Recommended Guidance for Coaches on the Standards for Deployment

Independent coach: Level 2 or above

To coach independently, industry requirements usually expect you to have a minimum standard of training. Our recommendation is that this is a regulated Level 2 qualification in the physical activity or sport you are coaching.

Coaching assistant: Level 1

To be a coaching assistant, a level 1 qualification is recommended and will qualify you to assist with the delivery of physical activity or sport under a more qualified coach's guidance and supervisory framework. This is termed appropriate supervision.

As a coach, you will need an insurance policy to cover you for your coaching duties. This is to ensure both you and the participants you are coaching are covered appropriately for the activities you are involved in.

The type of insurance that you need will depend on the nature of your role. However, the following policies are recommended as best practice:

• Personal accident insurance exists to provide compensation if you are injured as a result of your coaching duties.
• Public liability insurance exists to provide cover for you should a claim be made against you and/or the organisation in respect of bodily injury to participants or members of the general public in connection with the activities or sport undertaken.
• Professional indemnity provides legal cover against claims of breaches of professional duty by coaches while acting in the scope of their employment (e.g., for giving poor advice, errors/omissions in advice or libel and slander).

Other policies that you may consider include:

• Employer’s liability cover. If you employ others this provides cover for legal liability for injuries to employees arising in the course of employment.
• Hirer’s liability cover. Covers legal liability for individuals that hire premises against injury to others or damage to the property while being used.
• Income protection insurance. Cover arranged by the individual or employer for accidental bodily injury or death.
• Abuse extension cover. Provides cover against someone making a claim against you (alleged abuse).
• Business car insurance. Your coaching activities may have an impact on car insurance premiums. Business insurance may be required for transporting people and or equipment.
• Equipment. Insurance cover for equipment supplied by you as a coach (e.g., damage, loss, or theft to sports equipment used for the activity).

A welcoming and safe environment is central to feeling protected; allowing participants to be themselves, engage safely in activities, and connect with others.

You have a responsibility to protect your participants from all forms of abuse, recognise the indicating factors of abuse, and be able to take appropriate action.

UK Coaching strongly recommends that all coaches undertake Safeguarding and Protecting Children or Safeguarding Adults training and renew this training every three years.

UK Coaching strongly recommends that anyone eligible for a criminal records check should be checked every three years or upon re-employment or deployment.

If you are coaching in England or Wales, you will need to comply with the requirements of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

As a coach in Scotland, you should comply with the requirements of Disclosure Scotland.

As a coach in Northern Ireland, you will need to comply with the requirements of AccessNI.

For the DBS, the level of checks that should be undertaken are usually as follows (however, the decision lies with each employer/deployer, training provider, NGB, or sports organisation:

• Independent coach: If your coaching duties include regular or intensive contact with children or adults at risk, then you will be eligible for an enhanced disclosure. As an independent coach, you are also able to coach without supervision and are therefore also eligible for a barred list check* (when eligible for a disclosure).
• Coaching Assistant: If your coaching duties include regular or intensive contact with children or adults at risk as a coaching assistant, you will be eligible for an enhanced disclosure. However, as a coaching assistant, you will coach under supervision** and may not be eligible for a barred list check.

*There are two barred lists: one for working with children and one for working with adults at risk.

**Supervision will be defined separately by each employer/deployer, training provider, NGB, or sports organisation to fit with the unique requirements of each sport. Please contact them directly for more information.

More information is available on the DBS, Disclosure Scotland and AccessNI websites.

When coaching in any setting, you should be aware of and sign up to specific policies.

The most important are:

• The Code of Practice or Conduct
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Safeguarding Children and Adults at risk
• Health and Safety.

These policies should contain information on best practice, but also guidance to help you fulfil your coaching responsibilities fairly, safely, and effectively.

As coaches are responsible for the health and safety of participants in their care, you could be liable if there is evidence demonstrating that standard practice and procedures have not been followed.

UK Coaching strongly recommends that all coaches invest in regular continual professional development (CPD) following initial qualification to ensure that you maintain up-to-date specific knowledge of your physical activity or sport and remain confident and competent to perform the role of a coach.

Your employer/deployer, training provider, NGB, or sports organisation may require you to complete additional training such as:

• First Aid training.
• UK Coaching’s Duty to Care Digital Badge.
• Specific training relevant to your role, type of physical activity or sport (technical specialism), environment, participant group (population), and programme.