COACH IN RUNNING FITNESS WELCOME PACK

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 02

PROGRAMME INFORMATION 04

SUPPORTED PRACTICE 06

PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS 07

WELCOME PACK

INTRODUCTIONCongratulations on making the commitment to become a licensed Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF). We would like to welcome you to the CiRF programme. We hope that you have had the opportunity to put into practice the skills you have learnt since starting on the coaching pathway and have developed good networks with other coaches and mentors in your area.

Road running accounts for 70% of our sport, so it was vital for us to develop a programme to meet the needs of the wider spectrum of the athletics community. Events such as the London Marathon, the Great North Run and the large number of mass participation events held throughout the UK provide evidence as to the extent and passion for running in the UK. The CiRF programme has been developed to ensure that coaches are equipped with the technical running knowledge and coaching skills to improve the abilities of their athletes. This programme will hopefully inspire leaders to go on and develop into specific running coaches to cater for this market.

The philosophy underpinning the CiRF programme is to educate coaches to a base knowledge of the principles of running and physical preparation and to provide a sufficient level of technical detail to develop skill in the athletes. A coach will leave this programme with an appreciation of the fundamentals of movement and how this relates to athletic skills development. The programme is designed to create a generation of coaches where technical knowledge, understanding and application supports the foundations of future athletic development and performance. The difference between this new programme and the courses that preceded it, are the greater emphasis on physical preparation required to successfully develop an athlete.

It is important that you view this programme as the beginning of your coach development journey. The investment of time required to become a truly world class coach is estimated as 10 years plus. Once qualified your choice of personal development and specialisation is driven entirely by your individual needs and aspirations. This is your first step on the formal stage of becoming qualified and licensed as a Coach in Running Fitness.

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WELCOME PACK

The CiRF programme is a 12 month development process to becoming qualified and licensed as a CiRF. The taught part of the course is three days in duration; however this should be viewed as part of a longer developmental process to become licensed to coach unassisted.

The programme carries with it the expectation of candidates completing pre-course study, supported practice including the planning, delivery and evaluation of coaching sessions. The programme features an assessment element therefore there is additional work to complete to address the assessment requirements.

Please note that the expectation of merely attendance on the three days will not be sufficient to meet the assessment criteria of the CiRF programme. Candidates embarking on this course must do so in the knowledge that it will require an investment in their time to complete the work necessary for success at the assessment stage.

Throughout this programme you will be required to work in conjunction with a support coach. This role is vital in your individual success on the programme. If your club is unable to provide you with a support coach contact your Regional / National Coach Education contact who will be able to signpost you to appropriate support coaches in your area.

This pack should be read before attending the course days; it provides information about the structure and content of the course. It will take approximately one hour to read this and complete the pre-course tasks.

The course has been structured to assist you in applying core knowledge into your coaching. If you have previously attended the Leadership in Running Fitness or Coaching Assistant course, you are strongly advised to re-read your workbook notes and revisit the website to familiarize yourself with the course material.

http://www.ulearnathletics.com/site/page?id=lirf-resourceshttp://www.ulearnathletics.com/site/page?id=coaching-assistant-resources

This pack, in conjunction with the material that is on the website, should bring you up to speed ready for the course. However you should be prepared for additional independent study by viewing all the course material to adequately prepare for the CiRF programme.

http://www.ulearnathletics.com/site/page?id=cirf-resources

When qualified your license will insure you to coach unassisted, therefore British Athletics will adopt stringent assessment procedures to ensure that the standards necessary to achieve this qualification are met before it is awarded. This process will support you as a coach, the athletes with whom you are working and the integrity and standards of the CiRF programme. Please note the revised CiRF programme permits and insures you to coach at a track facility in the development of participation based runners aged 12 years and upwards. The training of track based endurance runners is covered in the Athletics Coach Programme.

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PROGRAMME INFORMATIONThe proposed delivery of the British Athletics CiRF programme is as follows:

Book On Course Access to PebblePad Account

Day 1 Day 2

Supported Practice 1

Day 3

Supported Practice 2

Observed PracticalAssessment Day

Workbook 1

Technical Knowledge Test

Workbook 2

Workbook 3

Welcome Pack and Pre-Course Tasks

Timeline

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Timeline

Months

1

12

6

Course Programme Time Frame When

Welcome Pack and Pre-Course Tasks 1 hour Prior to day 1

Course Weekend - Days 1 and 2 2 days Over one weekend

Supported Practice 1 4-5 weeks Between days 2 and 3

Course Day 3 1 day One day

Supported Practice 2 12-16 weeks Between days 3 and 4

You are expected to attend all three days of the course, be fully involved and willing to engage in micro-coaching sessions. This course is about your learning and application to your coaching. You will be encouraged to analyse your own coaching and provide feedback to your peer coaches.

Assessment Structure Time Frame When

Workbook 1

Approx. 32 hours

2 weeks after day 2

Workbook 2 4 weeks after day 3

Workbook 3 12 weeks after day 3

Online Knowledge Test Approx. 1 hour After Day 3

Practical Assessment 1 day Day 4

The coaching diary is a written piece of work that demonstrates your coach development and competence level. The diary should be a detailed account of your coach development using the athletes that you are working with to complete the information. A guide to assisting you in completing the coaching diary is available. “Coach in Running Fitness Assessment Guidance for Candidates” will provide you with tips and advice to help you complete this work.

