Coaching Hampshire & IOW is committed to developing a world class coaching workforce to support all levels of sport in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. We believe that the UK Coaching Framework and UK Coaching Certificate illustrate a progressive method for developing local and national coaching systems and improving coaching delivery.
What is the UK Coaching Certificate?
The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) is an endorsement of coach education programmes across sports and sets the benchmark for all coaches. In 2002 the Department of Culture, Media and Sport undertook extensive research in sports coaching and released the 'Coaching Task Force Report'. Designed in response to this the UKCC aims to standardise and improve modern coaching in the UK.
The Coaching Task Force Report identified that coach education programmes varied enormously in the quality of content, delivery, assessment and quality assurance both within and across sports. It concluded that by 2012 coaching in the UK should:
Initially 31 sports committed to the UKCC framework with additional sports committing to join when there is capacity to do so. Coaching Hampshire & IOW recognise that by having a coaching structure based on national standards, it will serve to meet the demands of coaches, improve the user experience and an increase participation across all sports.
What is 'endorsement'?
A qualification that is 'endorsed' by the UKCC means that it has been subject to an external process of appraisal and has officially been shown to meet the UKCC standards.
Qualifications that have been endorsed carry the UKCC logo.
For a complete list of courses currently endorsed go to www.1st4sportqualifications.co.uk
What is a Recognised Centre?
A recognised centre is an organisation that has been approved by 1st4Sport, the awarding body for UKCC qualifications, to deliver the award. For more details on how to become a recognised centre go to www.1st4sportqualications.co.uk
How will the UKCC benefit coaches?
The introduction of the UKCC has shifted the culture of coaching in the UK. A balance has been created between the traditional 'what to coach' skills with greater emphasis on fundamental 'how to coach' skills. Qualifications are also accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and Scottish Qualifications Authority. The benefits this brings to coaches in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight include:-
How will the UKCC affect coaches in Hampshire & the Isle of Wight?
There are 31 sports who have signed up to the UK Coaching Framework. All 31 sports are in the process of moving from traditional coaching systems to the UKCC qualifications framework. Endorsement has been phased, consequently some sports have are endorsed at Levels 1 through to 3, whilst others have only rolled out Level 1 or up to Level 2. This means that in some cases governing bodies are delivering some UKCC courses alongside some of their traditional courses, where an revised UKCC equivalent does not currently exist.
I have an old qualification, do I need to retake the new UKCC qualification?
This will depend on your individual sport and whether they deem your existing qualification as significantly different in content and standard to the new UKCC qualification. A number of NGBs have resolved this by developing a bridging course. Typically bridging courses involve taking a conversion course, designed to update candidates on the newer aspects to coaching without the need to retake a full UKCC course?
Why do UKCC qualifications cost more than traditional coaching awards?
Costs of UKCC coaching awards differ from sport to sport. Generally speaking they do tend to cost more than traditional coaching awards. Increased costs tend to be due to: -