Formal Courses

Course Structure:
• Online modules – available to learners around four weeks before course start date.
• Session 1 and 2 – eight hours each day on course practical delivery.
• In your gym – complete logbook activities with support from your mentor.
• Session 3 – practical assessment and professional discussion. Normally around three months after your course to allow time for mentoring and logbook completion. Find out more about assessments here.


Pre-Requisites:
• 16 years by day one of the course.
• Must have a suitably qualified mentor sourced.


Mentor:
Before you enrol onto the course you will need to find a mentor. Your mentor is required to hold a minimum of a level 2 coaching qualification, or equivalent, within the same discipline. Your will need a mentor to help you throughout the post-course activities (including your logbook) and to support your development of gymnastics knowledge and the delivery methods such as the ‘how to coach’ skills.


Gymnast Demonstrators:
You will need to bring two or three demonstrators (three or four for acrobatic) with you to all sessions, including the course and assessment. Where you are attending the course with another coach from your club these gymnasts can be shared.


Resources:
• Elearning activities
• Online resources
• Scottish Disability Sport disability inclusion training
• Logbook
– Learners who’s course started before 1 June 2024 – download the editable version of the logbook.
– Learners who’s courses starts from the 1 June 2024, will find their logbook within the Academy. The logbook has now been split into 3 sections and all sections must be submitted to their assessor by uploading them onto the Academy a minimum of two weeks before their practical assessment: part 1 is the question and answers section, part 2 is the session plans and risk assessment, and part 3 is the assessment session plan.
• Skills Matrix Boxes (Assessment information in this document is for courses starting from the 1 June 2024, the requirements of the matrix boxes are still the same for courses starting before the 1 June 2024).

Registration:
Level 1 registration period is one year from course start date.
It is the learners responsibility to ensure all parts of the course, including the practical and logbook assessment, are completed before their expiry. Learners can re-registration on the course, click here, for a year extension which starts from the date of their course expiry.


SQA Award:
Please ensure you look at the correct information based on the start date of the course:

• Pre 30 July 2023: Learners who started their level 1 course before 30 July 2023 will be award the Sports Coaching in their respective discipline at SCQF Level 4 after successful completion of their course. Please note that the UKCC qualification was removed in 2018 and is the equivalent qualification.

• 30 July 2023 to 31 August 2024: Learners who started their level 1 course between the 30 July 2023 and the 31 August 2024 will be awarded the Scottish Coaching Certificate (SCQF Level 5) after successful completion of their course.

• After 1 September 2024: Learners on level 1 courses from the 1 September 2024 who wish for their qualification to be awarded through SQA, must complete the SQA course enrolment form before the start of their course. Please note there is an additional charge for this.

The Scottish Coaching Certificate is a generic sports coaching award, and is the same SQA qualification awarded by all sports who deliver the qualification. If you already have another discipline’s level 1, which has been awarded the Scottish Coaching Certificate, or another sport has awarded you the Scottish Coaching Certificate you cannot be awarded it again.  You can only be awarded the Scottish Coaching Certificate (SCQF Level 5) once, regardless of sport or discipline.


Price:
• Member – £360
• Non-member – £495

SportScotland funding:
Find out if you can apply for sportscotland coach education subsidy

Syllabus:
• Acrobatic level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Acrobatic level 1 Assistant Coach Cycle 5
• General level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• General level 1 Assistant Coach Cycle 5
• Men’s Artistic Level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Men’s Artistic Level 1 Assistant Coach Cycle 5
• Rhythmic Level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• TeamGym Level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Trampoline Level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Tumble Level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Women’s Artistic Level 1 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Women’s Artistic Level 1 Assistant Coach Cycle 5

Course Structure:
• Online modules – available to learners around four weeks before course start date.
• Session 1 – eight hours on course theory. This is generic theory for all disciplines.
• Session 2, 3 & 4 – eight hours each day on course practical delivery.
• In your gym – complete your logbook activities with support from your mentor.
• Session 5 – practical assessment and professional discussion. Find out about your assessment here

If you hold another level two qualification, day one of the level 2 course is generic; therefore it is not essential that you attend if you hold another level 2 qualification. However Scottish Gymnastics advise all candidates to attend all days of our courses. Please contact coacheducation@scottishgymnastics.org to let us know if you are not attending.


