The legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is also being built in training centres and sports clubs. In 2026, alternance in sport and animation remains one of the most dynamic pathways on the labour market: the State confirms the "5,000 sports facilities" plan by 2030, pass Sport has been extended, and clubs are looking massively for qualified educators. The BPJEPS, the DEUST STAPS and the professional licence in sport management can now be prepared through apprenticeship, from bac level up to bac+5.
In short: alternance in sport and animation in 2026 is driven by the JOP 2024 legacy and by a structural need for educators in clubs, schools and local authorities. The key degrees are the BPJEPS (level 4, apprenticeship), the DEUST STAPS (level 5) and the professional licence in sport management. The reference OPCOs are AFDAS and Uniformation. Pay follows the legal scale (from 27% to 100% of the SMIC depending on age and level), and most positions are in clubs affiliated to a federation and in local authorities.
Why is the JOP legacy boosting alternance in sport?
Three dynamics are combining to explain the recruitment boom in alternance in sport in France:
- The JOP 2024 effect: between 2022 and 2025, the number of alternance offers in sport and animation grew by around 30% according to data relayed by France Travail and ONISEP. The media coverage of the Games has boosted the appeal of sport and animation careers, and many young people want to turn their passion into a job.
- The "Héritage 2030" plan: the State has confirmed an investment plan to modernise or build 5,000 sports facilities by 2030 (swimming pools, gyms, urban sports areas). Each new facility creates needs for educators, facility managers and coordinators.
- An ageing workforce of in-service educators: more than a third of active sports educators will retire by 2030 according to the DRDJSCS. Clubs are anticipating by massively recruiting BPJEPS apprentices, often to replace part-time educators or to complete a team.
"Since the JOP, we receive three times more spontaneous applications, but we also have three times more positions to fill," says Élise Marchand, director of an FFF-affiliated multi-sport club in the Paris region.
To give yourself every chance, prepare your CV with our effective templates and our interview tips before applying.
Which sport and animation degrees can be prepared through alternance?
Sport and animation offer a real bridge between passion and career, provided you choose the right degree. Here are the main options through alternance:
| Degree | Level | Duration | Main specialties | Typical employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPJEPS | Bac (lev. 4) | 12 to 24 months | APT, Social Animation, Sports Educator, Fitness | Clubs, associations, MJC |
| DEUST STAPS | Bac+2 (lev. 5) | 2 years | Animation, education, sports supervision | Local authorities, clubs, associations |
| Professional licence APAS | Bac+3 (lev. 6) | 1 year | Adapted Physical Activity and Health, sport management | Hospitals, SSR, sport-health clubs |
| Master STAPS | Bac+5 (lev. 7) | 2 years | Sport management, event engineering | Federations, events, nautical centres |
💡 To remember: the BPJEPS is the king of sport alternance degrees. It can be prepared in 12 months (accelerated) or 24 months (alternating rhythm) and leads to 25 different specialties. It is the one that allows you to become a sports educator in a club or an instructor in a leisure centre.
For those already in post, the CQP (Certificate of Professional Qualification) provides fast certification in a specific sport (Aquatrainer, Sports Leisure Instructor, etc.). For high-level athletes, the DEUST Performance sportive offers a pathway into coaching.
How much does a sport apprentice earn in 2026?
Pay follows the legal apprenticeship scale, with a few specific features for the sport sector (national collective agreement for sport, CCN 2127). From 1 January 2026, taking into account the successive SMIC revaluations, here are the indicative ranges for a BPJEPS apprentice:
| Situation | % of SMIC | Estimated gross monthly pay (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 16-17, year 1 | 27% | ≈ €486 |
| 18-20, year 1 | 43% | ≈ €773 |
| 21-25, year 1 | 53% | ≈ €953 |
| 26+, year 1 | 100% | ≈ €1,799 |
| 18-20, year 2 | 51% | ≈ €917 |
| 21-25, year 2 | 61% | ≈ €1,097 |
| 26+, year 2 | 100% | ≈ €1,799 |
⚠️ Landmark: the monthly gross SMIC in 2026 is estimated at €1,799 (on the basis of 2024-2025 revaluations), to be confirmed after publication of the decree in December 2025. For an exact calculation, use our alternance pay simulator.
For a DEUST STAPS or a professional licence, the grids are the same as for any apprenticeship contract. Beyond pay, sport apprentices often benefit from sector advantages: kit provided, federation licence paid, access to federation training courses, and sometimes meal vouchers.
Which jobs and employers recruit through alternance?
