The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) is a national initiative to endorse coach education programmes, across sportsthroughout the UK, against agreed criteria including:
- the endorsement of the coaching qualificationeach coach will take
- the development of appropriate resources to deliver effective and high quality coach education programmes
- quality assured administration of coach education provision and
- quality assured training provision of coach education programmes
For sports clubs, the UKCC will mean that the coaches you bring into your club, or the members whom you train as coaches, will have been trained to a recognised standard of competency. For parents, this also means that whoever is coaching their children will have been properly prepared to provide appropriate coaching.
How does it work?
The UKCC is intended for all coach education programmes. A series of standards have been established nationally at each of four levels. Within each level, there are minimum requirements covering such topics as coaching practice, coaching science, teaching competencies, safety and protection; these provide a solid underpinning context for all coaching and are progressive through each level. Within each sport, the Governing Body also provides contextual material so that each coach education course relates directly to the nature and activities of that sport.
There are four recognised coaching levels within the programme, of which the first two will be of most interest to clubs. These are:
- Level 1:Assisting a more qualified coach in planning and delivering aspects of a session, under supervision
- Level 2: Preparing, delivering and reviewing a coaching session on your own
- Level 3: Planning, deliverying and evaluating an annual programme of coaching
- Levels 4: This is currently under review and are concerned with professional coaching and innovative coaching methods
The UKCC ihas been integrated into the National Occupational Standards and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. The Certificate is recognised and transferable across the UK, so you can look for UKCC accredited coaches in other parts of the country and know that they will be coaching to the same standards. In future, it will also be recognised across Europe - so you'll be able to coach a junior squad in that village abroad where you take your holidays!
Who runs the UKCC?
SportsCoachUK is the national agency responsible for the overall development of the scheme, and the sports councils in each of the four home nations have a coordination role for their country. However, within each sport, it is the Governing Body that is responsible for the development and delivery of coach education programmes within that sport. Those Governing Bodies participating in the scheme are reviewing and extending their existing coach education programmes, and developing new materials, to ensure that these programmes can be properly endorsed agains the UKCC standards.
How is the UKCC being delivered in Scotland?
The awarding body for the UKCC qualifications in Scotland is the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). All candidates will be registered and certified with the SQA by their Scottish Governing Body with the SQA externally verifying the delivery standards and assessment decisions from all courses and from all sports.
Scottish Governing Bodies in partnership with sportscotland have worked towards a national set up of 4 SQA Approved Delivery Centres who assist partner sports with the registration and certification of all UKCC candidate details. The 4 centres are; Murrayfield in Edinburgh, National Swimming Centre in Stirling, Scottish Gymnastics in Falkirk and Inverclyde National centre in Largs. These four centres will work in partnership with all UKCC endorsed SGBs to ensure that the learning experience of all candidates is administered to the standards expected by the SQA.
On completion of their course candidates will receive both a SQA certificate of achievement from the SQA and a UKCC certificate from the SGB.
Almost 1500 candidates at level 1 and 300 at Level 2 have successfully received their UKCC certificates in their chosen sport as of May 2008 with feedback to the SGBs being that the courses have helped develop coaching skills and technical knowledge and have been a great learning experience.
What does a course cost in Scotland?
Each SGB has costed their own delivery model at each level and costs will very between sports. SGBs in partnership with sportscotland may however be able to offer candidates a grant/bursary based on certain criteria which might include SGB membership, current coaching at youth level etc. Information on course costs and possible grants can be obtained directly from the chosen sport SGB.
More information
For more information, contact your Governing Body, and check out the UKCC website.
