The UK Coaching Certificate came out of a review of coaching and coaching qualifications within all major sports across the UK.
Key findings were:
- There are many capable and experienced people involved in coaching/teaching and instructing
- There is a lot of variation in the quality of coaching and coaching qualifications across sports
- There is a lot of good work but that sports are inward looking and don't work together
- We can all learn from each other and looking at other sports
- Significant Government support for coaching
The BEF is endorsed to deliver (in partnership with our member bodies) at UKCC levels 1, 2 and 3 and equestrian is a priority sport being supported to implement the UKCC.
UKCC principles
- Puts Riders/Drivers/Vaulters at the heart of what we do.
- Flexible qualification for all in all coaching environments; technical pathways for riding, driving, vaulting and discipline specific such as endurance, RDA, dressage, show jumping and eventing at different levels.
- Builds on existing good practice and provides a career structure.
- Ongoing opportunities for training and development.
- Aspiring Coaches can be assured of standardised qualification.
An idea of what is expected at each UKCC level:
The role of the Level 1 coach is to:
Assist more qualified coaches, delivering aspects of coaching sessions, normally under direct supervision
The role of the Level 2 coach is to:
Prepare for, deliver and review coaching sessions
The role of the Level 3 coach is to:
Plan, implement, analyse and revise annual coaching programmes
What is common to coaching at all levels?
- Plan (Planning process)
- Do (Conducting coaching sessions)
- Review (Review the coaching session/process)
Outcomes at level 1
- Prepare for activities in a safe working environment
- Establish working relationships with the participants and others
- Prepare and support participants
- Deliver prepared activities
- Conclude the activities
- Review the activities to help others
- Continuously develop personal practice
Topic Areas to be covered from the generic riding syllabus at level 1
- Mounting/ dismount
- Preparation for mounting. Mounting from a mounting block, the ground.
- Preparation for dismount.
- Dismount.
- Prepare to ride
- Riding position
- Correct position in the saddle.
- Appropriate stirrup position.
- Appropriate rein in hand position.
- Warm-up for horse
- Walk.
- Trot.
- Changes of direction.
- Independent seat
- Safe tack & saddlery
- Appropriate clothing for riding.
- Basic knowledge of equine behavior/ psychology.
- Suitability of horses - Job, type.
Coaching Outcomes at UKCC level 2
- Review participants' needs
- Produce plans for a series of sessions that support
- Participants' development in a safe coaching environment
- Prepare participants for the series of coaching sessions
- Establish and maintain working relationships
- Deliver coaching sessions
- Develop participants' performance
- Conclude sessions
- Evaluate participants' performance and the sessions
- Monitor personal coaching practice
Topic areas to be covered from the generic riding syllabus at level 2
- Prepare to ride - lead and turn a horse/pony.
- Check & adjust tack. Adjust stirrups. Adjust reins correctly
- Correct position in the saddle. Basic suppleness as required in the riding position. .Rhythm and balance maintained through turns and circles. Ride forward. Correct hand/ rein position
- Warm-up for horse. Free walk. Trot. Canter. Changes of direction, Turns, circles, transitions.
- Independent seat - balance, security and straightness with and without stirrups in walk, trot and canter.
- Co-ordinated aids when riding with the reins in one hand.
- Co-ordinated aid application. Preparation when making transitions.
- Correct canter strike-offs.
- Correctly sized and shaped school figures.
- Fluent unconstrained work of the horse. Understand and be able to apply diagonals in trot. Recognise leading leg in canter. Simple moving the horse/pony way from the leg exercises. Variations of pace within the trot. Develop free forward movement. Riding in the open and over undulating terrain.
- Secure balanced jumping position that does not hinder the horse. Correct use of the reins riding over poles, jumps and a course of fences appropriate length of stirrup.
- Safe tack & saddlery
- First aid procedures, reporting. Appropriate dress, working with horses, riding, jumping.
- Basic knowledge of equine behaviour/ psychology Natural lifestyle.
Coaching Outcomes at level 3
- Fully autonomous coach; role model at County/Regional level.
- Can plan, deliver, analyse and review annual programmes of rider development
- Goal Setting
- Prepare for, deliver and review coaching sessions
- Plan a series of coaching sessions
- Prepare the coaching environment
- Deliver a series of sessions
- Monitor and evaluate coaching sessions and personal practice
Topic areas to be covered from the generic riding syllabus at level 3
- Riding position - correct position in the saddle. suppleness as required in the riding position. Show poise, balance and the ability to absorb and follow the horse's movement in all three gaits. Rhythm, balance and forward maintained throughout. Correct position/ use, single, double reins
- Warm-up for horse - Free walk. Trot. Canter. Changes of direction, Turns, circles, transitions. Simple lateral exercises.
- Independent seat
- Ride horses forward to a receiving hand.
- Maintain the horse in good form throughout independently of the reins and stirrups. Balance, security and straightness with and without stirrups in walk, trot and canter.
- Co-ordinated aids when riding with the reins in one hand.
- Natural aids Fluent co-ordinated aid application. Preparation when making transitions and changes of direction. Lateral work up to and including leg-yielding and walk demi pirouettes.
- When and when not to use the whip.
- Plan preparation & execution of transitions and school figures, as well as exercises to increase the horse’s obedience and suppleness, variations of pace within the trot. Riding in the open and over undulating terrain.
- Balanced, secure position suitable for riding over undulating ground. Appreciation of terrain and ground conditions.
- Secure, supple, balanced jumping position with a secure lower leg. Influencing not hindering the horse. Correct use of the reins. Riding over poles, jumps and a course of jumps Appropriate length of stirrup. Effective use of leg. Correct application of rein aids. Fluency through the phases of the jump allowing the horse freedom over poles, fences, grids and courses. Balance and rhythm when riding a course of show jumps and or cross country fences. Correct forward jumping position. Secure position when jumping. Effective control of pace. Fluently ridden course. Correct canter leads.
To view a map of UKCC Equestrian Pathways see here
Please contact your member body Coaching Development Officer for more information about the right UKCC for you!
For a list of UKCC Training days and qualified coaches see here
