Coaching and Instructing in the UK

All though I can't run the official courses required to pass the exams (these are run by the official organisations and partners listed below), I can offer you generalised instructor training, coaching and mentoring across all levels, standards and syllabuses. This will give you the right foundations and help you go forward with confidence and attend the courses giving you a great chance of passing the required standards and levels for a successful outcome.

To give you some idea of the level of UK instructing and coaching I am including the current structure below, this may be subject to change so I have also included links to the organising bodies and their course calendars.

NB: I am an official and active Snowsport England UKCP Performance Coach Mentor.

There are three strands to ski coaching and instructing in the UK

National Governing Body for Snowsport Pathways - GB Snowsport, Snowsport England, Snowsport Scotland and Snowsport Cymru Wales

Development & Instructing Pathway

UK Coaching Pathway Course Calendar

Level

Remit/Scope

L1 Instructor

    Over 16 for course

    Snowlife Level 7

Novice participants on artificial slopes

L2 Instructor

    Over 18 for course

    Snowlife Level 8

Advanced participants on artificial slopes

L3 Development Coach

Works with local artificial ski centre, make a significant contribution to the development of New Coaches

L4 Development Coach

Work with club recreational participants in an alpine environment and prepares candidates as tutors for UK Snowsports courses.

 

Alpine Coaching Performance Pathway (Racing)

Level

Remit/Scope

L1 Coach

    Over 16 for course

Entry Level Coach

  • Able to deliver a structured training session
  • Able to deliver parts of a Long Term Athlete Development Programme(LTAD)
  • Basic skills (skiing and coaching)
  • Able to inspire and motivate
  • Have coaching and communication skills
  • Able to paint a competent picture by demonstrating
  • Have been exposed to a basic decision making process
  • Able to deal with emergency procedures
  • Able to set basic training courses (LICENCED STATUS only)

L2 Coach (APC-1)

    Over 18 for course

Club Coach/League Coach

  • Able to contribute to LTAD programme
  • Able to deliver a series of sessions
  • Able to deliver without direct supervision
  • Able to set a range of training courses in accordance to rules and egulations for children
  • Basic knowledge of the rules
  • Working awareness of safety
  • Competent skier analysis – biomechanics of racing
  • Understanding of growth maturation
  • Strength and Conditioning – basic knowledge
  • Competent technical model by demonstration
  • Carve skis cleanly on red slopes and ski variables in balance
  • Understanding of basic ski preparation
  • Coaching skills
  • Teaching styles
  • Communication
  • Technical and Tactical knowledge
  • Understand the position of role model
  • Be aware of the ethical code

L3 Coach (APC-2)

Head Coach

  • Design an effective and appropriate Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) plan for U10 to
    FIS level athletes
  • Show a high level of reviewing skills in order to improve personal coaching performance as
    well as the coaching performance of their coaching team
  • Plan and deliver a session to achieve a desired outcome that fits within an athlete's longterm programme using effective coaching theory, such as coaching styles, skill development
    and LTAD.
  • Organise, manage and develop a team of coaches
  • Understand strength and conditioning concepts and how to apply these for U10 to FIS
    athletes
  • Demonstrate a good level of technical understanding and performance analysis of athletes
  • Demonstrate commitment to safety and welfare complying with the UKCP Code of Ethics
    and Conduct for Snowsport Coaches
  • Show comprehensive knowledge of current competition and equipment rules (ICR and BCR)
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of how to develop an athlete.

L4 Coach

National Team Coach

  • by appointment

 

 

British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI)

Professional Ski Instructors generally working for a Ski School

BASI Course Calendar 

Level

Remit/Scope

L1 Instructor

Certified to work only on dry slopes or indoor snow slopes or in a mountain environment for a BASI Approved Ski School with novice and early intermediate skiers

L1 UK Advanced Instructor

Certified Senior Instructors working only on dry slopes or indoor snow slopes having the knowledge, ability and understanding to safely teach alpine skiing up to and including parallel.

L2 Instructor

Certified to work in the mountains, part time or seasonal basis working within a snowsports school having the knowledge, ability and understanding to safely teach alpine skiing up to and including parallel standard on marked pistes

L3 ISIA Instructor

Certified to work internationally in the mountains, full time, part time or seasonal basis for an international snowsports school to teach up to parallel skiing and beyond. This includes techniques and tactics for bumps, steeper terrain, higher speeds and variable conditions within marked pistes and off piste on marked routes

L4 ISTD Instructor

Work with club recreational participants in an alpine environment and prepares candidates as tutors for UK Snowsports courses.

 

 

 

SKIbetter Partners and Associations