Performance Coach
Performance Coach
The Performance Coach Award is an ideal programme for intrinsically driven, experienced coaches, who want to get better at coaching the paddlers they work with, and for those who seek recognition that their delivery meets enhanced levels of sophistication.
The learning journey is fluid and personalised to every coach who undertakes the programme. The key components of the award are the same but as an experienced coach, you will steer the direction and focus of your learning, in areas that are most relevant to you.
The Performance Coach Award will be available in 21 pathways, across all of our main disciplines and environments. There is no workbook or portfolio to complete.
Course Opportunities and Costs
Community of Learning events :
This is a 2 day residential event exploring 'Performance Coaching' and how this relates to 'Who', 'What' and 'How' you coach. You will share these events with other highly motivated, skilled and experienced coaches from a range of disciplines, having powerful opportunities to explore, develop and refine your thinking about your coaching practices, knowledge and understandings. The support and challenge of your peers and the facilitators bring to these events should feed your curiosity; stimulating you to explore and stretch new ideas in your coaching whilst also helping you to refine your existing practices. You can attend these face-to-face events as you wish; with a minimum requirement to attend at least one prior to assessment (if you have attended Performance Coach Core Training previously this is not required).
These events are also open to any coach with an appetite for further learning even if you are unsure about progressing to the qualification.
Qualification costs:
- Registration and Mentoring (covering all registration costs with SCA and British Canoeing Awarding Body, and the 3 mentored sessions) = £145
- Community of Learning event (covering 2 day residential event including meals and accommodation) = £360
- Assessment (1:1 bespoke assessment) = £350
- Total cost £855.
Candidates in Scotland may be eligible for scholarship funding towards 20%, 40% or 60% of the costs above. To find out more, visit the sportscotland funding page and then discuss with Andy Murray to submit an application. All applications must be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to your course start date.
Mentoring
Read the following guidance for Performance Coach candidates about choosing a Mentor.
What is a Mentor?
Your Mentor plays a key role in your development to becoming a Performance Coach.
They will be a critical friend, providing support and challenge.
Your Mentor will also conduct your pre-assessment mentoring session, listen to your coaching philosophy presentation and conduct the professional discussion to ensure you have considered your pre-assessment preparations appropriately.
How do I find a Mentor?
As part of your Performance Coach journey you will select a mentor to support you through a minimum of 3 mentored sessions.
The start point for your mentoring sessions are to register with your National Association and pay the registration fee.
You will then receive a list of available mentors; we encourage you to consider your Mentor carefully. You could choose a mentor who knows you or is involved in coaching an area of paddlesport that you're familiar with (or your chosen discipline for Performance Coach). However, you could also choose someone different to you, who doesn’t know you or your chosen discipline which would create a different feel to the session, potentially increasing your reach into the sport or accessing different communities of practice.
Do I need to pay them?
Your registration funds three sessions in an online format, one of the funded sessions must be your pre-assessment session which must be online as it is recorded and passed to your assessor.
If you and your mentor agree to meet face to face you will need to agree how the additional cost of meeting is covered between you.
Can I have more than 3 sessions?
Yes you can, however these sessions will need to be agreed with your National Association and each session will cost £50 (payable to your National Association) – sessions must be pre-paid for and arranged in advance.
Can my Mentor also be my Coach Developer?
This is entirely up to you to decide. There will be benefits in separating the two roles to get a variety of input and experience and keep a clearer distinction between the two roles.
How to choose a Coach Developer and get the best from the sessions
The NEW Performance Coach Award in now available! Read the following guidance for Performance Coach candidates about choosing a Coach Developer.
What is a Coach Developer?
Coach Developers can have a variety of roles and support your development in many ways. Observing your practice, giving feedback, stimulating discussion or supporting your technical understanding are just a few of the roles they could play.
Coach Developers are usually subject experts who can support and challenge you to embrace long-term learning and development.
How do I find a Coach Developer?
As part of your Performance Coach journey you will select a mentor to support you through the 3 mentor sessions. Your mentor will be well connected in the paddlesport community and will likely be a good source of possible Coach Developer contacts.
Your National Association can also help and we have various finder tools on our website that help you find qualified Coaches, Guides, Mentors and Providers.
Use your existing network, coaches you know from your club, organisation or from other sports or settings.
Social media - for example you could update your linkedin profile to state you are undertaking the British Canoeing Performance Coach Qualification and you are looking for coaches to work with.
We would encourage you to consider your Coach Developer carefully. Although they may be subject experts, they may not have supported a coach through the Performance Coach programme before. British Canoeing has produced a free eLearning course to support Coach Developers, to help them understand their role.
What is a Coach Developer Touch Point?
As part of your Performance Coach journey you will be required to complete at least two ‘touch points’ with a Coach Developer prior to assessment, although you can choose to arrange as many of these as you wish.
A touch point will typically take place during a normal coaching session with your learners. You may choose to meet your Coach Developer before the session and spend time with them after, exploring how the session went, how you progressed against your objective for the session. These sessions could take place remotely (web meeting) if, for example, you discuss the tactical aspects of your coaching with learners.
Do I need to pay them?
You will fund these Coach Developer interactions in agreement with them; they are not included within the Registration Fee. We recommend you clarify this up front before any interactions take place.
Can my Mentor also be my Coach Developer?
This is entirely up to you to decide. There will be benefits in separating the two roles to get a variety of input and experience and keep a clearer distinction between the two roles.
