Sports coaches are often directly involved with working with young children and vulnerable individuals. Accordingly, if you want to be a sports coach, you must be subject to appropriate checks as to your suitability to work in this environment.
This would include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which would assess whether you have a criminal record and ensure that you are not on a barred list which would prohibit you from working in specified sectors. There may also be vetting and barring scheme checks required by the individual sport you choose to work in.
To be a coach for a particular sport in the UK, you may need to undertake a minimum level of training and achieve certain qualifications. For example, if you wish to coach tennis within England you’re be required to attain the required level of coaching qualification from the Lawn Tennis Association, the national governing body of tennis in England.
The National Coaching Foundation’s Code of Practice for Sports Coaches aims to provide an ethical framework for sports coaches and has been adopted by a number of governing bodies of sport and employers of coaches.
The code details various areas and issues with which it says all sports coaches ought to conform to. These ethical standards cover a number of areas, the main cornerstones of which are:
Coaches must respect and champion the rights of every individual to participate in sport and physical activity. They are also expected to:
Coaches should form a relationship with their participants (and others) based on openness, honesty, mutual trust and respect. They also need to:
Correct personal behaviour and conduct should always be shown by coaches. They should also:
Coaches should ensure they reach an appropriate level of competence through qualifications and keep their skills and training up to date. They should also:
Nicola is a dual qualified journalist and non-practising solicitor. She is a legal journalist, editor and author with more than 20 years' experience writing about the law.
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