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 is available in 21 pathways, across all of our main disciplines and environments.
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.
Next event:
November 8th & 9th 2025 @Grandtully Station Park
Qualification costs:
- Registration and Mentoring (covering all registration costs with Paddle Scotland and British Canoeing Awarding Body, the 3 mentored sessions and a Coach Development Day) = £335
- 2-day Community of Learning event = £320
- Assessment (1:1 bespoke assessment) = £350
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
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?
We can help you with that!
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 able to recommend one of our team of Coach Developers who’ll be able to support your specific areas of interest.
What is a Coach Developer Touch Point?
You can arrange as many of these Coach Developer ‘touch points’ as you wish; one is included within your registration fee and additional sessions can be arranged for an additional cost. You need to engage in at least one ‘touch point’ prior to assessment with a registered Performance Coach Developer.
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.
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.
Changes for 2025
In line with BCAB's commitment to providing an accessible and supportive learning experience, a comprehensive review of the Level 4 Performance Coach Award was carried out in early 2024. We are delighted to share some changes that will be implemented to ensure the programme is both accessible and supportive. These changes are relevant to anyone registering for the programme from 3rd January 2025.
Read more.
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