Role of the Athletics Leader
The Athletics Leader will assist in youth development athletics sessions working with a Supervising Coach. There may be a number of Athletics Leaders that support the Supervising Coach in delivering a session. The Athletics Leader will be provided with a task card or cards to become familiar with. They will be expected to manage small groups of young athletes and deliver the task card activities. The Athletics Leader will clearly explain the activities and provide demonstration of the activities. The Athletics Leader can expect to discuss the card requirements before the session with the Supervising Coach and afterwards to review how the session went.
Who should go on this course?
The Athletics Leaders Award course is primarily for those working with young athletes or athletes in the early stages of the athlete development pathway and is aimed particularly at adults, e.g. parents and grandparents, and those that are interested in helping out at their local club. It is important to note that this is not a course about individual athletics events; for example, Athletics Leaders will not learn how to grip and throw a javelin but will be introduced to the underlying principles of throwing. In short, the Athletics Leaders Award is a recommended entry pathway towards coaching as it covers the core – and essential - skills of organisation, safety, instruction and explanation, organising groups and managing behaviour. To build on this fundamental information, individuals can progress through the coaching development pathway.
What does the course cover?
The Athletics Leaders Award covers the following topic areas:
• The role and responsibilities of an Athletics Leader
• Working relationship with Supervising Coach
• Principles of running, jumping and throwing
• Run, jump and throw task cards
• Warm ups for children
• Athlete development
• Behaviour management
• Factors influencing performance
• Leadership skills: Safety, Organisation, Instruction and Explanation, Demonstration.
How do I book?
To make a course enquiry, booking or for further course information including price, contact the education team in your Home Country - Scotland, England, Northern Ireland or Wales (depending where you live). UKA do not run courses so do not contact UKA.