The future of coach education

We have updated this section in partnership with UKA as we unveil the new coaching qualifications structure. Throughout 2009 UKA completed a thorough evaluation of the coaching qualifications programme currently being delivered within Athletics, having consulted coaches, tutors, home country representatives, UK Members Council and other key partners. The key issues raised during these discussions have laid the foundations for the proposed new coaching qualifications structure outlined in this document.

It was clear that coaches working with different athlete populations (children, developmental athletes, adult participation, etc) require quite different skills sets and depth and breadth of technical expertise.

The new structure has been created to cater for the needs of all individuals who wish to assist athletes in their preparation. Several roles have been identified and a number of qualifications proposed within each role. Under the new structure all roles are regarded as being equally valuable to the sport and where appropriate the system is flexible so individuals can choose a pathway that meets the needs of the athletes they are working with as well as their personal aspirations.

Course Flyers

New Flyers explaining the courses are now available for download. 
Click on the image to download them for your club.
Interested? Click here to book your course.

The timetable for the roll-out

1.    England Athletics have run Athletics Leader awards and Coaching Assistant courses from April 2010.
2.    Early Athletics Coach began in July 2010.
3.    Full implementation will occur from September 2010 of these three initial courses and other streams will follow.
There will be further announcements on the dates of availability of the additional streams later this year.

Network Coach Advocates

Have you chosen your Network Coach Advocate yet?  Advocates get a free place on one of the new awards and will then champion the new courses in your local area.  Click here to find out how.

 

Latest Updates

All the latest information on the new Coaching and Leadership awards can be found on UKA's uCoach website. Click on the link on the right of this page to visit the site. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we answer the following frequently asked questions. You can either read through them all on click on a question below to jump to that answer/information:

• Why the need to change?
• What will the new coach education structure look like?
• What about Master Coach?
• What does the proposed structure look like as a whole?
• How does informal coach development fit into this?
• I am currently a qualified UKA coach, what will happen to my qualification?
• Are there any other changes I should be aware of?
• How does the new structure measure up against the existing system?
• So if I am currently a Level 1 coach what are my options under the new proposed system?
• So if I am currently a Level 2 coach what are my options under the new proposed system?
• I am currently a Level 3 or 4 coach what are my options under the new proposed system?
• Course costs and subsidies

Why the need to change?

UKA, in partnership with the home countries, has worked closely with coaches across the country to determine the direction coach education needs to take. Two clear messages have been given to us repeatedly. Firstly, that coach education must be affordable and secondly that the focus of courses must be on the technical skills required to coach rather than the more generic ‘how to’ coach skills. We fully recognise that there is value in both what and how to coach but with an event focus.

Our decision to disengage at the present time with the UKCC process was taken partly for reasons of the cost to coaches: the cost of UKCC courses we believe would have been prohibitively expensive for our primarily volunteer based sport.

In order to keep courses as affordable as possible we will integrate the course material into an online and distance learning format where possible. Thus, there will be a requirement for candidates to spend some time using the uCoach website both pre and post course. uCoach will be a free resource for any and all UKA qualified coaches as they continue to develop.

What will the new coach education structure look like?

Broadly, there will be three main ‘roles’ within the proposed coach education structure, with qualifications targeted at the needs of people looking to fulfil each of those roles. No role is more or less important than any other to the overall good of the sport but some will take longer to achieve.

1. Leader Awards
You can begin your coach education progression by becoming a Leader. Two types of leadership qualification are available and both take one day to complete with no formal assessment. The first is the Athletics Leader award and is targeted at those who wish to work primarily with U17s, U15s, U13s and younger in an induction orientated environment, working with modified equipment.

The course teaches candidates to set up and monitor a group of standard sessions covering a range Athletics events. Crucially Leaders will be able to lead sessions unassisted but still under the supervision of a qualified Athletics Coach as long as they stick within the remit of the published, standard sessions and task cards. We will make as many of these sessions available as we can to cover each of the relevant events.

The second Leader qualification is the Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) (or Jog Scotland in Scotland) which is aimed at those wishing to work with adult, participation, endurance athletes. The course teaches and insures Leaders to take groups of adult runners through basic training sessions (following a satisfactory CRB check).

To view a diagram of the how the roles of 'Leader' fits into the coaching pathway please click here.

2. Coaching Assistant Award
This qualification, lasting 2 days, is for those who wish to move towards being a coach and begin to gather experience in the detail of making coaching decisions. The qualification begins the preparation to take a coaching role working under the supervision of a Coach (an existing UKA Level 2 coach or higher) or working from a UKA task card or session a plan written by the supervising Coach.

