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How to become an Athletics
Coach Becoming a Coach
in Irish Athletics If you have an
interest in becoming an Athletics Coach then this leaflet will give you all the
information you require in how to go about it. The Coach Education System Athletics Ireland is part of the National
Coaching Development programme. This programme designed by Coaching Ireland is
based on best practice of several coach education programmes and is the
benchmark for Athletics Ireland. Coaching Ireland has a quality control mechanism
for ensuring this. Additionally in terms of the sport specific development of
syllabi and criteria, Athletics Ireland has looked at the best parts of coach
education in a number of sports and some of the most progressive coach
development programs in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Our coach
development model aligns itself with the Long Term Athlete Development model
with the courses designed to meet the competencies necessary at each stage of
development for the athlete and coach. It is important to remember that the formal
coach education system is just a starting point for a coach. There are many
workshops and seminars to help Coaches develop especially if you are interested
in a particular age group or event. See www.athleticsireland.ie for information. Join a club Athletics Ireland has over 200 clubs throughout
the country, so join your local club, become a registered member of the
Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI), attend a Coach Education course and
share your athletics knowledge. Go on a Coach Education Course The AAI has currently 5 levels of coach
education. This brochure will tell you what courses might suit you. You must
start at either Athletics Leader or Assistant Coach. There are numerous courses
run throughout the country all year so keep an eye on www.athleticsireland.ie for details Start coaching. Start coaching in your local club. You are
welcome to attend Regional Squads and attend Courses, Workshops etc to observe
other coaches. Resources The AAI website contains links, articles,
videos and recommended reading for coaches to help you continually update your
skills, or you can subscribe to our e-news letter by e-mailing coaching@athleticsireland.ie Insurance Once you are a registered member of the
Athletics Association of Ireland you are insured to coach other registered
members of AAI at venues approved by your club.
AAI Coach Education Program The aim of the AAI is to continually support and
develop the education of its coaches. Currently there are 6 different coaching
awards; Athletic Leader, Assistant Coach and Levels 1, 2 and 3. We are also
offering entry to the IAAF Academy for Elite coaches an internationally
recognised qualification for experienced and suitably qualified coaches. Our courses are designed to be practical and
educational and to meet the needs of the modern coach. The system is designed
around each coaches own needs and the Long Term Athlete Development model
supported by Coaching Ireland as the internationally accepted standard for the
development of athletes. The LTAD model The Long Term Athlete Development model underpins the AAI coach education program. The LTAD model suggests a pathway for the long term development of an athlete and the various stages of development the athlete goes through. The AAI coach education program is designed to equip coaches to implement this pathway.
The Athletics
Coaching ladder Athetics Leader Aim Athletics
Leader focuses on introducing the fundamentals of athletic movement to
children. The aim of the Athletics Leader course is to provide teachers,
parents and club members with the skills and tools to manage and lead an
Athletics Programme in their club or school. The course is focused on the
delivery of practical information and lessons. The content focuses on
organising athletics games and activities for young children. It is aimed at
those who want to coach or assist in their local club or school. Content The
content for this course includes; Duration This
is a course over 1 day (8 hours) Entry Requirements Athletics
Leader is open to all Assessment/ Qualification There
is no exam. Cost €60- Included in the price
for this course is the new Athletics Leader manual full of fun games and
activities for use with young athletes The Athletics
Coaching ladder Assistant Coach Aim The aim of the assistant coach course is to give some
basic skills to the beginner coach to help assist a more senior coach in the
delivery of coaching sessions to young athletes. It is an introduction to the
coaching of three key events, running (Sprints and Endurance), Jumping (Long
Jump) and Throwing (Shot Putt). Content The content for this course includes; Duration This is a course over 1 day (8 hours) Entry
Requirements The Assistant Coach Course is open to all Assessment/
Qualification There is no exam. Cost
