Add on and CPD Modules & Courses

Flexibility is fundamental to our sport. A gymnast’s ability to make shapes on apparatus or in the air, move smoothly yet dynamically from one position to another, and combine gymnastics skills with precision and artistry are all impacted by their flexibility.
Flexibility also supports a gymnast’s everyday life, helping them carry out daily tasks without restriction, improve posture, reduce the risk of injury, and can support life-long health far into adulthood.

Course Outcomes
This CPD course is designed to support you in designing and delivering gymnast-centred flexibility training. You will explore a range of topics such as:
• Physical and psychological factors that affect flexibility
• How to determine a gymnast’s needs based on their goals, level of participation, discipline, and age and stage of maturation
• Specific methods used to improve or maintain a gymnast’s flexibility, and considerations for your planning and implementation
In addition, you will explore how to create safe, positive and healthy environments, aligned to our Safeguarding Policy in Flexibility Training.

Course information
• Enrol here
• Structure: This is a self-paced online learning course. Once you have enrolled you will be able to start your learning and development immediately. We suggest you give yourself between three to seven hours to complete, and advise you give yourself sufficient breaks throughout.
• Price: Until 1 January 2025 this course will be available at a reduced price of £9 for Scottish Gymnastics members. Non-member price: £33
Find out more on the British Gymnastics website

Who is this course aimed at?
This course is aimed at coaches and instructors.
Currently, it can only be accessed by those individuals who hold qualifications or credentials recognised by British Gymnastics.
The course is an essential condition for level 2 or equivalent (or above) coaches.

Level 1 coaches, gymnastics activity instructors and safeguarding officers can also access this CPD as a learning and development opportunity, and are encouraged to complete the course to support the creation of safe and positive environments for all.


From 3 February 2025, this course is essential for individuals who hold a level 2 or above Coaching credential.

Throughout this course you will gain the confidence to support disabled participants within your coaching sessions. The skills you will develop during this course are applicable across all gymnastics disciplines. 
This course is not a requirement, however it is recommended that it is taken when working with disabled participants in order to raise awareness and progress your coaching ability. 

Course information:
• Face to face structure – 7 hour one day practical delivery.
• Pre-requisites – Candidates are required to hold a minimum of a level 1 qualification.
• No gymnasts demonstrators are required for this course.
• Course resources – course specific resource pack handed out at course.
• Member price – £72, non-member – £110
You can find more information on the British Gymnastics website

Course information:
• Pre-requisites – Level 2 coaches, see full pre-requisites in British Gymnastics link below.
• Face to face structure – 2 day course delivered in classroom and practical environment, including assessment.
• Gymnast demonstrators – Candidates must bring 2 or 3 demonstrators to both days of the course.
• Mentor – No mentor is required for this course but we recommend using a suitably qualified mentor within your club to help you develop your knowledge.
• Member cost – £198, non-member cost – £298
Find out about the course on the British Gymnastics website

British Gymnastics have partnered with Beat, the UK’s leading Eating  Disorder charity, to develop a Eating Disorder Awareness continuing professional development module. Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions. With over 1.2 million people in the UK diagnosed with eating disorders, and waiting lists  for support services only increasing, we want to equip our community to best support those affected. Due to the misconception that a low body weight and particular physique is required to be successful in gymnastics, eating disorders are a particular risk in our sport.

Who is the course aimed at
The module is for coaches and safeguarding officers who are 18 years old or over. Some of the content in the module is sensitive and may not be appropriate for those who currently have an eating disorder, or have experienced an eating disorder in the past.

Course information
• Enrol here
• Structure – three eLearning Modules, a webcast on best practice, reflective videos and a quiz, plus information on seeking help.
• Member Price – £10 (£8 in February 2024 for eating disorder awareness week). Non-Member Price – £30.
• Pre-requisites – Level 1 or above coach or Gymnastics Activity Instructor 18 years old or above. Safeguarding officer with safe recruitment award or equivalent, 18 years old or above.

Course Outcomes:
1. Be aware of the common eating disorders and be able to identify their risk factors, signs and symptoms.
2. Understand why in sports such as gymnastics, there is a greater risk of disordered eating an eating disorders.
3. Be aware that coaching practices can impact the development or progression of an eating disorder.
4. Understand that you are ideally placed to spot the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder and get someone the referral they need.

Freestyle is an exciting discipline to coach. Participants perform amazing flips, jumps and vaults. You will be interested in pushing boundaries and experimenting with new and interesting moves. You will support participants in the safe development of a variety of skills within the confines of a gymnastics environment.  You get to work with both male and female participants, and mixed age groups.