Pre-Requisites:
•Learners must be 17 years by day 1 of the course. While candidates can pass their assessment prior to turning 18 years old they cannot be the lead coach in a training session. The coach responsible for leading the session must be 18 years old. Coaches must also be 18 years old to use their level 2 qualification at competitions. 
• Sourced a suitably qualified mentor.
• Learners must have a level 1 in a relevant discipline. Transferring between disciplines – see the British Gymnastics discipline transfer matrix.


Mentor:
Your will need a mentor to help you throughout the post-course activities and to support your development of gymnastics knowledge and the delivery methods such as the ‘How to Coach’ skills. Before you enrol onto the course you will need to find a mentor. Your mentor is required to hold a level 2 qualification, or equivalent, and have begun their level 3 qualification within the same discipline.


Gymnast Demonstrators:
You will need to bring two or three demonstrators (three or four for acrobatic) with you to sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the course. Where you are attending the course with another coach from your club these gymnasts can be shared on sessions 2,3 & 4.


Resources:
• Elearning Activities
• Online Resources
• Scottish Disability Sport disability inclusion training.
• Logbook
– Learners who’s course started before 1 July 2024 – download the editable version of the logbook.
– Learners who’s courses starts from the 1 July 2024, will find their logbook within the Academy. You will receive a paper copy of your logbook at your course or you can complete the electronic version of the logbook in the academy. The electronic version has been split into 2 sections: part 1 is the question and answers section, part 2 is the session plans, risk assessment and the assessment session plan.
• Skills Matrix Boxes


Registration Period:
Level 2 registration period is two year from course start date.
It is the learners responsibility to ensure all parts of the course, including the practical and logbook assessment, are completed before their expiry. Learners can re-registration on the course, click here, for a year extension which starts from the date of their course expiry


SQA Award:
Please ensure you look at the correct information based on the start date of the course:

• Pre 30 July 2023: Learners who started their level 2 course before 30 July 2023 will be award the Sports Coaching in their respective discipline at SCQF Level 5 after successful completion of their course. Please note that the UKCC qualification was removed in 2018 and is the equivalent qualification.

• 30 July 2023 to 31 August 2024: Learners who started their level 2 course between the 30 July 2023 and the 31 August 2024 will be awarded the Scottish Coaching Certificate (SCQF Level 6) after successful completion of their course.

• After 1 September 2024: Learners on level 2 courses from the 1 September 2024 who wish for their qualification to be awarded through SQA, must complete the SQA course enrolment form before the start of their course. Please note there is an additional charge for this.

The Scottish Coaching Certificate is a generic sports coaching award, and is the same SQA qualification awarded by all sports who deliver the qualification. If you already have another discipline’s level 2, which has been awarded the Scottish Coaching Certificate, or another sport has awarded you the Scottish Coaching Certificate you cannot be awarded it again.  You can only be awarded the Scottish Coaching Certificate (SCQF Level 6) once, regardless of sport or discipline.


Price:
• Member – £565
• Non-Member – £689

sportscotland Coach Education Subsidy:
Find out if you can apply for sportscotland coach education subsidy

Syllabus:
• Acrobatic Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• General Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Men’s Artistic Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Rhythmic Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• TeamGym Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Trampoline Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Tumble Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)
• Women’s Artistic Level 2 Cycle 6 (Current)

To get your level 3 qualification you are required to complete the level 3 coaching theory and depending on discipline either the development coach practical course/ modules or the technical modules. Only on completion of the Level 3 Coaching Theory and your practical will you hold the complete Level 3 accreditation and be eligible to progress to Performance Coach/Level 4. 

Level 3 Theory
The level 3 coaching theory is delivered over two days and focuses on developing and implementing a plan for a gymnast of your choice, ensuring learning is relevant to your current coaching practice. This generic course is open to coaches from all disciplines. To effectively engage in this course.
The course is open to those over the age of 18. 

Submitting your level 3 portfolio:
When you have completed your portfolio of evidence and are ready for assessment, please fill in the form which is available in your academy and send it to education@british-gymnastics.org. You should be able to download the form from the academy under your courses, then level 3 coaching theory. If you click on the go button and then expand the assessment process using the triangle at the side, you should see ‘L3 assessment application form’.

Find a Level 3 Coaching Theory course delivered by British Gymnastics here.

