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 our Coaching Liaison for Running & Athletics 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 coaching course.

The information below is taken from the UK Athletics uCoach website and is correct as of spring 2010. Please visit the UK Athletics uCoach website to read more about the coaching pathway and the individual coaching awards.

To book a course and to find out about the dates/locations of coach training courses across England, please visit the coaching section of the England Athletics (EA) website. EA is responsible for implementing the UKA coaching strategy and the Coaching Development Programme including Coaching Education.

The coaching education has been restructured in spring 2010 to better cater for the needs of all individuals who wish to assist athletes in their preparation. EA offers two entry level roles with which individuals can begin their coaching journey – leaders and assistant role. In short, the Leaders/Assistant Award is a recommended entry pathway towards coaching as it covers the core – and essential – skills of organisation, safety, instruction and explanation, organising groups and managing behaviour.

The 'Coaching Pathway'

UKA Coaching Pathways

Leaders Awards

Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF)

Leadership in Running Fitness is designed to prepare you as a Leader to provide a safe and enjoyable running experience for individuals of over 18 years, of any level of ability, size and shape. The course will enable you to deliver fun and safe sessions to multi-ability groups and give advice and support to the new runner, as well as developing pathways for those who want to progress. It focuses on understanding and overcoming barriers to participation in running and how to increase participation by those not traditionally attracted to a running club. On completion of the course you will be a qualified and insured leader and issued with a leader's ID card.


"We were aware before the course that there would likely to be some very experienced runners on the training, which can sometimes be daunting for tutors, but I can honestly say the attendees from yesterday were some of the most fun, willing and engaged learners I've ever had on a course." Sam & Jo, EA LiRF tutors

"The course was excellent and Sam and Jo are real stars. Good double act, full of ideas, energy and very engaging indeed. I can't wait to put the 'beans' game to practice." Abdul

"It was a great day and good to meet other Serpies in a different environment." Neil

"It was a lot of fun but we have also learn a lot." Pav

"It was really great and very informative." Vicky

"The course was very good and extremely well lead. I also learnt a lot from a personal training point of view as well." Clare

Athletics Leader

An Athletics Leader will be insured to lead a focused component of a session, will know how to organise activities and will provide a safe environment for young athletes to develop. Athletics Leaders will be required to lead activity whilst under the direct supervision of a Coach (Athletics Coach or an existing UKA Level 2 Coach or higher) and will organise work based on a supplied activity card. Direct supervision means that the supervising coach must be within visual and auditory range.

  • Duration: 1 day, no formal assessment
  • CRB/Disclosure check, free for club volunteers
  • See UKA uCoach website, Athletics Leader Award for more information

Assistant Coach

A Coaching Assistant will be insured to take a coaching role working under the supervision of a Coach (Athletics Coach or an existing UKA Level 2 Coach or higher), working from a UKA task card or organising a session based on a plan written by the supervising Coach.

  • Duration: 2 days, no formal assessment
  • CRB/Disclosure check, free for club volunteers
  • See UK Athletics website, uCoach for more information

Coaching Awards

Athletics Coach 

This qualification is the cornerstone of the Coach Education Programme. The course plus assessment period is a total of four days including the formal assessment. Candidates will be able to plan a progressive training programme for athletes coaching a range of activities to prepare the developing athlete to run, jump and throw.

When qualified you will be insured to coach without supervision, working with Coaching Assistants and Athletics Leaders to support you in delivering the sessions.

  • Duration: The course and assessment period is four days in total. Two days delivered as a weekend, a third day several weeks later and then a formal assessment on a final day.

Children's Coach (tba)

Children's coach will support prospective coaches to meet the needs of athletes under 14 years old, predominantely with a multi-event focus and will address the issues of child development in a rigorous way.

  • Duration: The course and assessment period is four days in total. Two days delivered as a weekend, a third day several weeks later and then a formal assessment on a final day.

Off-Track Endurance Coach (tba)

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

  • Duration: The course and assessment period is four days in total. Two days delivered as a weekend, a third day several weeks later and then a formal assessment on a final day.

Event Group Coach (tba)

Once qualified as an athletics coach coaches can focus on one or more event groups (eg, jumps).

  • Pre-course study
  • Duration: 3 days

Event Specialist Coach (tba)

A further, event specific coach award within the event group. For example, jumps event coach can specialise in triple jump.

  • Duration: 2 days

Master Coach

The Master Coach award will reflect a true mastery of coaching and will be rigorously assessed to the highest standards. The award is likely to take five 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 exams.

Informal coach development