Coaching Synopsis

Assistant Coach is no longer recognised as a valid Coaching Certificate
Coach is the equivalent to Coach Level 1
There is no previous equivalent to Coach Level 2
Senior Coach is the equivalent to Coach Level 3

Some of the scUK CL2/3 coaching courses are no longer available or only run once or twice a year.

Where there is the demand, the BAB will ensure that these courses are always available with a BAB tutor.

What Coaching Awards Are There?
There are three Coaching levels. These are Levels 1, 2 and 3. Additional BAB and scUK courses are also required for CL2 and CL3

New Members
Coach Level 1 course (CL1) coaching award should be taken within the one year from the start of their probationary period.

How to take a BAB Coaching course
The coaching types and requirements are listed above
The CL1 course can be taken with an Association or BAB tutor
The CL2 and CL3 is taken with a BAB Tutor
The CL2 and CL3 units are taken with either a BAB Tutor or scUK
To apply for a coaching course add your details on the coaching application form on the BAB website or download a form and after it is signed by your CLO or head of Association send it to the BAB Coaching Administration Officer

For an in depth coaching description please download the BAB Coaching and Club Handbook

Instructors can now proceed directly to Coach Level 1. Students helping the instructor can be registered as “assist only” for the insurance protection. Please refer to the Insurance guidelines available as a BAB download.

First Aid
It is a duty of care for coaches to ensure that First Aid provision within the dojo is available. Having an individual First Aid qualification does not effect your coaching status. However First Aid must be “Fit for Purpose” that is relevant to the needs of the dojo provider. Due to public Liability the BAB will not be involved in the direct delivery, accreditation or certification of First Aid. All First Aid courses should be HSE Approved and be a certificate of competence and not attendance.

Coaching Level Details

Coach Level 1 (CL1)

This award is for students intending to instruct without supervision at club level.

Candidates should:

• Candidates must be an adult (18 years or over) when registered for the course.
• Be recommended by their Association, possess the necessary technical knowledge in Aikido and hold a minimum grade of Aikido 1st Kyu.
• Attend a Level 1 Coach course, approved by the Board, which will comprise a minimum of 12 hours (with a minimum of 9 hours theory).
• Be successful in the assessment peer Coaching.

An assessment of students’ Coaching ability will be made by an approved Coach Tutor throughout the course during both the theoretical and practical sessions.

Assessment Criteria the candidate must demonstrate:

•  Application of current Coaching theory.
•  Effective communication.
•  Safety and `Duty of Care`.
•  Lesson structure and progression.
•  Scheme of work & lesson Plans.
•  Relevance of content to ability level.

The candidate will produce a scheme of work and a lesson plan from that scheme of work, plus a lesson plan for the teaching assesment on the second day. 

In addition, any candidate may have to satisfy any specific requirements laid down by their own Association.

First Aid is not a mandatory requirement.   However all Coaches carry a “Duty of Care” for all students under their supervision and the Board highly recommends that all Coaches have an externally validated HSE approved First Aid award. First Aid qualifications should be assessed and candidates awarded a certificate of competence and not just a certificate of attendance.

Coach Level 2 (CL2)

This award is for coaches intending to instruct without supervision at club level and beginning to engage in Coaching activity at Association level.

Candidates should:

Be recommended by their Association and possess the necessary technical knowledge in Aikido.

• Attend a series of Level 2 Coach courses, approved by the Board and shown in the appendix B. These can be taken with an approved BAB Tutor or with scUK
• Have held the Coach level 1 award for a minimum of three years.
• To have evidence of pratical coaching for at least two years since achieving coach level 1 and prior to taking coach level 2
• Have been directly involved in training students to 1st kyu.
• Successfully complete pre-course work, returned to the tutor two weeks prior to the CL2 assessment.
• Successfully complete an assessment of a 30 minute period of peer Coaching.

Assessment Criteria:

2 months prior to final assessment the candidate will receive details of pre-course work which will be submitted 2 weeks prior to final assessment.

In addition, any candidate may have to satisfy any specific requirements laid down by their own Association.

First Aid is not a mandatory requirement.  However all Coaches carry a “Duty of Care” for all students under their supervision and the Board highly recommends that all Coaches have an externally validated HSE approved First Aid award. First Aid qualifications should be assessed and candidates awarded a certificate of competence and not just a certificate of attendance.

The candidate will require the following Units:

scUK units

Click here to visit the Sports Coach UK website to view available scUK Units.

Coach Children Award or Sports Coach UK (Coaching Young Persons)

This award is for the instructor who is expecting to be called on in the near future to take classes involving children without supervision.

• This is a one day or four hour course for students that will take classes involving children without supervision. Legally a child is anyone under 18 years of age, not what your association describes as juniors/children.

Coach Level 3 (CL3) 

This award is for experienced Coaches working at national level within their Associations.

Candidates should:

Be recommended by their Association and possess the necessary technical knowledge in Aikido.

• Provide a full Coaching C.V. supported by a statement from their Principal or CLO.
• Hold coach level 2 award for a minimum period of three years.
• Candidates will have been directly involved in the training of a number of students to 1st Dan.
• Attend a series of Level 3 Coach courses, approved by the Board and shown below. These can be taken with an approved BAB Tutor and/or scUK 
• To have evidence of practical Coaching for at least three years since achieving Coach Level 2 and prior to taking coack level 3
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development since achieving CL2 (Other scUK units from previous requirements to be accepted until 31st Dec 2011)
• Successfully complete pre-course work, returned to the tutor two weeks prior to the CL3 assessment.
• Successfully complete an assessment of a 30 minute period of peer Coaching.

Induction Session:

The candidates will attend a one day assessment that will be used to outline the requirements of Coach Level 3 and an individual development plan.

Additional requirements:

Prior to a candidate attending the assessment session they should complete all the CL3 courses and provide the Coach Tutor with Association approval to attend Coach Level 3 assessment

Assessment Session:

An assessment of their Coaching ability will be made by an approved BAB Coach Tutor. Full details of the pre-course work and an outline of the assessment timetable will be sent to each student at least one month prior to the assessment day.

In addition, any candidate may have to satisfy any specific requirements laid down by their own Association.

First Aid is not a mandatory requirement. However all Coaches carry a “Duty of Care” for all students under their supervision and the Board highly recommends that all Coaches have an externally validated HSE approved. First Aid qualifications should be assessed and candidates awarded a certificate of competence and not just a certificate of attendance.

scUK units

Click here to visit the Sports Coach UK website to view available scUK Units.

In recognition of the BAB CL2/CL3 certificate holders the insurers have reduced the cost of the PI Insurance

Association awards:
These are organised with the applicants own association and follow similar guidelines for the BAB Coaching Course requirements

First Aid
It is a duty of care for coaches to ensure that First Aid provision within the dojo is available. Having an individual First Aid qualification does not effect your coaching status. However First Aid must be “Fit for Purpose” that is relevant to the needs of the dojo provider. Due to public Liability the BAB will not be involved in the direct delivery, accreditation or certification of First Aid. All First Aid courses should be HSE Approved. First Aid qualifications should be assessed and candidates awarded a certificate of competence and not just a certificate of attendance.