Coaching Courses
Coaching is an incredibly rewarding role and can encompass many different aspects from introducing children and newcomers to the sport; building skills and developing technique in club coaching sessions; coaching in larger squads for both adults and juniors as well performance coaching for elite and aspiring athletes.
Scottish Orienteering offers a range of progressive courses to enable you to become an established coach. It also offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses as well as providing a range of resources and ideas to support your coaching
Coaching Qualifications
Coaching Foundation
AIM: This course is the first step on the coaching pathway and is designed to equip competent orienteers with the skills and understanding to assist a qualified coach with delivery of a coaching session and provide an effective induction to orienteering to beginners at local orienteering activities and events.
Course Content | Creating a positive learning experience and supportive learning environment The Orienteering Step System and Progression Using a session plan Questioning skills and how to give feedback Practical coaching |
Entry Requirements/Pre Requisites | Current member of Scottish Orienteering Membership of Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme |
| Delivery | The course can be delivered as an in person one day course or as a series of online workshops. |
| Assessment | This course is not assessed but candidates are expected to demonstrate that they have successfully used their skills in a club environment. |
| Certificates | Candidates will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance from Scottish Orienteering at the end of the course. This will be sent out by email. |
| Progression | This is the first step on the Coaching Pathway and provides the basis for candidates to progress to the Scottish Certificate in Coaching Orienteering – Club Coach qualification. |
| Cost | £60 |
Club Coach
AIM: This course aims to provide the learner with the skills to plan and deliver a practical coaching session competently, confidently and safely within their club or organisation. It focuses on both the coach craft skills and developing the transferable skills necessary for effective coaching as well as the technical skills to provide high quality coaching at the appropriate level for the participants.
| Qualification | Scottish Certificate in Coaching Orienteering (Level 5) – Club Coach |
Outline of Course | Workshops focusing on What to Coach, How to Coach and Developing the session. Self paced Independent study on safeguarding in sport, nutrition and clean sport. Practical coaching skills are developed during an in person day where candidates plan, risk assess, deliver and evaluate two coaching sessions. The course concludes with a final reflective workshop to identify areas of strength and areas for development within their coaching practice and produce a personal development plan. |
| Entry Requirements/Pre Requisites | Recent evidence of competence at TD4 (Light Green) or above Age at least 17 at time of final assessment Current member of British Orienteering Successful Completion of Coaching Foundation or Young Coach Assistant Course – or other approved prior learning Membership of Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme |
| Delivery | The course can be delivered in either a blended format with 4 online workshops and an in-person practical assessment day or as a 2 day in-person course. |
| Assessment | There are 4 assessed tasks: two are completed through home study and two are through observation of delivery of two practical coaching sessions. |
| Certificates | The course is accredited by Qualifications Scotland and is at Level 5 of their framework. Certificates will be issued by Qualifications Scotland and will be sent directly to each candidate. |
| Notes | There is no restriction on the level of “technical difficulty” (TD) at which a coach with this qualification can operate, except that they must always be working within their own technical competence. Coaches can operate within category C and C+ areas (Local areas such as parks, small woods or clearly defined small sections of a larger wood AND Training on areas which are neither complex nor exposed which are a small defined section of a larger Grade B area) |
| Progression | The next stage of progression is the Senior Club Coach which builds on the skills developed within this course and would allow the coach to operate in a broader range of areas. |
| Cost | £250 (Subsidies may be available from sportscotland and it is anticipated that clubs will contribute to the costs of these qualifications) |
Senior Club Coach
AIM: The purpose of the qualification is to develop orienteers through linked and progressive high-quality coaching sessions
NOTE THIS COURSE IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT BUT WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY
| Qualification | Senior Club Coach (equivalence to British Orienteering Coach Qualification) | |
| Outline of Course | This courses builds on the Club Coach which focused on delivering a single stand alone session to look at planning, delivering and reviewing linked and progressive high-quality coaching sessions | |
| Entry Requirements/Pre-requisites | Current member of British Orienteering Successful Completion of Club Coach Membership of Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme | |
| Delivery | The course will comprise online workshops and practical delivery. Coaches will plan, deliver and evaluate a series of 4 orienteering coaching sessions on one theme to a group (of any age/experience) and one physical training session and discuss how these sessions went with a mentor. | |
| Assessment | Following the delivery of the practical sessions, the coach will be observed and assessed as they deliver a further technical session. | |
| Notes | There is no restriction on the level of “technical difficulty” (TD) at which a coach with this qualification can operate, except that they must always be working within their own technical competence. Coaches can operate within category B areas (Training on other areas which are neither complex nor exposed) | |
| Cost |
Lead Coach
AIM: This course builds on the skills of the Club Coach enabling coaches to further develop their coaching skills and experience to deliver linked and progressive coaching sessions and competently manage a team of coaches to deliver high quality coaching sessions in a club or squad environment to suit the needs of all participants who may have differing levels of ability (physical and technical).
