Coaching & Volunteer Development & CPD
We’re proud to provide top quality, practical coaching education if you’d like to become an orienteering coach together with many other event official courses to suit your interests and develop your skills.
Scottish Coaching Certificate in Orienteering
We offer two levels of coach qualification, awarded by Qualifications Scotland (Qualifications Scotland), all taught and assessed by appropriately qualified professionals, and subject to the rigorous standardisation processes of Qualifications Scotland.
The Coach Education Courses cover the planning, delivery and review of coaching. At present there are 2 main courses available:-
- Club Coach
- Lead Coach
The Club Coach course focuses on the development of a single coaching session whereas as the Lead Coach focuses on developing a series of coaching sessions and the management of a team of coaches.
There is no restriction on the level of “technical difficulty” (TD) at which a coach can operate, except that they must always be working within their own technical competence. Higher coaching qualifications reflect greater knowledge and skill as a coach but coaches choose their own preferred area of deployment in line with club/SOA requirements.
We encourage every club in Scotland to have a small team of coaches led by one Lead Coach , with support provided by Club Coaches and/or people who have attended the Coaching Foundation course. This corresponds to Silver club accreditation
The focus of all our courses is on practical outdoor coaching.
Guide to Coaching Levels
Coaching Foundation (CF)
The Coaching Foundation (CF) is a one-day* introduction to coaching designed to provide participants with the skills they require to act as a Coaching Assistant – supporting qualified coaches within their club. This course is not assessed and contains practical tasks as well as discussions and taught elements.
This course is a pre-requisite to complete the Club Coach qualification.
CF courses are held throughout Scotland, approximately 2 to 3 times a year – these can be provided at a club’s request in addition to those open courses on the course list.
CF is open to SOA members, while full British Orienteering membership is required for the SCCO qualifications as it is a prerequisite to hold a licence to coach.
*The course is frequently delivered in a distance learning format with 3 evening sessions delivered via an online learning platform
Club Coach ( SCCO Level 5)
Club Coach aligns to the CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) Coaching Assistant professional standard, with coaches delivering sessions which are appropriate for their level of orienteering and coaching knowledge. The focus of the Club Coach is the single session, usually progressing a skill within the session.
Training for Club Coach comprises some independent learning before the tuition and assessment. The course assumes that learners have completed CF or the BOF Introduction to coaching course. Facilitated learning takes place over 4 online sessions with formative and final assessments being carried out over one day’s face-to-face tuition.
Club Coaches are qualified to coach in lower risk areas, such as parks and small, well bounded woodlands.
Pre-requisites for Club Coach
- Recent evidence of competence at TD4 (Light Green) or above before assessment at Level 1. This is usually by means of a competition result.
- Age at least 17 at time of final assessment
- Current member of British Orienteering
- Membership of PVG Scheme
Lead Coach ( SCCO Level 7)
The Lead Coach aligns to the CIMSPA Coach professional standard and may work alone or co-ordinating a small coaching team, usually within a club or a small cluster of clubs. A Lead Coach can focus on a series of coaching sessions, often working towards a particular event. They understand about progressing skills from one session to the next, using different areas and refinements to make each session useful to a range of participants.
A Lead Coach might mentor another coach working towards that qualification.
Lead Coaches are qualified to coach on larger areas, and can undertake a short workshop on “Coaching Safely in Remote Areas” to allow them to coach in areas which would otherwise require a Level 3 qualification.
The Lead Coach course involves some independent learning and written tasks before and after the 1.5 days tuition element, a series of logged and self evaluated experience supported by a mentor, and the final assessment when all other tasks have been completed. Learners have up to 2 years from the start of tuition to complete the qualification.
Pre-requisites for Lead Coach
- Recent evidence of competence at TD5 before their final assessment. As for Club Coach, this is usually in the form of a competition result.
- SCCO Level 5 (or UKCC L1) orienteering coach qualification or equivalent
- Current member of British Orienteering.