Please note that for courses commencing from September 2014 the coaching diary will be completed online through PebblePad. Each candidate will receive a login for the site after booking and payment is confirmed, this will provide you access to all the course assessment materials.

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SUPPORTED PRACTICEYou are required to practice and implement the new coaching knowledge and skills acquired during the programme through two periods of supported practice. Supported practice 1 occurs between day 2 and 3, supported practice 2 occurs between day 3 and 4. During each of these periods specific tasks are provided to assist you in your preparation for the assessed elements of the programme.

This has been structured to:

• Provide you with an opportunity to put into practice the application of the knowledge and skills

• Work specifically on areas identified in your action plan (personal coaching goals)

• Provide a record of coaching (diary); this will form part of your final assessment (session plans)

• Engage in self-reflection of your long-term coach development and for it to become regular practice and to share your reflective experiences with your support coach

• Observe and learn from other coaches – support coaches as well as more experienced coaches.

You are advised to observe and work with as many coaches as practical, so it may help you to consider in advance who you might ask. These coaches are asked to:

► Allow you to observe their coaching

► Co-coach or allow you to lead components of their sessions

► Observe sessions you have planned and provide feedback (in relation to your personal coaching goals).

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PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTSCoaches undertaking the qualification should be aware that to fulfil the assessment criteria they must have access and be working with athletes to develop their skills across physical preparation, endurance and movement skills. These athletes will be profiled throughout the written work.

Coaches should be working with the athletes on a regular basis to maintain consistency in the assignments particularly in relation to planning. The role of the CiRF is linked to short to medium term planning around the athletes’ skill and physical developmental needs.

By attending the programme in its entirety and by accessing the resources on uLearn, you will be in the best possible position to be sufficiently prepared for your assessment.

Assessment Requirements

Not only must your coaching diary submission be completed in full, it must meet certain criteria. This information is covered in more detail in the Coach in Running Fitness Assessment Guidance for Candidates document.

Please ensure you refer to this document, prior to completing your coaching diary. It is designed to help you prepare your work in sufficient depth to meet the assessment standards on your first submission.You will need to be able to show that you can correctly:

• Establish the needs of the athlete • Identify the key technical features • Plan, deliver and evaluate a short term plan of 8 weeks, that develops appropriately the needs of the athlete/s• Establish your coach development needs - about what you know, how you apply it and show that you can

develop it effectively• Answer a series of questions relating to health and safety and developing the athlete

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We have now integrated the use of PebblePad, an e-portfolio tool for the completion and submission of the coaching diary.

https://v3.pebblepad.co.uk/login/Login/ChooseInstall

The diary has been broken down into three smaller workbooks that can be completed as a candidate progresses through the course. Every candidate enrolling will receive a PebblePad account with access to the site so they can begin to complete and submit their workbooks. The site also serves as a community and allows discussion and communication with other candidates on your course, your tutors and assessor. The integration of PebblePad will allow a candidate to have feedback on their progress throughout the course with each workbook being successfully completed before moving onto the next.

Coaches with UKA Qualifications at Level 1 or above

It is essential that coaches holding only a UKA Level 1 qualification complete additional reading before embarking on the CiRF qualification. There are areas of underpinning knowledge not covered on the Level 1 programme, which require assessment under the new format; consequently there are additional areas of knowledge which they may not have had access to. This bridging mechanism will provide underpinning information and activities on these areas to support coaches in their preparation for the commencement of the CiRF qualification.

As a refresher to prepare yourself for the course it would be beneficial for you to review:

http://www.ulearnathletics.com/site/page?id=lirf-resources#post-course-resourceshttp://www.ulearnathletics.com/site/page?id=coaching-assistant-resources#pre-course-resourceshttp://www.ulearnathletics.com/site/page?id=coaching-assistant-resources#post-course-resources

In particular you should review:

• Session Cards for the Leadership in Running and Fitness course

• On Track 4 Cards - these replace the bugs you may have been introduced to on previous courses

• Balance and Coordination (Coaching Assistant and Fundamental Movement Skills video)

• Intervention Cycle

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On Course Workbook

An On Course Workbook (OCW) is provided to you on day 1 of the course. This is your personal record and document to record your learning throughout the programme, you will be expected to write in it on all three course days. There will be homework between days 2 and 3 on sharing information from your athlete profiles and session plans, this work will contribute towards discussion and learning on day 3. Please remember to bring your workbooks back with you on day 3 of the course. The OCW can be used during the two periods of supported practice. It is your own learning tool so can be used as required.

Pre-Course Tasks

There are a number of pre-course tasks that are required to be completed and brought with you to the first day of the course. Please ensure that you have completed them, printing off only the required pages and bring these with you to the course.

Thank you for enrolling on the CiRF programme, we hope you find the journey enjoyable, valuable and rewarding and it supports you on your coach development journey. We look forward to meeting you on day 1.

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UCOACH IS THE ATHLETICS COACHING WEBSITE THAT CONNECTS YOU TO THE LATEST COACHING RESOURCES INCLUDING:

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Audio interviews with coaches from around the world

Podcasts on various coaching and training science topics

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