| Qualification | Scottish Certificate in Coaching Orienteering (Level 7) – Lead Coach |
| Outline of Course | The course consists of home study tasks, on-line workshops, in person practical sessions and assessment of practical coaching. The home study tasks are supported by a series of online workshops and a 2 day in-person session to further develop practical coaching skills. The workshops include technical skills, coaching skills, coach philosophy, performance analysis, inclusivity, managing risk, engagement and motivation and investigating physical, mental and lifestyle elements of orienteering. Following this period of study, candidates are supported by a mentor to deliver a set of club sessions demonstrating their coaching and leadership skills and developing a portfolio of evidence. |
| Entry Requirements/Pre-Requisites | Recent evidence of competence at TD5 standard Current member of British Orienteering Successful Completion of Club Coach (SCCO Level 5) (or UKCC L1) orienteering coach qualification or equivalent Membership of Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme |
| Delivery | Blended learning – home study tasks, on-line workshops, in person practical sessions and assessment of practical coaching. |
| Assessment | Continuous assessment takes place throughout the course with candidates developing a portfolio of evidence. This includes written tasks, presentations and development and maintenance of a coaching log. The candidate will also be assessed on the preparation, planning and delivery of 2 coaching sessions demonstrating their role as the lead coach managing a team of coaches/assistants. |
| Certificates | The course is accredited by Qualifications Scotland and is at Level 7 of their framework. Certificates will be issued by Qualifications Scotland and will be sent directly to each candidate. |
| Cost | £550 (Subsidies may be available from sportscotland and it is anticipated that clubs will contribute to the costs of these qualifications) |
Coaching in Remote/Exposed Terrain
This additional top-up module is required to be undertaken by coaches who will be working in remote or exposed terrain. It is designed to raise awareness as to what makes an area remote or exposed and the challenges of working in such areas to provide confidence to deal with unexpected incidents that may arise.
| Course Content | Understand what makes an area remote or exposed. Raise awareness of the challenges of coaching in remote/exposed areas. Prepare and plan to ensure safety whilst working in such areas. Tackle unexpected incidents that may arise. |
| Pre-Requisites | Have completed the SCCO (Level 7) or Senior Club Coach or the previous UKCC Level 2 Coaching qualification |
| Delivery | 3 hour tutor led workshop – normally delivered over 2 evenings |
Coach Licensing, Qualifications and Areas
In order to maintain a register of coaches/Club Instructors that British Orienteering is confident are active and knowledgeable in current coaching and instructing methods a ‘License to Coach’ scheme is in place.
To become a licensed coach, as well as having a coaching award (Club Coach or Lead Coach) you also need to have the following.
- An appropriate First Aid qualification
- The Table of Safe Area Types from British Orienteering provides guidance on the level of First Aid required which is related to the areas in which you will coaching)
- Attend CWPS (Child Wellbeing & Protection in Sport) workshops
- See CWPS for details of courses
- Renewal required every 3 years
- Attend an ESW (Event Safety Workshop).
- Sign the British Orienteering Code of Conduct for coaches and return this to British Orienteering
- Membership of Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme (with renewal required every 5 years)
Coaches/Club Instructors who are licensed to coach will be covered by the British Orienteering Public Liability (£10m) and Professional Indemnity insurance (£5m) and able to register and run coaching activities. Please note that under the British Orienteering insurance policy you will only be covered while you are coaching/Instructing in an area which is determined by your Qualification and your level of First Aid qualification. The Orienteering Deployer Guidelines from British Orienteering provide further information regarding areas and qualifications.
Coach CPD
Scottish Orienteering aims to deliver a range of CPD courses in a variety of different formats (online/in person/blended). Details of all current opportunities will be advertised on the Scottish Orienteering Calendar.
If you have ideas for a CPD session which would be of interest to you please get in touch with Judy