- Membership of PVG Scheme
Specialist Coach
In addition to the role described for Lead Coach, a specialist coach might also work with individual athletes competing at or aspiring to top competitive levels. At this level the coach often takes on the role of guide and mentor to the athlete; he/she tends to help the athlete to analyse performances, set up useful practices and help with lifestyle and psychological aspects of the sport. Specialist coaches may also be qualified to organise extended training camps, overseeing a group of athletes away from home as well as managing a coaching team and other adult helpers. The Coach may wish to concentrate on other groups such as disabled athletes, coaching female athletes etc.
The format for Specialist Coach is also scheduled for redevelopment to reflect the current demand, now that the new Club Coach and Lead Coach courses have been completed.
Pre-requisites for Specialist Coach
- Familiarity with the specialist area in which they wish to work. e.g. performance, disability, coaching female athletes.
- SCCO Lead Coach (or UKCC) Level 2 orienteering coach qualification or equivalent
- Current member of British Orienteering
Course fees are shown on the SOA’s Course Schedule. sportscotland currently offer subsidies to some members undertaking coach qualifications. Details are available from the SOA coaching and Volunteer Officer.
The qualification pathway is summarised in the associated diagram:
SOA Coaching Pathway
Diagram showing the SOA coach education pathway
Coaching Qualification, Licensing and CPD
Scottish Orienteering (SOA), in conjunction with British Orienteering (BOF), run a coach licensing scheme to ensure that coaches are covered by British Orienteering’s insurance and give the club and participants the reassurance that the coach has shown commitment to best practice. As SOA remains under the insurance of BOF, we adhere to similar expectations for coaches to be licensed however we do stipulate our preference for trainings, which are recognized by BOF.
To be a licensed coach you must have:
- A Coaching qualification (which does not lapse or expire)
- Signed the coaches’ Code of Conduct, sent to BOF info@britishorienteering.org and SOA coaches coordinators coaching@scottish-orienteering.org
- Current SOA/BOF membership. SOA membership only will not cover insurance for a coach
- A valid PVG check
- Valid and up to date First Aid qualifications as explained here:
- in the case of Level 1-2, a current First Aid qualification that is appropriate to the areas and environments the coaching will be delivered. This will be no less than a 1 Day Emergency, Outdoor or Basic First Aid course. Outdoor First Aid is the preference.
- in the case of Level 3 and above, a current First Aid qualification that is no less than a 2-day Outdoor First aid course unless the coach is re-certifying and a 2-day Outdoor First qualification was previously held, or the coach can adequately confirm that no coaching is done outside the areas A, B and C (reference https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/licenced_coaches) then a 1-day course is adequate.
- Medical professionals (GP’s, A&E) are not required to attend a first aid course. Instead, proof of professional qualifications must be sent to British Orienteering and the SOA.
- Sport Scotland’s Child Welfare and Protection in Sport course, online virtual courses available via https://sportscotland.org.uk/safeguarding-in-sport/child-wellbeing-and-protection/training/.
- Completion of either the updated Event Safety Workshop (ESW) 2020 or having completed within the past 5 years or the online training of Safety for Coaches found in Coaching Resources CPD https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/resources/coaches/#56-111-cpd
- Upon completion of any of these requirements please inform Judy@scottish-orienteering.org in order to update your qualification record.
Expiry of License
First Aid Qualifications and CWPS (Child Welfare and Protection and Sport) are only valid for 3 years and must be updated after this time. Copies of new certifications must be sent to BOF/SOA so that they can update your records to show that you hold the necessary qualifications.
For documents, logs, activities and forms, view all Coaching resources.
Click here for more details of all the courses we run. Some courses are only run on request so please do get in touch with our Coaching and Volunteer Officer, Judy Bell via learning@scottish-orienteering.org if you’re interested or have any comments, questions or suggestions
Tutors
The SOA employs a team of people who are qualified coaches, tutors and assessors.
For any queries on tutors or courses, or if you’re interested in becoming a tutor, please contact us.