The basics of movement (biomechanics) will be taught and an introduction to some of the detail of Athletics events will be taught. This course can be taken without having to take a Leader award, although this progression is encouraged.

To view a diagram of the how the role of 'Coaching Assistant' fits into the coaching pathway  please click here.

3. Coach Award
The cornerstone of the proposed Coach Education programme is the Coach award. Offered across various areas of the sport, the qualification takes 3 days to complete and requires a 1 day formal assessment. Prospective coaches begin in one of three streams.

Children’s Coach courses will support prospective coaches to meet the needs of athletes under 14 years old, predominantly with a multi event focus and will address the issues of child development in a rigorous way.

The Athletics Coach award is targeted at coaches looking to work with athletes in the key disciplines of track and field, cross country and road running and will require all coaches to reach a required standard of competency across a variety of events covering running, hurdling, jumping and throwing.

The Off-track Endurance Coach award is for those who wish to work primarily with adult endurance athletes with a specific competition or performance target in mind.

To view a diagram of the how the role of 'Coach' fits into the coaching pathway please click here.

Once qualified as a coach in any of the three streams, there is the opportunity to further specialise. It is envisaged that those who want to further specialise are more likely to come from the Athletics Coach award but the option to specialise is open to all. The option is to move to an event group (e.g. jumps) and then to an event specific (e.g. triple jump) specialism. Athletics Coaches will be able to become qualified in all events should they wish to.

To view a diagram highlighting these specialisations please click here.

At this point, the vast majority of content is technical and assessment is not required. However, should you wish to become qualified in a different stream (e.g. a Children’s Coach wanting to coach specifically throws) this would require assessment in this stream (e.g. the Children’s Coach now has to complete the Athletics Coach award and be assessed). We will offer formal, three-day, courses for event group and two-day event specific courses which will be complemented by the informal coach development opportunities available to those who require more in depth technical expertise.

Please note that Off-track Endurance Coach’s who later decide they would like to take their athletes onto the track would need to go back and take the Athletics Coach award before being insured to coach on a track. This is because the Off-track Endurance Coach award is aimed primarily at road running clubs working with adult populations, who have different requirements to Coaches sharing a track environment with Coaches and athletes across multiple event and age groups.

What about Master Coach?

We will, in time, offer a Master Coach award. This is not a taught course but one for which we will produce a syllabus of study for coaches to attend to in their own time, supported by resources both online and offline.

To view a diagram of the how the role of 'Master Coach' fits into the coaching pathway please click here.

The award will reflect a true mastery of coaching and will be rigorously assessed to the highest standards. The award is likely to take 5 years or more to study for and pass. The only formal part of the course will be extensive oral assessment, practical observations of coaching and formal written exam. The cost will be relatively small but the testing rigorous. The award will reflect broadly a “masters” level qualification in academic terms. This is a qualification and not an honorary award. Coaches with great service records will be rewarded through other means.

Will there be a Master Coach award for coaches working with Children?
Yes, but in order to take this assessment you must first complete the Children’s Coach award. The “Master Children’s Coach” award will have the same rigorous assessment and format as the Master Coach award.

What does the structure look like as a whole?

To view a diagram of the structure in its entirety please click here.

The green arrows represent a candidate’s possible movements through the pathway. They can enter through either the Leader or Assistant roles and then progress to becoming a Coach by taking a course aimed at a specific target population – children, development athletes or adult off-track endurance athletes. Having been rigorously assessed in these roles a candidate can then choose to undertake other appropriate awards that fall under the Coach role or target the Master Coach assessment.

Please note that Off-track Endurance Coach’s who later decide they would like to take their athletes onto the track would need to go back and take the Athletics Coach award before being insured to coach on a track. This is because the Off-track Endurance Coach award is aimed primarily at road running clubs working with adult populations, who have different requirements to Coaches sharing a track environment with Coaches and athletes across multiple event and age groups.

How does informal coach development fit into this?

We fully recognise that most coaches are incredibly busy and that formal coach education will only ever play a small, but vital, part in their personal development. Consistently, we receive feedback that coaches like to participate in informal, targeted sessions looking at the specific issues related to the athletes they coach. Practical sessions are also highly sort after. Activites through the Local CoachDevelopment Programme are providing a rich and diverse system of coach development which is incredibly flexible to your needs as a coach. Conferences, masterclasses, coach get-togethers and other activities will all form a part of the wider coach development programme. We also recognise that some coaches learn best through reading or study on their own and we want to allow time for coaches to do this without creating additional boxes to tick.

I am currently a qualified UKA coach, what will happen to my qualification?

If you are a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 UKA coach or hold CiA, LiRF or FiRW licenses, these qualifications will remain with you for life, as long as you adhere to the terms and conditions associated with them.

