Coaching Award Scheme
UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering
UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering
Old Level 4 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering
Introduction
Welcome to British Orienteering’s coaching pages, dedicated to supporting coaches, tutors and assessors, providing opportunities for all those wanting to coach, tutor and assess within the orienteering coaching programme.
There are currently in excess of 1,700 registered orienteering coaches at Level 1 or above operating throughout the UK.
Whether you are completely new to coaching, or you have experience within the coaching world, we hope you will find what you are looking for here.
Coaching is at the heart of orienteering at every level from beginner children and adults participating in their first event, through to preparing athletes for the World Orienteering Championships. Coaches are vital to the success of orienteering in the UK and are, in many ways, the ‘marketing workforce’ for orienteering.
British Orienteering as the governing body has a duty to ensure that coaches are supported in their activities and are given the opportunity to further their own personal development.
British Orienteering is currently restructuring its coaching awards and the training courses that lead to the awards. The restructuring will result in two linked pathways;
The first pathway is aimed at the teaching of beginners, either child or adult, typically through schools and outdoor education, by people who needed to know the basics of Orienteering instruction but did not wish to proceed to being assessed after that training.
This pathway consists of three courses:
- Young Leader Award
- Teaching Orienteering Part 1
- Teaching Orienteering Part 2
The second pathway is being created by the introduction of the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC) awards and will ultimately encompass 4 levels of award.
This pathway is aimed mainly at orienteers, who wish to achieve a professional qualification and who may wish to further their coaching skills in order to assist candidates aiming to develop their orienteering .
The first of these awards, UKCC Level 1 is now being offered to candidates and we shall then be introducing UKCC Levels 2 and 3 over the coming months. Before the introduction of further levels British Orienteering will continue to offer its existing Level 2, 3 and 4 awards.
The British Orienteering Coach Education Programme places a great emphasis on the competence of a coach in addition to the knowledge the coach has; ‘what they can do as well as what they know’. To enable a coach to progress we aim to create opportunities to put their coaching skills into practice with the ready availability of feedback.
For all our awards the first level is predominantly based around coaching skills, giving the coach the knowledge of “how” to coach, along with a basic introduction to the key principles of the event group areas (i.e. the progression from table-top, class room, gym, playground, playing fields, parks etc...). Level 2 builds on the knowledge gained at Level 1 and at Levels 3 and 4 topics are covered in greater depth and the coach has the opportunity to choose whether they want to specialize in performance or development coaching.
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Coaching Qualifications - Simple Progression |
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Coach Qualification |
Step System / Colour Coded Level(s) |
Type of Coaching Area |
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Level 1 |
School or Outdoor Centre grounds or enclosed simple area |
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| Teaching Orienteering Parts 1 and 2 | Levels 1 & 2 White & Yellow Courses and skills needed | School or Outdoor Centre grounds or enclosed simple area | |
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Levels 1, 2 and 3 White, Yellow and Orange Courses and skills needed |
Above plus other small woods with good access |
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Levels 1 to 5 White to Green Courses and skills needed |
Above plus woods/open land with good access which are not exposed, remote or complex |
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Courses and Levels 1 to 5 White to Brown Courses and skills needed |
Above plus complex woods and moors |
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Orienteering Young Leaders Award
This award is designed for 14-19 year olds. The course they undertake will enable them to coach the basic skills of the sport, provide fun activities on a safe enclosed site and enable them to assist as volunteers at school or local events.
Course Requirements
- Anyone over the age of 14 may attend the course, but the course does not give approval for candidates to provide orienteering leadership without the presence of a suitably qualified coach/teacher
- Tutors may be teachers, youth workers or outdoor centre staff with a British Orienteering Teaching Orienteering Part 1 Certificate, a UKCC Level 1 Certificate or an old British Orienteering Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering who have had appropriate training in delivery of this course (prior teaching experience maybe taken into account, when tutors are approved)
- It is preferable for candidates to have orienteering experience prior to starting the course. It would also be desirable to encourage them to take part in an organised club orienteering event after the course
- Tutors will need to have a working knowledge of school/centre environments and other relevant literature. They will need to give details of local orienteering clubs and events. Tutors must also be aware of the legal responsibilities of anyone providing activities for young people and must make the candidates aware of the current safe practice in Orienteering
Course Venue
- Courses should be held at an appropriate venue so that a variety of activities can be demonstrated to the candidates. A classroom, indoor area and a school map will be required
- Wherever possible this should be on a site similar to what the candidates would use on completion of the course
Candidates Coaching Venues
- Exercises should only be carried out on enclosed school sites approved by the school concerned, or other appropriate authority. All exercises must be under the direct supervision of a teacher/leader.
