The Zemsky Coach Program

“Zemsky Coach” — is a federal support program for physical education and sports workers who are ready to relocate and take up employment in small population centers. Its goal is to address the staffing shortage in rural areas and small towns.

The program was developed in accordance with the President’s instruction of 29.11.2024 No. Пр-2500 (part 1 of subparagraph “г” of clause 4).

How to participate:
— Find a vacancy
A list of suitable positions is published on the website of the regional ministry or department of physical education and sports.
— Prepare documents
It is best to check the exact list in the region you have chosen.
— Submit an application and take part in the competitive selection
Once the application is approved, you must sign an employment contract and an agreement on the provision of the payment with the authorized body of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

There is no single federal portal for submitting applications.
To obtain information about the list of vacant positions and apply to participate in the “Zemsky Coach” program, you must contact the executive authority of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation responsible for physical education and sports in the region where you plan to participate.

Conditions for providing a one-time compensation payment:
— the applicant relocates to a population center with up to 50 thousand residents, located within the region
— signing an employment contract with a state or municipal physical education and sports organization, including physical culture and sports organizations and educational organizations operating in the field of physical education and sports, founded by the Ministry of Sport or the local government body of a municipal entity
— an obligation to work for at least 5years in the selected organization
— signing an employment contract with a physical education and sports organization   on a full-time basis
— performing job duties in a position included in the list of vacant positions for physical education and sports workers of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation
— signing an agreement with the highest executive body of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation or an executive body of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation authorized by it, on the provision of a one-time compensation payment
— if employment ends before the five-year period — repayment of the monetary payment in full or in part: in full — if resignation is voluntary or for “unjustified” reasons, in part — if the full period was not completed for valid reasons (conscription into military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, maternity leave; in this case, repayment is proportional to the remaining period of service).

Requirements for applicants:
* education level — higher professional or specialized secondary education in physical education, sports or related disciplines (education documents must be obtained from accredited educational institutions);
* citizenship — only citizens of the Russian Federation are eligible to participate.

In practice, the constituent entity of the Russian Federation should use the approved form and carefully compare the job titles in the application with the examples in the list. Sports institutions should check in advance whether their job titles match the wording in the list. Differences in wording increase the risk of refusal of co-financing.

Workers are provided with one-time compensation payments depending on the region: 
— 2 млн. рублей – in the territories of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, in the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District and, from 2027 г., in the territories of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions
— 1 млн. рублей – territories of other constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Indicative list of positions for which payments are provided:
Hang-gliding instructor-methodologist
Instructor-methodologist for technical and military-applied sports
Tourism instructor-methodologist
Senior sports coach-teacher
Personal fitness program trainer
Fitness instructor for working with children and adolescents
Pilates fitness trainer
Swimming fitness trainer
Fitness trainer for combat sports and martial arts

Full list here