ex-Servicemen, departmental candidates, and SAI contractual employees are entitled to relaxations as per applicable Government norms.
Q5. What is the application fee for SAI Assistant Coach Recruitment 2026?
The application fee is ₹2,500/- (inclusive of bank charges and service tax) for General (UR), EWS, and OBC candidates. For SC, ST, Ex-Servicemen, and Women candidates, the fee is ₹2,000/-. The fee is non-refundable in all circumstances.
Q6. What is the pay scale for the SAI Assistant Coach post?
The post is placed at Pay Matrix Level 6 carrying a pay scale of ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 under the 7th Central Pay Commission, with a Grade Pay of ₹4,200 in Pay Band-II. In addition, all applicable Central Government allowances such as DA, HRA, and TA are admissible.
Q7. What is the two-stage selection process for this recruitment?
Selection is conducted in two stages. First is the Computer Based Test (CBT) — a 100-question MCQ paper of 100 marks in 2 hours, covering Sports-Specific Knowledge (65 marks), Sports Science (25 marks), and General Awareness/Reasoning/Aptitude (10 marks), with negative marking of 1/4 mark per wrong answer. CBT carries 40% weightage. Second is the Coaching Ability Test (CAT) with 40 assessment parameters, carrying 60% weightage. Candidates shortlisted from CBT at a 1:3 ratio per vacancy per sport per category appear for CAT.
Q8. In which cities will the CBT be conducted?
The Computer Based Test will be held at 13 designated centres: Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, and Imphal. SAI reserves the right to add or reduce the number of test centres based on applicant numbers.
Q9. What documents must be uploaded with the online application?
Mandatory documents for upload include a scanned passport-size colour photograph (JPG/JPEG, max 80 KB), a specimen signature (JPG/JPEG, max 30 KB), proof of age, a valid government-issued identity proof, coaching qualification certificates, SC/ST/OBC/EWS/Ex-Servicemen certificates where applicable, and the SAI contractual service certificate for those seeking contractual service relaxation.
Q10. Can candidates employed in government organisations apply?
Yes. However, candidates currently employed in Government Departments, PSUs, or Autonomous Bodies must immediately intimate their parent department upon submission of the online application and produce a valid No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer at the time of document verification. Failure to produce the NOC will result in cancellation of candidature.
Q11. Where will selected candidates be posted?
All selected candidates are liable to be posted anywhere in India across SAI’s various centres, academies, and facilities as per the organisation’s administrative requirements. No preference for a specific posting location is guaranteed at the time of appointment.
Q12. What happens if incorrect information is submitted in the application?
Furnishing false, incorrect, or incomplete information in the application form — or the failure to disclose any material fact — will result in immediate cancellation of candidature at any stage of the recruitment process, including after appointment or joining. SAI will not be held responsible for any consequence arising from the submission of erroneous information.