- Candidates may assist at events on other sites but only under the direct supervision of an appropriately qualified person
Course Overview
The Course is divided into six 1 hour sessions, which can be delivered in individual lessons, half or full day. They are planned to demonstrate a suitable progression through different environments (Classroom / Hall / Gymnasium / Playground / School Grounds). During the course candidates will be given the opportunity to discuss which exercises they would use with different groups, and how they would work together with the other young leaders and teachers.
Fees
- Tutor pack £40.00 inc all session plans, tutor resources, CD for candidate handouts and other supporting material
- Certificate Fee is £1.00 per candidate; these can be pre ordered in bulk, no names required
Supporting Information
Recommended Reading:
- ‘Orienteering in the National Curriculum Key Stages 1 to 3’ by Carol McNeill, Peter Palmer and Jim Martland 3rd edition 2003
- ‘Teaching Orienteering’ by Carol McNeill, Jean Cory -Wright and Tom Renfrew, good for outdoor centres, general coaching
- ‘Start Orienteering books 1 to 4’ and ‘Start Orienteering Games and Exercises’
Also See the "Coaching Support" Section
Teaching Orienteering Part 1
Who should attend Teaching Orienteering Part 1?
The training is aimed at teachers, youth sector workers and people working in schools and outdoor centres. The training delivers the knowledge, understanding and practical ability to teach the basic skills of orienteering. Anyone over the age of 16 may attend the course however the Orienteering Young Leader Award suitable for 14 – 19 year olds may better meet young people’s needs. Attending Teaching Orienteering Part 1 is a prerequisite for anybody wishing to deliver the Orienteering Young Leader Award or attend the British Orienteering Teaching Orienteering Part 2 training
Are there prerequisites?
The only prerequisite is that you must be over 16 years of age. It will be an advantage although not essential if you have knowledge of orienteering prior to the course.
What is a person who has attended a Teaching Orienteering Part 1 trained to do?
Introduce the basic skills of orienteering to beginners in a fun and exciting way on areas that are safe such as school sites or outdoor centre grounds. You will also be able to deliver simple competitions for participants.
What does Teaching Orienteering Part 1 training involve?
On the course you will be provided with the knowledge you require to introduce the basic skills of orienteering and be given the opportunity to discuss and practice using this knowledge. The course is 6 hours and practical in nature and you will be expected to join in with group discussions and activities.
What are the learning outcomes of the training?
- Introduce children to orienteering in a safe environment
- Plan sessions which introduce the basic understanding of how to use an orienteering map and include the following skills: map as a bird’s eye view, importance of north, map orientation, use of map colours and commonly used symbols, keeping in contact with the map and “thumbing”.
- Plan and deliver orienteering sessions that meet the safety standards required by British Orienteering.
- Organise and deliver simple orienteering competition
- Be able to advise children on the opportunities to further their orienteering experience
Is there assessment – if so what form does it take?
This course is not assessed; following the training candidates will receive a certificate of attendance. Candidates wishing to gain a formal, assessed qualification should talk to a tutor to identify the most appropriate route for them to take.
Candidate Registration Form and Medical Form
Teaching Orienteering Part 2
Who should attend Teaching Orienteering Part 2?
The training is aimed at teachers, youth sector workers and people working in schools and outdoor centres. The training delivers the knowledge, understanding and practical ability to teach some of the advanced skills of orienteering. Anyone over the age of 16 may attend the course however the Orienteering Young Leader Award suitable for 14 – 19 year olds may better meet young people’s needs. People wishing to deliver GCSE syllabuses’ for candidates from England, Wales and Northern Ireland should attend Teaching Orienteering Part 2. Candidates from Scotland will be shown the appropriate activities to meet their own curriculum requirements.
Are there prerequisites?
You must be over 16 years of age and have attended the Teaching Orienteering Part 1 course or former British Orienteering Level 1 course
What is a person who has attended a Teaching Orienteering Part 2 trained to do?
Introduce the skills of orienteering, specified below, to children or adults in a fun and exciting way on small areas with clear boundaries that have been risk assessed as safe. You will also be able to deliver a range of orienteering competitions.
What does Teaching Orienteering Part 2 training involve?
On the course you will be provided with the knowledge you require to introduce the advanced skills of orienteering identified below and be given the opportunity to discuss and practice using this knowledge. The course is 6 hours and practical in nature, you will be expected to join in with group discussions and activities.
What are the learning outcomes of the training?
- Develop orienteering skills on small areas with clear boundaries that have been risk assessed as safe for the level of participants involved.
- Use your previous knowledge of planning learning programmes to plan programmes that include use of compass, scale, distance understanding, basic contours and the techniques required for the relevant external school examination.
- Deliver orienteering sessions that achieve the outcomes of the learning programmes.
- Organise and deliver a range of orienteering competitions.
Is there assessment – if so what form does it take?
