An intensive and fun 5 day course to train a new batch of Level 2 coaches.

Last Saturday saw the fifth and final day of the latest Level 2 coaching course to be held in the South East region at the Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.

There were 16 keen Level 1 coaches looking to step up to the next level in their coaching careers. The culmination of a minimum of 12 months of coaching at level 1 as well as 4 intense (& enjoyable) days full of coaching, lessons, discussions  and practical assessments. The coaches travelled from all across the region including Oxford, Medway, Chichester, Horsham (3 from Horsham Tri and 1 from Amphibs), Tuff-Fitty tri and Mid-Sussex Tri club’s

Day 5 is the big day where all the coaches efforts are put in to a 60 minute exam, 20 minute practical session and handing in their portfolio’s and PCE

One of the main aspects of the course was to complete a Personal Coaching Experience (PCE) portfolio. This documents each learners coaching over the course period, containing 8 sessions over 3 disciplines with 4 of the sessions being linked and progressive. These progressive sessions ranged from an in depth 4 part beginners cycling course, hill repetition sessions for half marathon runners and swim endurance and build sessions. Probably an entire yearsw coaching session all in one classroom!

As well as this, the Level 2 qualification calls on the coach to be responsible for risk assessments including pre-site visits, emergency action plans, in-depth session planning with the athletes’ macro/micro and meso-cycles (ask your coach) being taken into account as well as post session evaluation reporting and providing/receiving feedback from athletes. It really is a big step up from the Level 1 award.

Gladly for the coaches and tutors the final assessment session was swim based, so apart from a few wrinkly fingers (as all the coaches take part in each other’s sessions) all the learners managed to stay warm, if not dry.