Each accreditation scheme will require your club to meet specific and different criteria but the general principles of quality structures and processes remains the same.
The most commonly found aspects of accreditation are:
- Safety – having the latest child protection and risk assessment procedures in place.
- Club management – who does what within the club structure to make it run efficiently.
- Activity /sporting opportunities – appropriate opportunities to train and compete for all levels within the club structure.
- Qualifications for coaches – as a minimum meeting your SGB requirements plus opportunities for further progression within the sport.
- Equity – being accessible to people in your locality.
To find out more about the registration process, contact your governing body or local authority. You can find contact details by following the link below:
Link to accreditation schemes
To register you should only need to provide basic club information such as name and type of club, where you operate from and contact details. You may also have to be affiliated to the respective governing body or Local Sports Council.
How long does it take to become accredited?
How long is a piece of string? The timeframe will differ depending on the aspects and procedures already in place. Also, if specific training is required this may take time to arrange and complete. There is no prescriptive answer to this and clubs should work at their own pace.
How long does accreditation last?
Again it varies but in general re-accreditation is required after 3 or 4 years. A good accreditation scheme should advocate regular evaluation through mechanisms such as Annual Health checks and External Verification. These interventions are put in place to ensure that high standards are maintained.
Some accreditation schemes also enable clubs to progress further in a practical and staged approach, with categories such as “bronze, silver and gold” following on from minimum standards to help clubs continuously improve.