Level 3 Technical Modules
Course Structure:
Technical module – disciplines have a different number of technical modules. Each module is a separate course, and has it’s own assessment.
• Session 1 – on course practical delivery. Number of days may vary per course or module. See discipline information below.
• Session 2 – practical assessment and professional discussion. Find out about your assessment here

Pre-requisites:
• Learners must be 18 years by day one of the course.
• Learners must have a level 2 in a relevant discipline. Transferring between disciplines – see the British Gymnastics discipline transfer matrix.

Gymnast demonstrators:
Learners must bring two or three gymnasts (acrobatic three or four), who they have spent time with developing the required level 3 skills. Gymnasts can be at varying levels in the skill development process and you should be able to show the planned physical preparation and progressions. At least one gymnast must be able to perform the whole skill with support for your assessment.

Mentor:
• While no mentor is required for this course it would benefit the learner while practicing.
• Learners cannot coach the skills within their course until they have successfully completed their assessment without a suitably qualified coach present, see the code of practice (p14).

Resources included:
Discipline specific resource pack.

Registration period:
Level 3 technical modules registration period is two year from course start date. It is the learners responsibility to ensure all parts of the course, including the practical and logbook assessment, are completed before their expiry. Learners can re-registration on the course, click here, for a year extension which starts from the date of their course expiry.

Price:
• Member – £115
• Non-Member – £185

sportscotland Coach Education Subsidy:
Find out if you can apply for sportscotland coach education subsidy

Discipline Specific Information:
Acrobatics:
• Four technical modules. 
• Learners must have attended module one before attending module two, three or four. Modules two, three and four can be attended in any order.  Learners must be deemed competent in module one before being assessed on modules two, three & four. Modules two, three & four can be assessed in any order. 
• Acrobatic Level 3 Cycle 6 Syllabus
Men’s artistic:
• Three technical modules, attended and assessed in any order. 
• Men’s Artistic Level 3 Cycle 6 Syllabus
General:
• Four technical modules.
• Learners must attend module one before module two, and module two before three or four. Module three & four can be attended in any order. Learners must be deemed competent on module one then module two before module three & four. Modules three & four can be assessed in any order. Learners with a women’s or men’s artistic level 2 can start at module two. 
• General Level 3 Cycle 6 Syllabus
TeamGym:
• Three technical modules, attended and assessed in any order.
• TeamGym Level 3 Cycle 6 Syllabus
Trampoline:
• Four technical modules. 
• Learners must attend module one before module two and have been deemed competent on their module 1 or 2 before attending module 3. Learners can only have two modules outstanding. 
• Trampoline Level 3 Cycle 6 syllabus
Tumbling:
• Two technical modules. 
• Learners must have attended module one before attending module two. Learners must pass module one before module two.
• Tumbling Level 3 Cycle 6 Syllabus
Women’s Artistic:
• Four technical modules, attended and assessed in any order.
• Women’s Artistic Level 3 Cycle 6 Syllabus

Level 3 Development Coach Practical
Course Structure:
Development coach practical – depending on the discipline, will either be a course which can be multiple days, or modules which will vary in the number depending on disciplines.
• Session 1 – on course practical delivery. Number of days may vary per course or module. See discipline information below.
• Session 2 – practical assessment and professional discussion. Find out about your assessment here

Pre-requisites:
• Learners must be 18 years by day one of the course.
• Learners must have attended the level 3 coaching theory. Some disciplines may require additional pre-requisites.
• Learners must have a level 2 in a relevant discipline. Transferring between disciplines – see the British Gymnastics discipline transfer matrix.

Gymnast demonstrators:
Learners must bring two or three gymnasts (acrobatic three or four), who they have spent time with developing the required level 3 skills. Gymnasts can be at varying levels in the skill development process and you should be able to show the planned physical preparation and progressions. At least one gymnast must be able to perform the whole skill with support for your assessment.

Mentor:
• While no mentor is required for this course it would benefit the learner while practicing.
• Learners cannot coach the skills within their course until they have successfully completed their assessment without a suitably qualified coach present, see the code of practice (p14).

Resources included:
Online self-paced learning accessed through the academy.
Discipline specific resource pack.

