sportscotland Coach Subsidy

Built on our knowledge of the current coaching workforce in athletics, the subsidy will support the wider growth of the sport where it is required most, as such we will continue to focus on increasing access to education courses through prioritising individual subsidy support for/to:

Subsidy support for CA and LiRF is available for/to the following: 

• Those who live in poverty and low income (SIMD quintile 1 and 2) post codes can be checked here
• Those from ethnically and culturally diverse communities
• Those living with a disability*

In addition to the above, the following three criteria also apply for AC/CiRF applications:

• Those living in remote rural and Island communities
• Those aged 18-40
• Females

*As per the 2021 Scottish Census

To be eligible to receive the coaching subsidy, in addition to the criteria outlined above, applicants must also meet/agree to the following conditions at the time of submitting a subsidy application:

• Be actively delivering athletics and/or running activity in Scotland.
• Be in the process of booking onto a course, delivered by scottishathletics, starting between 1st September 2025 to 31st March 2026.
• Be limited to a maximum of 2 subsidy awards per year.
• Have a subsidy decision in place prior to progressing a course booking (retrospective subsidy applications submitted within 1 month of a course booking may be considered in exceptional circumstances).
• Have an up to date scottishathletics coach membership*/**.
• Hold an in date scottishathletics or other Home Country Athletics Federation coach licence (URN number)**.
• Completion of all relevant monitoring information during course booking as requested subsequently.
• Attend all course dates and satisfactorily complete all relevant course work within the denoted time limit(s) as outlined in the course booking terms and conditions.

*scottishathletics coach membership costs £27 for three years. This membership is in addition to other memberships that we provide.  https://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/membership/

**This is only applicable for coach level qualifications – Athletics Coach and Coach in Running Fitness.

1. Identify an eligible course (Coaching Assistant, Leadership in Running Fitness, Athletics Coach or Coach in Running Fitness):
2. Check your eligibility against criteria and conditions.
3. If you meet the criteria and agree to the conditions you can submit an application form for consideration.
4. Complete and submit the subsidy application form
5. Receive a decision from SA on subsidy award (within 4 working days of receipt of your application). If successful, you will receive a unique code to apply during the booking process.
6. Proceed with course bookings as per the usual process, using the unique code to access the subsidised price.

For any questions regarding the Sport Scotland subsidy please email coaching@scottishathletics.org.uk