€60- Included in the price for this course is an AAI Assistant Coach Manual. Level 1 Aim The Level 1 course is focused on the learning to train
stage on the LTAD pathway. Coaches working at
this stage will continue to develop the fundamental skills of the athlete. Fun
and participation are still the main aims of the course. The crucial
development at the “learning to train” stage is the development of sports
specific skills, learning the correct posture and movements of all running,
jumping and throwing events. Content The content for this course includes; . Duration This is a course over 2 weekends (25 hours) Entry
Requirements Level 1 is open to all but is recommended to those who
have completed an Athletics Leader course or an Assistant Coach course or who
have had some coaching experience. Assessment/
Qualification Practical assessment and
continuous assessment throughout the course. Cost-€100 - Included in
the price for this course is an AAI Level 1 Coach Manual. Level 2 Aim At this level the coach begins to focus on an event
group specialisation, i.e. Sprints and Hurdles, Distance, Jumps, Throws or
Walks. This course is aimed at the Learning to Train’
and transition to ‘Training to Compete’ phase of the LTAD. Content Content for this course includes; Duration Two weekends Saturday and Sunday 9.00 – 5.00
Attendance and practical assessment in event groups at regional squad sessions,
plus home study module. Entry
Requirements Level 2 is open to those who have completed Level 1 or
are assimilated at Level 1 and have a minimum of 1 years coaching experience Assessment Cost
€120. - Cost includes the book
“The Fundamentals of Track and Field” by Gerry Carr Level 3 Aim The Level 3 coach is seen as a specialist in their own
area. It is currently the highest level of coaching qualification available in
Ireland. Initially at Level 3 we will provide courses for speed
(Sprints/Hurdles/Relays) and endurance (Middle and long Distance and
Steeplechase). We will be adding modules for the other event groups in due
course as well as a strand for the coaching of developing athletes. The
course fits at the ‘Training to Compete’ and ‘Train to Win’ phases of the LTAD Content The course consists of 7 modules delivered in 2 parts.
Firstly a generic part, delivered by Coaching Ireland, on general principles of
coaching and preparation. This part of the course is delivered to several
sports. In this section of the course there will also be sessions to highlight
the application of the generic content to Athletics. The second part of the course is delivered by AAI and
is focused on the event group the coach wishes to qualify at level 3 in.
(i.e:Coaches opt to take the speed modules or the endurance modules). If at a
later date the coach wishes to also qualify as a level 3 endurance coach they
only need to sit the specific endurance modules and not the whole course again. Topics include; Duration The course runs over the period of a year and involves
6 weekends of contact time, plus distance learning. Entry
Requirements Candidates who hold a Level 2 qualification and who
can show significant coaching experience may apply to the Director of Coaching
for a place on this course. Special exemptions may be possible. Application is
made by way of a coaching CV. Assessment/
Qualification Each of the 7 modules has a different method of
assessment, and assessment is a combination of practical, written and oral
assignments. Cost €200 IAAF Academy
for Elite Coaches Aim The IAAF academy for Elite coaches aims to access
outside sources to help Level 3 Coaches to upskill in their chosen discipline. Content Duration The course is a 1 week residential course in Loughborough
University, UK followed by a yearlong mentoring and project based work programme
to achieve the qualification Entry
Requirements Candidates must have achieved the highest coaching
award available domestically (i.e. Level 3) and show significant coaching
experience of athletes at a high performance level. Application is made by way
of a coaching CV. Assessment/
Qualification Projects are assessed by the IAAF education
department. Cost Athletics Ireland and IAAF cover the costs of the
course. General Information Throughout the year there will be all around the
country Athletics Leader, Assistant Coach and Level one courses. So there will
be one near you. A smaller number of level 2 and level 3 courses will also be
available. There are also many event specific workshops offered in many
areas. Details of all of these courses and
how to apply will be posted on www.athleticsireland.ie or
you can register your interest by e-mailing development@athleticsireland.ie and
we will keep you updated on coaching courses in your area. The application form for all Coaching courses is on www.athleticsireland.ie in
the Development section and these need to be filled in and returned with
appropriate fees to Athletics Ireland Head Office. Other
Info SUMMARY OF ATHLETICS
IRELAND COACHING LADDER
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