Registration period:
Level 3 development coach registration period is two year from course start date. It is the learners responsibility to ensure all parts of the course, including the practical and logbook assessment, are completed before their expiry. Learners can re-registration on the course, click here, for a year extension which starts from the date of their course expiry.


Discipline Specific Information:
Double mini-trampoline:
• Launching in Summer 2024 with a pilot course run by British Gymnastics in December 2023.
• Two day practical course including online self-paced learning.  Practical assessment (including a video submission of coaching in your own environment).
• Find out more information here – learners must have attended or hold the level 3 coaching theory and the DMT Level 2 Add on Module to attend, or one of the pre-requisites outlined in more information.  
Rhythmic:
• Pilot running 2024.
• Two day practical course including online self-paced learning. One virtual tutor-led session (four hours). Practical assessment (including completion of a planning task and a face to face practical assessment).
• Find out more information here

Level 3 Club Coach Qualification
This course is no longer delivered and has been replaced by the level 3 theory and practical courses.
Syllabus
• Acrobatic Club Coach (Basic) Cycle 5
• Acrobatic Club Coach Cycle 5
• General Club Coach Cycle 5
• Men’s Artistic Club Coach Cycle 5
• Trampoline Club Coach Cycle 5
• Tumbling Club Coach Cycle 5
• Women’s Artistic Club Coach Cycle 5

Level 4 and Level 5 courses are delivered in some disciplines where there is demand within Scotland. These courses are application only and coaches must demonstrate that they are working at the appropriate level in order to undertake the course. 
 
Structure:
The course is a blend of in the classroom and in the gym. 

Pre-requisites:
• Learners must be 18 years old on the first day of the course. Learners must have completed their level 3 theory and level 3 technical modules or development coach practical. • • • Transferring between disciplines – see the British Gymnastics discipline transfer matrix

Gymnast demonstrators:
Learners must bring two or three gymnasts who they have spent time with developing. At least one gymnast as a minimum must be working towards the skills in the syllabus.

Mentor:
• While no mentor is required for this course it would benefit the learner while practicing.
• Learners cannot coach the skills within their course until they have successfully completed their assessment without a suitably qualified coach present, see the code of practice (p14).

Registration period:
Two years from day one of the course. It is the learners responsibility to ensure all parts of the course, including the assessments, are completed before their expiry.

The Professional Practice in High-Performance Coaching (PPiHPC) is designed for those who are passionate about creating positive High-Performance coaching environments.  It aims to enhance your existing knowledge as a performance coach by broadening your understanding of the concepts that underpin high-performance settings and effective. The course develops your underpinning coaching science and professional practice knowledge, to reinforce effective coaching practices in the High-Performance environment. It ensures you are equipped to develop not only the skills on your discipline-specific syllabus but to also develop gymnasts and people in a safe and positive environment.

The PPiHPC accreditation on its own does not qualify a learner to High Performance Coach (HPC) status or guarantee a place on HPC technical courses.  Full HPC status is only gained with both the PPiHPC & the equivalent HPC discipline specific course (Cycle 6, 7 or 8 dependent on discipline).

Structure:
• 2 x Face to face delivery days (16 hours)
• Online learning
• 2 x 60 minute Tutor led virtual check ins
• ePortfolio assessment submission
• Professional discussion (40 – 60 minutes)
• You are expected to be able to give approximately two to four hours per week between course and assessment.

Mentor:
There is no requirement for a mentor, but you are encouraged to network with other coaches to support you in this process.

Price:
Members – £440
Non-members – £572

Structure:
The course is delivered over multiple sessions in a practical environment. The number of course days will vary from course to course.

Pre-requisites:
• Learners must be 18 years old on the first day of the course. Learners must have completed their level 3 theory and level 3 technical modules or development coach practical.
• Transferring between disciplines – see the British Gymnastics discipline transfer matrix

Gymnast demonstrators:
Learners must bring two or three gymnasts who they have spent time with developing. At least one gymnast as a minimum must be working towards the skills in the syllabus.

Mentor:
• While no mentor is required for this course it would benefit the learner while practicing.
• Learners cannot coach the skills within their course until they have successfully completed their assessment without a suitably qualified coach present, see the code of practice (p14).

Registration period:
Two years from day one of the course. It is the learners responsibility to ensure all parts of the course, including the assessments, are completed before their expiry.