Coaching Assistant

Children running on an athletics track

The Coaching Assistant qualification has been revamped to meet the needs of today’s learners, and utilising today’s technologies.

The course is designed to introduce you to providing safe and enjoyable athletic experiences for young people aged 8+. The course covers warm-ups, the basic principles and underpinning principles of running, jumping, throwing, cool downs, and how to organise safe and fun sessions for a mixed ability group of athletes.

  • Book your place on the Coaching Assistant course via Athletics Hub

Video — Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft introduces the Coaching Assistant qualification

Course options

There are two course options: practical and online.

Practical option

The course is made up of four online self-guided learning modules and a Practical Day. The Practical Day will look to apply the theoretical knowledge covered in the online modules in a practical environment. There is no assessment element.

Online option

The course is made up of four online self-guided learning modules*, a 75-minute virtual classroom session *1 and remote feedback from a coach developer of a supervised session*2

*Self-guided means that there is no coach developer present, and you work through the modules independently. The modules use a variety of learning activities including videos and interactive tasks.

*A virtual classroom is a teaching and learning environment, where participants can interact, communicate, engage with learning resources, view and discuss tasks, while working in groups all in an online setting.

*2 You will need to film yourself (complying with UK Athletics welfare requirements) leading and reflecting on two supervised activities, including running, jumping, throwing activities. You will be directed to upload these to our DREAMS platform, where a Coach Developer will review your coaching and provide developmental feedback.

Modules

Module One: Roles and Responsibilities of a Coaching Assistant

This module covers the roles and responsibilities of a Coaching Assistant; the differences between a Coach and a Coaching Assistant; the skills, knowledge and qualities required from a Coaching Assistant, the support structure within your coaching environment and good practices needed when coaching.

Module Two: Engagement and Relationship Building

This module looks at how to establish the athlete’s aims and aspirations; the different types of communication and coaching skills required from a Coaching Assistant; the ways communication can build an effective and lasting relationship with the athletes.

Module Three: The Coaching Process

This module helps you learn how to: identify what an athlete should be doing in their training; state each of the core coaching process skills required from a Coaching Assistant; plan and set up a safe, engaging, learner-centred environment; state the most appropriate equipment for the athlete depending on the task and their ability; describe what makes the coaching environment inclusive and fair; choose a range of interventions to help athletes learn.

Module Four: The Fundamentals of Movement and Technique

This module covers the fundamentals of movement and their importance in athletics; Identifies the technical points for running, pushing, jumping and throwing; identifies the contents of a warm-up and a cool-down.

On completion of all sections above and UKA Licencing requirements you will be issued with a Coaching Assistant Licence card.

Book now

Book your place on the Coaching Assistant course.