Level 1 add on module information
• Pre-requisites – candidates must have completed a level 1 award in any discipline except preschool.
• Face to face structure – 3 hours; 1 hour theory & 2 hour practical
• No gymnast demonstrators are required, please tell us in advance if you are not able to participate.
• Member cost – £52, non-member cost – £88
You can find more information on the British Gymnastics website

Level 2 add on module information
As a level 2 coach you will be able to work independently to help participants develop their skills, strength and co-ordination. You are able to lead your own sessions and mentor and oversee fellow coaches. Building on experience gained during the level 1 qualification you will develop the skills to support a variety of exhilarating wall spins, kicks and twists. You will learn how to structure freestyle sessions and implement skills within a safe environment.
• Pre-requisites – candidates must have completed a level 2 award in any discipline except preschool.
• Face to face structure – 6 hours; 2.5 hours theory and 3.5 hours practical
• Member cost – £75, non-member cost – £115
You can find out more on the British Gymnastics website

Learn to coach is an introductory award aimed at people starting their coaching journey.
The main focus of this course is to emphasise basic movement skills and physical preparation activities which are transferable across each gymnastics discipline. It also introduces the “how to coach” skills. The course is an introductory award not a formal qualification, therefore does not give the coach any formal responsibilities in the gym and they should be supervised at all times, however it does give coaches all the right tools to begin coaching as a helper. 

Course information:
• Face to face structure – 3 – 4 hours.
• Pre-requisites – Learners must be 12 years old.
• No gymnasts demonstrators are required for this course.
• Member price: £50, Non-member price: £75

Course Aims:
• Recognise what makes a good coach
• Identify gymnastic movements and the physical requirements of these movements
• Identify the qualities a coach should have
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of a coach
• Understand how muscles work
• Identify different physical qualities and how these relate to gymnastics skills
• Compete a basic risk assessment
• Safety in the gym
• Observe, analyse and feedback on selected gymnastics skills – including shapes, rolling, handstands and cartwheels
• Use progressions effectively considering the required physical preparation

The preschool continuing professional development (CPD) course has replaced the previous Level 1 and 2 preschool courses. Existing qualifications are still valid, but we believe the new course is of great benefit to our clubs and coaches.

Course information:
• Pre-requisites – candidates must have completed a level 1 award in any discipline.
• Face to face structure – 2 day practical course.
• Once deemed fit for practice – Level 1 coaches will be able to assist in and level 2 coaches will be able to lead preschool classess immediately. 
• Gymnast demonstrators – No demonstrators are required for this course. They are kindly provided for you. 
• Mentor – No mentor is required to complete this course.
• Member cost – £198, non-member cost – £268
Click here to see if you can apply for sportscotland coach education subsidy

You can find out more on the British Gymnastics website
Discipline Specific Syllabus & Prohibited Skills List

When do you need a preschool qualification:
Coaches in Scottish Gymnastics registered clubs do not need to hold a preschool qualification to run parent and toddler classes as this is covered under the club’s public liability. At whatever age the child no longer requires their parent to be with them in the gym is when the liability shifts to the club/coach. At this point, the child requires membership and coach requires preschool add-on qualification. While the qualification is not required for parent & toddler classes, it is advised that coaches have the qualification to assist with their running of the class.

Accessing your e-learning
If you have issues accessing e-learning in your academy, It is most likely that you have a My BG profile which is attached to a ‘parent account’. Please send a different email address to coacheducation@scottishgymnastics.org. The team will add this address to your profile and unlink the two accounts so you can access the e-learning. Once this is done, you will be sent an email to your new address and may need to reset your password. When you log in, click on Academy and it will take you to your course.

When can you start to coach
You can coach in preschool classes immediately after being deemed fit for practice! You do not have to wait to receive your certificate before coaching. You will keep your fit for practice sign off sheet which can be used to evidence you have passed.

Previous UKCC Level 1 & 2 preschool qualifications
You can still assist preschool classes with your level 1 preschool qualification and lead preschool classes with your level 2 preschool qualification.
Level 1 preschool qualification pathway – you can continue to assist in preschool classes with your level 1 preschool qualification. If you want to lead a preschool session, you need to complete a level 2 in another discipline and attend the preschool add-on module.

This British Gymnastics e-learning module focuses on your role as a coach in the safe and positive development of your participants. It explores the development of belief systems, in particular your beliefs about success and failure, and how these impact you and your participants. The course provides detail on strategies you can use to understand your beliefs and ensure you are positive in your coaching.

This e-learning is exclusive to and compulsory for British and Scottish Gymnastics member coaches who hold a level 2 (or equivalent) or above qualification in any gymnastics discipline. It must be completed once and must be before you renew your membership.

• Member price – Free
• For – Exclusive & mandatory for Scottish Gymnastics coaches who are level 2 and above in any discipline.
• Enrol Now
• Structure – three eLearning modules. Each module provides an approximate time for completion and if you need to take a break it will save your progress.

Outcomes:
1. Identify the challenges you face as a coach.
2. Describe your key coaching responsibilities.
3. Recognise how different beliefs about success and failure impact your participants’ thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and your coach-participant relationship.
4. Identify your goal orientation and how it impacts your coaching.
5. Describe a variety of positive coaching strategies.
6. Apply the knowledge gained to evaluate your coaching and create suitable action plans to ensure you are positive in your coaching.