Tuesday, 18 April 2023
On Monday 15 May, British Equestrian and the University of Gloucestershire is set to host an open day for coaches interested in applying for the Level 4 Coaching Certificate.
The day will include an overview of the programme, including the academic content and available support, and is set to take place at the University of Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls Campus from 10:30am to 3:30pm. Attendees will hear from the academic team at the university, along with British Equestrian Level 4 course director Nicky Fuller and Dave Padgen, lead officer for coaching in British Equestrian’s Participation team.
The Level 4 Coaching Certificate course, which British Equestrian runs in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire and British Rowing, is a bespoke programme that’s been developed specifically for both sports and includes a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Professional Practice in Sports Coaching. It’s intended for high-performing coaches who have already completed the Level 3 Coaching Certificate, British Horse Society (BHS) Stage 4 Senior Coach in Complete Horsemanship or Performance Coach BHSI, Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Advanced Coach, or an equivalent qualification. The advanced syllabus focuses on improving coaching skills and the holistic development of the coach/participant relationship.
“The Level 4 programme has enabled me to develop as a coach and as a human, expand my coaching relationships, and improve my communication and listening skills,” commented recent course graduate Mia Palles-Clark. “It was a huge undertaking – going back to university at the age of 48 was never going to be easy – but I can honestly say it’s been life-changing to me as a coach.
“Since being on the Level 4 programme, my coaching is decidedly athlete-centred with a collaborative approach, and I have a better understanding of how to empower athletes to achieve their goals. Ecological dynamics, a constraints-led approach, leadership styles and the social licence for our sport have become corner stones in my coaching, yet I wouldn’t have begun to understand these before the last two years of the Level 4 programme.”
To attend the open day and find out more about how the Level 4 Coaching Certificate could benefit your coaching practice, please complete the registration form by 23:59pm on Thursday 4 May.
If you have any questions about the open day, please email participation@bef.co.uk. Further details about the Level 4 Coaching Certificate are available here.
Following the information day, the application form for the Level 4 Coaching Certificate will be made available on the British Equestrian website on Tuesday 16 May. The deadline for submission will be 11:59pm on Sunday 4 June 2023.