FAQ – qualifications

I am new to athletics, where do I start in terms of qualifications?

• Athletics Leader is the first workshop for new people and is open to volunteers over the age of 14 years.
• Coaching Assistant is the first of the qualifications, and is open to volunteers over 16 years.

I have been an international athlete as a junior and into my senior competitive career, do I need to start at the first level?

• Yes, there is a need for all volunteers to start with the basics of coaching and understanding the coaching process, not only the technical side of the sport.

What is the Leading Athletics Course?

• A 3 hour course to allow attendees to lead activity set out in the resources, whilst being supervised by a fully qualified coach. (This is not a coaching qualification)

What is the Coaching Assistants award?

• A two-day course that helps the new coaches explore how to coach, using the athletics events as the vehicle to up-skill the coaches.
• This is the entry level qualification for coaches and each coach will be licensed by UKA.

I am 16 years of age, is there any limitation on the Coaching Assistant course?

• Yes, until you reach the age or 18 years, you should be directly supervised by a fully qualified coach during your delivery.
• Once 18, the normal licencing rules apply, you can lead sessions or parts of sessions whilst the lead coach is in the venue.
  • The lead coach should plan and set the sessions being delivered.

I already have a Coaching Assistant Award, what is my next step?

• There are two options:
  • Coaching track and field athletics – Athletics Coach
  • Coaching endurance events off-track – Coach in Running Fitness
• The award is for coaches who are working with athletes over 12 years of age.

What do I need to do to become qualified at the Athletics Coach or Coach in Running Fitness?

• Attend all 4 days – Day 4 is the practical assessment
• Complete the Online Logbook
• Complete the Online Knowledge Test

What is involved in completing this course?

• Each Event Group is split into sections, sub-sections and multiple choice questionnaires.
• At the end of all subsections there are questions that need to be answered in order to pass that section.
• Once all sections have been competed, you must attend an integration day to complete the qualification.
• scottishathletics will run these annually in the autumn.

How do I book onto a course?

• Find a suitable course on our coaching qualifications page
• Complete the booking form
• Attach a passport sized photograph (first course only)
• Attach payment or complete the payment section of the form
• Please note that no place will be confirmed until all of the above has been completed and submitted.

What are the costs of the courses?

• Athletics Leaders 14 years+ £300 per course (max of 24)
• Coaching Assistant 16 years+ £195, including coach membership of £25 for three years.
• Athletics Coach 18 years+ £425 / £170 per coach (see below)
• Coach in Running Fitness 18 years+ £425 / £170 per coach (see below)
• Event Group Coach 18 years+ £75 online; £75 integration day

Where can I look for funding available for courses?

• Local Authority Funds
• Local Sports Council Grant Aid
• Awards for All
• Local Athletics Club
• Community Sports Hubs

All coaches must be “Coach” members of scottishathletics to access the subsided costs on all courses. This costs £25 for three years. The “Coach” membership is in addition to any athlete membership.

Coaching Subsidy

Through our funding partner, sportscotland, there is a coaching subsidy of 60% of the course fee available for those applying for CiRF or Athletics Coach. To be eligible to receive the coaching subsidy, coaches must meet the following at the time of booking:

• Agree to coach through sport in the community (i.e. clubs, local programmes, schools, community, or performance sport) within six months of applying for the subsidy.
• Agree to coach on average once per week, or a minimum of 24 times per year
• Agree to become a scottishathletics coach member at the time of booking, if not already a member
• Agree to continue to develop as a coach through ongoing communications with a support coach and attend coach development opportunities as and when appropriate
• Agree to work with named support coach in the development as a coach.
• Provide a statement, why this course will benefit you as a coach, and what impact will this have on the club / school / community.

Where a coach does not complete the course, they will be invoiced for the subsidy paid of £255.