Why am I being asked to undertake mandatory training to renew my coach licence?
UKA has revised its safeguarding requirements for the governance of coaches following a directive from the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU). Coaches, Coaching Assistants and Run Leaders are required to complete the UKA Safeguarding course each time they renew their coaching licence.
What if I already have a safeguarding qualification?
We are asking all Coaches, Coaching Assistants and Run Leaders to take the short bespoke UKA safeguarding module. The UKA module has been designed by an independent and industry-leading provider with experience in delivering online safeguarding courses, and it has allowed us to provide a course which is bespoke to athletics plus UKA policies and procedures. This ensures that the case studies and examples cited are relevant to athletics and that the policies and procedures are specific to UKA.
Why is there a charge for the Safeguarding course?
The course cost of £10 has been heavily subsidised by UKA for coaches and run leaders. The current market value of this bespoke course is in excess of £30 and UKA are unable to discount that further at this time.
How long does the course take to complete?
The course is 2 modules in length. Each module takes between 30 minutes to an hour to complete. You can start and leave the course at any time, which means that you can manage completion around your own schedule.
Do I have to take a test at the end?
There is a short multiple-choice knowledge test at the end of each module. There is a requirement to get 70% of answers correct. If you don’t achieve this, then you can have further attempts at no further charge.
Why can Coaches and Leaders complete a non-UKA First Aid Training course and have it recognised, but for Safeguarding Training, the UKA course is mandatory?
Three key reasons, as outlined below;
- The SG courses signpost out to and are developed around athletics specific Safeguarding policies and procedures as well as the UKA Coaches Code of Conduct.
- The threshold for what is unacceptable practice in sports governance is lower than the legal position. That threshold varies from sport to sport depending on the risks within the sport and the environment it is conducted. We need to communicate via the courses where our threshold as a sport sits.
- UKA use scenarios within both our Safeguarding courses (Tier 1 and Tier 2), which we review and change dependent on patterns of safeguarding incidents and complaints within our sport. This means that we can keep the education relevant to the context coaches / leaders are operating in.
I only coach over 18s, why do I have to do the Safeguarding Training?
Safeguarding is a societal responsibility for all, irrespective of those we are Licenced* to or actively coach. The issues pertaining to U18s, unfortunately are not limited to that age group and it is for this reason the online course is a requirement for all.
*NB Whilst a Coach or Leader may not deliver activities to U18s, apart from Jog Leaders in Scotland, a Coach or Leader is Licenced to deliver activities to U18s and therefore the level of training required needs to reflect this.
I am having trouble accessing the course.
The following User Guides are available to help you purchase and access the course:
Booking the UKA Safeguarding course
How to Redeem a Safeguarding Course Voucher
If you still can’t access the course please contact Learn@britishathletics.org.uk.
I have some questions about the course that aren’t to do with booking, who should I contact?
For general enquiries please contact the UKA Coach Education Team at Learn@britishathletics.org.uk or 0121 713 8456.