1. Sports:
* People who train athletes: "The football team's coaches are known for their strict training regime."
* The team itself: "The coaches won the championship game." (This is less common but can be used to refer to the team, especially in informal contexts)
2. Business/Professional Development:
* People who guide and mentor individuals or teams: "Our company has brought in executive coaches to help employees develop leadership skills."
* The process of providing guidance and support: "We need to implement more effective coaching strategies to help new hires."
3. Transportation:
* Vehicles that transport passengers: "The coaches are scheduled to arrive at 6pm." This usage is primarily British English. In American English, "buses" would be the more common term.
4. In specific phrases:
* "Life coaches": People who help individuals set goals and achieve their desired outcomes.
* "Executive coaches": People who coach senior leaders on various aspects of their role.
* "Business coaches": People who provide guidance and support to business owners and entrepreneurs.
In summary: You use "coaches" to refer to people who provide guidance, training, or support in various areas, from sports to business. You can also use it to refer to the vehicles used for passenger transport (mainly in British English).