The coaching policy incorporates the principles of the club constitution, policy and equity statement.

Club Aims and Objectives (Constitution June 2016)

  1. Promote and foster cycling, running and athletics activities to people of all abilities.
  2. Enable members to enjoy, participate in and improve their performance in cycling, running and athletics at recreation, sports and competition levels.
  3. Provide for related social activities amongst all club members.

Club Equity Statement

This club commits to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In so doing it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equality.

Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them.

It is about changing the culture and structures of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.

  1. The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
  2. The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
  3. All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
  4. The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.

The club recognises that the coaches, through their regular interactions with the athletes in their groups, will be responsible for upholding and developing the club policy.

The Club Athletics Coaching Provision

Club coaching is dependent upon the number, qualifications and event range of coaches.

  1. Training groups are based on our principles of equity and recognise the social as well as the physical benefits of training.
  2. Groups will be determined by a consideration of coaching factors: age, maturity, level of ability, experience, the event or skills being coached and the option of alternative groups.
  3. Group size will not be governed by a stipulated coach athlete ratio. 1 to 8 or 1 to 15 may be ideal targets. The size of each group will depend on the coach’s judgement on whether he or she can provide each athlete with an enjoyable experience, the opportunity to make measured progress and to ensure the safety of each athlete in the group.
  4. Coaches who are coaching on behalf of the club or associated with the ethos of the club must coach in line with club policy and equality requirements. Although they are voluntary coaches this does not mean that they can choose not to coach an athlete without good reason.
  5. An athlete could be excluded from a group if they are unwilling to compete for the club or breach the ethos and behavioural expectations of the club.
  6. In addition to coaching athletic skills coaches must teach track and field etiquette and disciplines. With large groups it is the coach’s responsibility to employ organisational techniques to ensure the safety of all users of the track.
  7. Coaches will encourage and expect athletes they coach to compete for the club.
  8. The club aims to provide coaches for all events but this may not be practically achievable.
  9. The club coaching committee will explore ways of meeting coaching shortfall.
  10. If a coach becomes unavailable the coaching committee should attempt to resolve any difficulties this may cause.
  11. The club coaches are unpaid volunteers. The club recognises and values the goodwill and dedicated commitment of its coaches. Currently payment is made to some younger helpers/assistant coaches for assisting with the Thursday introductory group.
  12. All coaches associated with Leamington C&AC are required to be licensed by UK Athletics or engaged in the process of gaining their licences by following a suitable course of training.
  13. The club therefore actively encourages the training of coaches by paying for course fees. Courses need to be approved by The Treasurer and Coaching Coordinator beforehand.
  14. In recognition of coaches’ commitment there is a dispensation for free individual club membership for coaches or an alternative family member. This is dependent on the coach coaching or assisting with coaching for at least 30 sessions per membership year and follows the club Athletics Coaching Policy and Strategy
  15. To qualify for dispensation the participants in these sessions should be made up of mainly club members or approved affiliates.
  16. Club coaches are entitled to claim for travelling expenses if they are supporting athletes coached by them. This does not apply to club coach parents who travel to watch their own children compete.

Particular Provision for Junior Members

The club believes in a policy which fosters the wellbeing and personal development of all children and provides for the acquisition of a wide range of skills in an atmosphere that they will enjoy ensuring their progress as athletes who remain in the sport and the club into adulthood having become as good as they can be

  1. Our coaching policy recognises that athletics is just one of a range of activities and opportunities which children should be encouraged to explore.
  2. The athletics coaching policy follows England Athletics policy to promote multi discipline athletics up to and including U15.  Children in the introductory groups are coached in EA 365 FUNdamental and multi discipline activities.  They move to event specific training groups when old enough and ready enough for competition.
  3. The Club encourages this approach but provides flexibility for U13’s and U15’s so that children would be able to join specialist rather than multi-disciplinary coaching groups if they so wished.
  4. All young athletes are entitled to athletics coaching and must be under the direction of the coach at all times. Consequently young applicants to the club should not be enrolled unless spaces exist in an appropriate coaching group.

The coaching policy is implemented through our Coaching Structure the details of which are on the club web site.

Coaching Code of Conduct:

  • Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every athlete and treat everyone equally, regardless of background and ability.
  • Place the welfare and safety of the athlete above the development of performance.
  • Encourage and guide athletes to accept and take responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
  • Be appropriately qualified and update his/her coaching licence as and when required by UKA.
  • Ensure that the activities they promote and advocate are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual athlete.
  • Clarify with each athlete from the outset and continually throughout the relationship period, and where appropriate with their parents or guardians, exactly what is expected of them and what the athlete is entitled to expect from the coach.
  • Co-operate fully with other colleagues (e.g. other coaches, officials, team managers, sports scientists, doctors, physiotherapists and governing body staff) in the best interest of the athlete.
  • Consistently promote positive aspects of the sport (e.g. fair play) and never condone rule violations or the use of prohibited or age-inappropriate substances.
  • Consistently promote high standards of behaviour and appearance.
  • Never try to recruit, either overtly or covertly athletes who are already receiving coaching from another coach (whether or not licensed by UKA).
  • Have knowledge of the Club’s Risk Assessment and Accident and Emergency Response Procedures
  • Maintain a suitable record of athletes’ attendances, make themselves aware of medical and other circumstances which could affect the performance of each athlete in their charge, and be aware of emergency contact details for young athletes’ parents or guardians.

As a responsible Coach associated with our Club we particularly expect you to follow the requirements of the UKA Coach Licence to:

  • Hold a current DBS certificate recognised by UKA
  • Have attended, or scheduled to attend, appropriate Child Protection and Health and Safety Workshops.
  • Develop appropriate working relationships with athletes (especially with those under 18), based on mutual trust and respect.
  • Not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
  • Strictly maintain a clear boundary between friendship and intimacy with athletes and not conduct inappropriate relationships with athletes.
  • Not allow an intimate relationship to develop with any athlete under the age of 16.  Nor should you allow an intimate personal relationship to develop with any athlete between the ages of 16 and 18 (who is coached or supervised by you either directly or indirectly).