Sport and animation recruit in three main employer worlds, and each has its own codes:
- Clubs and affiliated associations (FFF, FFHandball, FFJudo, FFNatation, FSCF, UFOLEP, FSGT federations, etc.): these are the first employers of BPJEPS apprentices. Positions range from sports educator to section coordinator. Benefits: passion, club atmosphere, direct contact with practitioners. Drawbacks: short contracts, sometimes modest pay.
- Local authorities (town halls, intermunicipal bodies, departmental councils): they recruit ETAPS (territorial sports educators) for multi-sport schools, leisure centres, municipal swimming pools, after-school activities. Positions are often full-time, with public-sector status.
- Socio-cultural animation structures (MJC, social centres, popular education associations, collective minors' centres): they recruit BPJEPS Social Animation or Territorial Animator holders. The September back-to-school and school holidays are recruitment peaks.
To refine your project, browse our verified offers in sport, animation and social and our guide to finding a company step by step.
How do you fund your BPJEPS through alternance?
Good news: in apprenticeship, the training costs of the BPJEPS are fully covered by the employer's OPCO. You therefore have nothing to pay. Here are the main OPCOs depending on the employer:
- AFDAS (OPCO for the sport, animation, culture, media, leisure branches): the reference OPCO for clubs, associations and private sport structures. Site: afdas.com.
- Uniformation (OPCO for the social economy, animation and social cohesion): for popular education associations and SSE structures.
- CNFPT (National Centre for the Territorial Civil Service): for local authorities, as part of initial ETAPS training.
- OPCO Mobilités (formerly Transports OPCA): for professional sports clubs and structures.
For individual support, sport apprentices can also combine several schemes:
| Support | Amount / cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Driving licence aid | €500 (no condition) or €800 (scholarship holder) | Apprentice aged 18 and over |
| Mobili-Jeune | up to €100/month | Alternant under 30, in rental |
| Pass Sport | €70 (from age 6) | Paid to the club, not directly to the apprentice |
| Student trade card | free | Apprentice under 26 |
How to apply for a sport alternance in 2026?
Competition is strong for prestigious clubs, but positions remain plentiful if you broaden your scope. Here is a 5-step action plan:
- Identify your BPJEPS specialty according to your project: APT for all-publics animation, AS for the social sector, Sports Educator for the club, Fitness for fitness rooms. The most in-demand specialties in 2026 are APT, Sports Educator and AS.
- Choose a recognised CFA: the official list of CFA accredited for the BPJEPS is published by each DRDJSCS. Prefer a CFA that is a partner of AFDAS, with a good insertion rate (visible on the Onisep website).
- Prepare a solid application: specialised CV, cover letter, PSC1 certificate (first aid), copy of your latest diploma, medical certificate of no contraindication to sport. Attach an undertaking letter from a club or association, which will significantly increase your chances of admission to the CFA.
- Activate your local network: clubs often recruit by co-option. Attend sport-employment forums (Studyrama, l'Étudiant), CREPS open days, and follow clubs on LinkedIn.
- Stand out with voluntary animation experience (BAFA, civic service, club volunteering) or a federation path (referee, young official, high-level athlete).
To prepare your applications, browse our verified offers in sport and animation and our tips for a successful job dating. To bounce back after a refusal, our guide to finding a last-minute alternance details the levers you can use in the middle of summer.
What career moves after a sport alternance?
A BPJEPS through apprenticeship quickly opens onto a first position as a sports educator or instructor. With two to three years of experience, several evolutions are possible:
- Section coordinator in a multi-sport club (from bac+2): team management, project follow-up, interface with the municipality.
- Director of an association structure (BPJEPS + 2 years of experience, or DEUST): overall responsibility for a club, budget management, management.
- Sports activities advisor in a local authority (ETAPS, competitive exam of the territorial civil service).
- Sports facility manager (swimming pools, sports complexes): technical, HR, safety, operational management.
- Entrepreneur: individual coaching, sports school, event organisation (subject to checking the regulations on paid teaching).
📊 Key figure: according to InserJeunes 2025, the 6-month insertion rate for BPJEPS graduates reaches 70%, including 58% in sport and animation, and 12% in adjacent jobs (sport retail, events, sport tourism).
The legacy of the 2024 Olympic Games is now being played out in clubs, associations and local authorities. Alternance is the fastest way to enter a growing sector, getting a foot in working life while obtaining a recognised degree. Whether you aim for football, handball, swimming, fitness, social animation or sport-health, the spots are waiting to be taken from the September 2026 back-to-school.