Becoming an Athletics Coach
Coaches are the foundation of Serpentine's training sessions, they all volunteer their services and financial support is available to coaches of all standards to help them progress through the UK Athletics 'Coaching Pathway '.
If you are interested please contact the Committee coaching and training rep to talk about how you can help out the club through coaching. Alternatively you can speak to any of the club's regular coaches about their experiences and see if you can help out in their sessions before you go on the relevant UK Athletics course.
The information below is taken from the UK Athletics website and is correct as of June 2007. Please visit the UK Athletics website to read more about the coaching pathway, the individual levels, how to book a course and and the dates/locations of coach training courses across the UK.
The 'Coaching Pathway'
This 4 level programme aims to guide people along the pathway from novice to expert:
Level 1 Assistant Coach
This course is an introduction to coaching skills, with a major emphasis on the “how to” skills rather than the “what” skills. As soon as the course has been completed, along with a CRB check, the coach is qualified and insured to coach under the supervision of a coach qualified at Level 2 or higher. The course is one day long (normally 9.00 until 5.00).
Level 2 Coach
This course follows on from the Level 1 course. The “core” part of the award is taken by coaches of all disciplines and goes into greater depth on topics such learning styles, how to use questioning and give feedback in your coaching, how to use demonstrations appropriately, how to most effectively observe and analyse athletes you are coaching. At the same times topics such as planning a session, anatomy and physiology, strength training, development of power, teaching technique are all covered.
Following on from the core, coaches go through a period of “supported practice” during which they will work with a more experienced coach. The final part of the award is an “event specific” day, when a coach will decide which event group they would like to specialise in (e.g. Sprints, Endurance, Jumps and Throws). Coaches are then assessed while they deliver a short coaching session that they have prepared previously.
The core workshop takes place over 2 days (usually over one weekend.) The event specific day/assessment day is one full day. (It usually takes place approximately 8 weeks after the core weekend has been completed).
Level 3 Advanced Coach
The Level 3 Coaching Award is suitable for those who are working with athletes on a regular basis and are looking to improve their coaching and planning skills, whilst developing a greater understanding of what contributes to athletic performance both in general and with reference to a specific event or group of events.
Level 3 comprises of four phases that coaches must complete along with their own choice of optional module. Completion of Level 3 is by written and practical assessment; coaches must expect Level 3 to take a minimum of 12 months to complete.
Level 4 Master Coach
The Level 4 Coaching Award is aimed at those coaches who are committed to helping the athletes that they work with realise their potential and the management of this process.
Level 4 comprises of four phases that coaches must complete along with their own choice of optional modules. Completion of the Level 4 is by written and practical assessment; coaches must expect Level 4 to take a minimum of 18 months to complete.
Fitness in Running and Walking / Jog Leader
These two qualifications offer an alternate start along the coaching pathway and are restricted to 'endurance type activities' i.e. involving running rather than the full range of track and field events. The course lasts one day and on completion the coach is qualified and insured to lead sessions unsupervised. They should however consult with a Level 2 coach or above when planning sessions.