Are there any other changes I should be aware of?

We want to maximise time during formal courses spent on technical work and coaching practice, thus each course will be supported by a series of online requirements to be completed pre and post course. For instance, at the event group level there will be approximately 32 hours of study to complete before the three day course. This material will be available freely online so that coaches can work to their own schedule to complete the material. This helps us to keep prices of courses down, maximises the usefulness of contact time and allows maximum flexibility for coaches who attend. However, this approach requires candidates to take responsibility for their own learning and ensure they are suitably prepared before attending the courses.

How does the new structure measure up against the existing system?

A comparison of the two systems can represented graphically. Please click here to view the diagram.

Broadly speaking the Coach role in the proposed new structure will be more detailed and predominantly cover content currently not touched on until Level 3 although it retains some elements of the current Level 2. The Coaching Assistant role will cover content typically taught at Level 1 and 2. The Athletics Leader award does not include content about coaching but will include some subject matter covered in the current Level 1, such as health and safety, organisation and leadership.

So if I am currently a Level 1 coach what are my options under the new proposed system?

Level 1 coaches are encouraged to move into a Coaching role and enter the system through either the Children’s Coach, Athletics Coach of Off-track Endurance Coach awards. However, Level 1s who would like to refresh their skills can undertake the Coaching Assistant award.

Please click here to view a diagram of your options.

So if I am currently a Level 2 coach what are my options under the new proposed system?

Level 2 coaches have a number of options depending on the athlete population they are working with. Those Level 2 coaches who are working predominantly with Children could opt to take the Children’s Coach award. Those working with developmental athletes, who want to work across multiple event groups should consider the Athletics Coach award. Those working with athletes at the Event Group or Event Specialist stage of development should take the “Event Group Coach” award. Those Level 2 coaches working predominantly with adults in an off-track environment should take the “Off-track Endurance Coach” award.

Please click here to view a diagram of your options.

There will be some Level 2 coaches who have considerable experience and have developed their coaching skills independently of the current Coach Education System through informal coach development and mentoring. Many of these coaches may not wish to engage in any further formal taught courses. These coaches are encouraged to challenge themselves by working towards the Master Coach award in their own time. However, this award is extremely demanding and much of the syllabus examined in the assessment will have been covered in the Event Group and Event Specialist awards. Hence, for coaches wishing to tackle the Master Coach Assessment it may be prudent to first undertake these awards before attempting the Master Coach assessment.

I am currently a Level 3 or 4 coach what are my options under the new proposed system?

Coaches who currently hold a Level 3 or Level 4 license can choose to undertake any of the courses that fall within the Coach role. Generally speaking they may choose to take an award that meets the needs of the athletes they are predominantly coaching or aspire to coach – which could be the “Off-track Endurance” award or the “Children’s Coach” award. However, the majority of Level 3 and Level 4 coaches will probably wish to take the Specialist Coach award or begin to tackle the Master Coach assessment.

Please click here to view a diagram of your options.

Course costs and subsidies

A key aim of the new coach education structure is to create a sustainable sport through to 2012 and beyond. Under the new coach education structure, the prices of courses reflect the true cost of running a course before any subsidisation scheme.
These costs include such things as venue hire, tutor wages and expenses, on course resources and equipment, marking and assessment fees, licensing fees, development and administration costs. England Athletics’s aim is to create a realistically priced education programme that breaks even and can be sustained in the longer term without additional grant aiding.
England Athletics has developed plans to reduce these costs (e.g. through seeking affordable venues and using local tutors to cut down on expenses) and will directly subsidise courses for members of affiliated clubs who will put their qualifications to use in regular coaching and leadership activity.

For the first year of this new programme England Athletics has allocated £150,000 to subsidise places on courses. These subsidies are for members of England Athletics affiliated clubs. This offer is extended to include parents, carers and other family members of junior members of England Athletics affiliated clubs.

In addition, England Athletics has allocated £50,000 to subsidise Leadership in Running Fitness courses for affiliated club members and other candidates planning to lead Run in England groups.
For candidates who do not qualify for subsidies, the full rate will apply.

At certain times during the 2010/11 programme, England Athletics may offer additional subsidies for specific groups or individuals. These subsidies will be promoted through the England Athletics website, the Run in England website and through England Athletics staff.

The table below shows the course price and the 2010/11 EA subsidised price for the new courses:

	Actual Cost	England Athletics subsidised cost
Leadership in Running Fitness	£130	£90
Athletics Leader	£130	£95
Coaching Assistant	£175	£130
Children’s/Athletics/Off Track Endurance Coach	£365	£325