COACHING
Beccles & Bungay Harriers Athletic Club has a range of training groups across all age groups from 7 to over 60s and compete in events from Cross Country, Road Running, Track & Field, Quad Kids and Sportshall.
Whatever you are interested in doing and whatever level – elite, beginner or in-between – we have a training group for you, Come along and try a few groups until you find what’s right for you.
Get to know our coaching team by selecting ‘Coaching’ then ‘Meet the team!’.
CLUB COACHES
The club has a variety of England Athletics qualified Coaches, Coaching Assistants and Run Leaders to help organise enjoyable, inclusive sessions for its members.
LYNN EMMETT
STEPHEN HARVEY
GARY HOWE
CHRISSY PALMER -
ANDREW HARVEY
KESTER HAYTER
LILY PALMER
GET INTO COACHING
Coaches, Leaders and Assistant Coaches are the foundation of Beccles & Bungay Harriers training. They all volunteer their knowledge and expertise free of charge.
Financial support from the club is available (for course payment) for potential new coaches and for existing coaches of all standards to help them progress through the UK Athletics Coaching Journey.
If you are interested, please contact our Head Coach (Lynn Emmett) or Chairperson (Gary Howe) to talk about how you can help out the club through coaching.
Alternatively, you can speak to any of the club’s regular session coaches/leaders/assistant coaches about their experiences and see if you can help in their sessions before you go on the relevant coaching course.
To book a course and to find out about the dates/locations of coach training courses across England, please visit the ‘Qualifications’, ‘Find a course to book on to’ section of the England Athletics (EA) website. EA is responsible for implementing the UKA coaching strategy and the Coaching Development Programme including Coaching Education.
The Coaching Journey
The information below is taken from the UK Athletics website where you can find out more about the coaching journey and the individual coaching awards. There are a number of options available for those wishing to become a coach.
Coaching Assistant
This is the recommended starting point for B&BHAC members wishing to become a coach. A Coaching Assistant will be insured to take a coaching role working under the supervision of a coach (Athletics Coach, CiRF or another UKA Level 2 Coach or higher), working from a UKA task card or organising a session based on a plan written by the supervising Coach.
- Duration: 2 days, no formal assessment
- DBS/Disclosure check, free for club volunteers
- Minimum age of participant:16 years
- Can take sessions under supervision from a fully licenced / qualified Coach
- See UK Athletics website, Coaching Assistant for more information
Athletics Coach
This qualification is the next step for those wishing to coach athletics (all track distances and disciplines plus field events) and is the cornerstone of the coach education programme. The course plus assessment period is a total of four days including the formal assessment. Candidates will be able to plan a progressive training programme for athletes coaching a range of activities to prepare the developing athlete to run, jump and throw.
When qualified you will be insured to coach without supervision, working with Coaching Assistants to support you in delivering the sessions.
- Duration: The course and assessment period is 4 days in total. Two days delivered as a weekend, a third day several weeks later and then a formal assessment on a final day.
- Minimum age of participant, 18 years
- Designed to support coaches in working with athletes in the Foundation to Event Group Development Stages (typically under 18 years old)
- See UK Athletics website, Athletics Coach for more information
Leader in Running Fitness
The Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) course is designed to prepare you to provide a safe and enjoyable running experience for young people over 12 years of age and adults of any ability, size or shape. It is the cornerstone of the road running qualification. The qualification will provide you with insurance to lead a group within the limits of the course content. Leadership in Running Fitness is a prerequisite course for the Coach in Running Fitness qualification.
- Duration: One day, involving classroom and practical activity.
- Minimum age of participant, 18 years
- Designed for those who coach runners over the age of 12 years and adults of any ability, size or shape
- See UK Athletics website, Leader in Running Fitness (LiRF) for more information
Coach in Running Fitness
The qualification is the next step for those who only wish to coach for off-track endurance running. The qualification will take three days to complete plus one day of formal assessment. Coaches who want to work with runners taking part in track-based endurance events such as 800m – 10,0000m or steeplechase should take the Athletics Coach award rather than CiRF. The CiRF course is designed for the participation running community as opposed to the performance pathway.
- Duration: The course and assessment period is 4 days in total. Two days delivered as a weekend, a third day several weeks later and then a formal assessment on a final day.
- Minimum age of participant, 18 years
- Designed for those who coach runners over the age of 12 who participate in non-trac based activities (road, fell, cross country or multi terrain events)
- See UK Athletics website, Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF) for more information
Event Group Coach
Once qualified as an Athletics Coach coaches can focus on one or more event groups: jumps, throws, speed or endurance after completing the relevant additional modules.