This course is not assessed; following the training candidates will receive a certificate of attendance. Candidates wishing to gain a formal, assessed qualification should talk to a tutor to identify the most appropriate route for them to take.
Candidate Registration Form and Medical Form
UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering
By achieving this certificate you will be able to deliver orienteering sessions from coaching cards in designated areas. The course is very practical and will give you lots of opportunities to practice your coaching skills.
There are four modules covered on the course, these are:
1. Introduction to safe and ethical coaching
2. Prepare to deliver coaching activities
3. Deliver and review coaching activities
4. Coaching orienteering.
How is the course structured?
The qualification is covered over three days, the first two of which are mainly training with some assessment, while the third is mainly assessment. The format of the three-day course is determined by the course tutor and can be any combination. The usual will be a two-day weekend followed by another weekend day. The award is also offered as an apprenticeship with tutoring taking place over a more extended period. Anyone interested in this form of learning should speak with British Orienteering.
What are the course pre-requisites?
To attend the course candidates must:
- be at least 16 years of age
- demonstrate the ability to navigate in an area, this may be via a practical skills assessment or through evidence of competing at an orienteering event.
How will I be assessed?
Candidates will be assessed on the course by:
- A series of assessed written tasks which will be handed out on day one of the course
- A home study task to be done before day three of the course
- One 20 minute practical coaching session on day three of the course. You will be given a topic for your practical assessment before day three to enable you to plan and prepare.
What support can I expect?
Coaches will be supported by the tutors throughout the course.
What will I be qualified to do?
Level One coaches in most other UKCC endorsed sports are assistant coaches and cannot work alone. Orienteering has included elements of safety and risk assessment into the course to enable coaches to work safely within the remit of the British Orienteering Safety Guidelines. The restrictions placed on Level 1 coaches are that they can only coach unsupervised in - private “safe” areas such as School or Outdoor Centre grounds, local areas and small woods, defined as area types A and B and must use supplied resources (coaching cards) to determine the activities.
What could I do next?
Coaches could progress on to the Level Two certificate in coaching orienteering.
Further information on the UKCC L1 Coaching Course is avaible in the information pack
UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering
The Qualification
The Level Two Award is for those coaches who wish to coach the techniques and skills of orienteering beyond an introductory level and apply them on all areas except for those that are complex, exposed or mountainous. The award is only suitable for those with experience of coaching orienteering.
Course Pre Requisites
- Be a minimum of 18 years of age on the first day of the course
- Current First Aid certificate
- Safeguarding & Protecting Children Workshop
The Course Content
- Induction and pre-course tasks - 3 hours
- Course of training including practical and theory – 18 hours
- Home study prior to assessment - 20 hours
- A further 6 coaching sessions, that are progressive and mentored by a qualified coach, will take place following the course and prior to assessment.
The Assessments
- Internal assessment of candidate’s coaching and knowledge - 6 hours
- Independent assessment of a practical coaching session and tasks - 6 hours
The Portfolio
Candidates will be required to complete a full and detailed portfolio, which is task-based. Much of this work will be completed during the theory parts of the course programme.
The Portfolio will include evidence of:
- Gathering information – including risk assessments and incident forms
- Roles, skills, qualities and ethical values
- Fitness for orienteering
- Anti doping
- Coaching styles and effective communication
- Planning coaching sessions and evaluating them
Additional evidence should be collated for your portfolio (only photocopies required):
- Any certificates e.g. Level One Coach Award, Teaching Orienteering Certificate
- Current First Aid certificate *
- Safeguarding & Protecting Children Workshop *
- Any sports coach UK (scUK) Workshop certificates
* Compulsory.
Work to include:
- Orienteering Step System and LTAD
- Coaching styles and philosophy
- How to Coach Skills
- Introducing a technique at technical difficulty 1 and 2 (practical)
- Safety management
- Planning sessions
- Developing a technique to technical difficulty 3 (practical)
- Goal setting
- Mental aspects of orienteering
- Evaluating orienteering performance
- Shadowing (practical)
- Components of fitness
- Warming up and cooling down (practical)
- Developing a technique to technical difficulty 4 and 5 (practical)
- Planning linked and progressive sessions
- Methods of session evaluation and evaluation planning
What Support can be expected?
Support on the course from British Orienteering Educators to:
- Complete portfolio work except 6 x session plans
- Formative assessment
- Detailed learner action plan
- Signposting to mentors and learning opportunities
How long will it take to gain the level 2 award? Registration Period
- The assessments must be completed within 18 months of registration on the course and the portfolio completed and marked within 2 years of registration.
- Most candidates should be able to complete the Award within 6 – 9 months of attending the course.
What will I be qualified to do?
- Those accredited at Level Two will be able to coach the full range of techniques and skills in the modern sport of orienteering and to lead a group of coaches in delivering a programme in a safe and enjoyable way.
