UKCC: The Future

This autumn, Athletics will begin to run UKCC accredited coach education courses and at the same time launch a number of other coaching development initiatives, all of which are part of UKA’s integrated coach education and development strategy.

UKA have listened to feedback on the current qualification system and the new courses will spend more time focusing on the technical aspects of Athletics.  In the future we want coaches to be confident with not just HOW to coach but also WHAT to coach so they can be effective in a practical context.

UKCC will be a qualification that proves you really know your stuff.  Therefore, like other respected qualifications such as A-Levels and NVQs the new courses have a thorough assessment process, conducted by independent assessors who are themselves externally verified.  This means coaches can be confident they will be assessed fairly and that their qualification will be recognised and respected both within Athletics and across all sports.

To become an effective coach you need to do more than just attend a few weekend courses and so everyone who begins the program has the opportunity to engage with the mentoring initiatives run by the Home Countries and will have access to exclusive learning resources created by UKA (more on which will be announced closer to the launch of UKCC).  This total package of courses, access to the very best coaching resources plus expert mentoring is designed to help break down the barriers to becoming a successful and effective coach.

For those of you already coaching, all existing UKA qualifications will remain valid and anyone who wishes to continue their formal coach education can move onto the UKCC pathway and begin at a level that best fits with their current qualification status.  To begin a UKCC qualification all that is required is a simple bridging procedure that gets you up to speed with the content not covered in the existing UKA courses.

For those of you who feel you have done enough formal coach education, UKA will ensure you have the opportunity to continue to learn, without being assessed, through our informal coach development initiatives.

UKA also recognises that there are parents and other volunteers who would like to help out at clubs, by taking warm ups and organising groups, but do not want to invest in a full blown coaching qualification. Therefore, we are in the process of developing a low cost ‘Leaders Award’ to meet the needs of these volunteers.

Coaching is the foundation of our sport and the establishment of a coaching system that provides both formal and informal ways for coaches to improve their skills must be the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and 2014 Commonwealth games.  The autumn launch of the UKCC in Athletics is a significant development and when combined with the introduction of the wider coaching strategy demonstrates a completely new approach to coach education and development.

ukcc: Your Questions Answered

What are the benefits of UKCC?

• More technical content – so coaches can be confident with not just HOW to coach but also WHAT to coach.

• UKCC is a qualification that proves you really know your stuff and includes a fair and independent assessment process.

• As well as the course you also get access to the very best coaching resources plus expert mentoring support.
  
  

When will UKCC happen?

• The official UK wide launch of the UKCC in Athletics will get underway in autumn 2009.

• UKCC Levels 1 and 2 will launch in autumn 2009 across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• Scotland has already begun running UKCC Level 1 courses and Level 2 will begin shortly.

• UKCC Level 3 will launch in 2010.
  
  

Can I transfer from my existing UKA qualification to UKCC?

The standards and competencies for each level of qualification are different from the current UKA awards; therefore it is impossible to directly transfer a coach straight across from a UKA qualification to a UKCC qualification at the same level.

For existing coaches to begin a UKCC qualification all that is required is a simple bridging procedure that covers the content not included in the existing UKA courses.

Will the existing UKA courses continue to run once UKCC launches?

• Once UKCC launches in the autumn new candidates wishing to start a Level 1 or 2 course must undertake the UKCC qualification.

• UKA Level 3, with slightly revised content, will continue to run until UKCC Level 3 is released.
  
  

Should I start my next level now, or wait?

This depends on which level you are aspiring to.

• At Level 1, you should go ahead as the qualification only takes one day.

• At Level 2 you can still go ahead with the current Level 2, but before embarking on the course you should check the availability of the core and the two separate modules required. You only have until April 2010 to complete any outstanding UKA modules before delivery stops and UKCC takes over fully so be prepared to commit to this timeline if you wish to start a course before the autumn.

• At Level 3, from the autumn UKA will be running a slightly revised version of the current UKA course to bridge the gap until UKCC Level 3 is ready. The UKCC qualification will be of significantly higher quality than the existing qualification so if you choose to wait you will receive a better Level 3 experience.

• No new UKA Level 4 courses will be started. Opportunities for Level 3 coaches to improve their knowledge and skills will be available both locally through the Home Countries and centrally via UKA initiatives.
  
  

What if I am half way through?

You will have until April 2010 to complete any qualification you have started under the current UKA qualifications framework. The Home Countries will run courses to allow coaches to attend any necessary modules in parallel with UKCC.

However, please be aware that as we get closer to a stage where most people have completed their qualifications we will not be able to economically run each type of module across the country and courses will become increasingly centralised. The sooner you undertake any modules you need to complete the more likely it is they will be located close to where you live.

What is the cost in comparison to the current certification system?

The increased duration of courses, to incorporate more technical content and the independent assessment process, will see the base rate for UKCC qualifications rise above existing UKA qualifications. However, the Home Countries and regions will have a range of funding support options for coaches, which could bring the cost back in line with the current qualifications in many instances. 

What if I do not want to "transfer" to UKCC?

All current UKA licenses will remain valid as long as all the terms and conditions associated with them are adhered to.