- Coaches accredited will be able to introduce the sport to participants, coach at club training sessions and coach athletes competing in local and regional events.
What could I do next?
Ensure that you keep up to date with initiatives by:
- Reading the British Orienteering web site
- Being a member of British Orienteering and ensuring you have valid insurance
- Attend CPD events
- Attend UK Orienteering League events
- Keep up to date with sports science initiatives
- Coach at clubs involved in delivering training nights
- Observe coaches working in orienteering’s talent pathway
Information on the UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering can be found in the following information pack.
How do I book onto a course and gain further information?
Go to the coaching course page of our website. Or call the National Office on 01629734042.
Choose the course you wish to attend on the coaching calendar and use the link to send an email to the appropriate person. You will be provided an application form for that course (note: the cost of courses may vary according to available funding for the course in that region).
Complete the application form and return to the course organiser along with payment in full.
You will receive confirmation of your booking and details of the course from the course organiser.
Conditions of booking:
If the course is cancelled due to reasons out of your control you will receive a full refund. Should you cancel your booking less than one month prior to the course then you will be due no refund unless a replacement candidate can be found. Should you cancel your booking more than 30 days in advance of the starting date of the course you shall be entitled to a 50% refund.
Old Level 4* Certificate in Coaching Orienteering
* This is likely to be replaced by UKCC Level 3
Introduction
British Orienteering requires that a Level 4 coach be able to demonstrate their ability to;
- Orienteer confidently and successfully at Technical Difficulty 5
- Develop and manage coaching sessions for groups at all levels of the British Orienteering Step system.
- Develop personal training programmes for individual athletes up to Technical Difficulty 5.
Pre-Requisites
A candidate must:
- Be a qualified old Level 3 Coach or a UKCC Level 2 Coach and be able to satisfy the requirements of that award
- Be conversant with British Orienteering's publications - 'Orienteering - Training and Coaching' and 'Teaching Orienteering'
- Be an experienced competitive orienteer.
- Be familiar with the principles of Group Management, Goal Setting, Coaching/Learning Principles, Communication Skills, Physical Training, Mental Training, Performance Analysis, Coaching Planning and Evaluation, Warm-up/Cool Down Theory, Sports Medicine and Diet.
Competence Levels and Assessment
British Orienteering expects a Level 4 Coach to possess a wide knowledge of orienteering, together with a full understanding of coaching and instructional techniques and the ability to communicate these to orienteers of all abilities. He/she should also have the ability to coach and motivate groups of orienteers effectively on a personal level and to organise activities involving other coaches.
The assessment will be in two parts:
a) For the practical part the candidate will be assessed while coaching a group of competent orienteers.
b) For the written or oral assessment the candidate will be expected to show that he/she:
- Fully understands the principles behind technique exercises that test and reinforce orienteering skills at specific levels.
- Is able to put on exercises to improve an orienteer's skills in simplification, the use of attack points and the compass, in the judgement of distance, in route choice and relocation, in the judgement of speed and technique suitable to the terrain, and in contour appreciation; to the extent of being able to organise training sessions for Regional Associations or National Squads.
- Fully understands and can apply the principles of course planning
- Is able to organise and conduct a coaching weekend for a group, e.g. a training weekend for a club, or a Regional Squad course.
- Is able to coach effectively on a personal basis, and to advise an orienteer on a suitable programme of fitness and technique training to improve his/her performance.
- Is able to advise on basic first aid measures for common sports injuries and appropriate sports injury services.
- Knows the benefits of warm up and stretching exercises and can demonstrate a range of flexibility exercises.
- Has a knowledge of exercise physiology as applied to both sexes and different ages and abilities of orienteers and understands the principles of cardiovascular fitness and training as applied to orienteering.
- Understands and can demonstrate the use of the non-sports' specific areas of coaching, sports psychology, mental preparation and motivation dealt with in relevant sportcoach UK resource packs and modules.
- Understands the mapping process and map interpretation.
In addition to resources appropriate for the old Level 3 Coach, sportscoachUK provides study packs and information on Group Management, Goal Setting, Coaching/Learning Principles, Communication Skills, Mental Training, Performance Analysis, Coaching Evaluation, Warm-up Theory, Sports Medicine and Diet. These are all appropriate for the Level 4 Coach's sphere of work.
Coaching Record
The candidate will be required to show a satisfactory level of orienteering and coaching activity prior to assessment.
Assessment Procedure
A qualified Level 5 Coach will carry out the assessment for this award. An appropriate assessment question paper is available from the Coaching Manager.
Supporting Material
- Level 4 Assessment Requirements
- Level 4 Application for Assessment Form
- Level 4 Assessment Outcome Form
See the "Coaching Support" Pages
Funding Opportunities
Information on funding opportunities for UKCC Coaching Courses can be found here