The Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Orienteering has been developed by British Orienteering in association with lst4sport and is one of a number of coaching qualifications awarded by lst4sport Qualifications.

It is a vocationally related qualification that provides candidates with an opportunity to study and be assessed for both the practical and theoretical aspects of coaching Orienteering. The qualification is accredited on the National Qualifications Framework and is recognised as a Technical Certificate.

Qualification Outline

The qualification demonstrates you have an understanding of safe, ethical and effective Orienteering coaching. The Certificate qualifies you to coach the skills and techniques of the sport of Orienteering to adults and children. You will be qualified to operate up to Level 3 on the British Orienteering Step System and in British Orienteering Grade A and B areas.

The qualification is a stepping-stone to a Sport and Recreation Level 2 NVQ in Coaching which has been developed by people from the industry and provides a benchmark of good practice for coaches, teachers and instructors.

The qualification is delivered through approved centres, all carefully screened by lst4sport Qualifications ensuring that the correct equipment is available and that all health and safety requirements are adhered to.

Pre-requisites, candidates are required to:

• have an interest in coaching the sport
• have achieved a level of personal performance in the sport to at least Light Green Standard at an event in the past twelve months
• hold the minimum of a current First Aid Certificate (minimum of a four hour course which covers CPR and EAV)
• Due to the level of autonomy and responsibility attached to a coach at this level, you must be over 16 before you can be certificated.

Qualification Format, the Level 2 comprises three units of study:

Prepare orienteering coaching sessions: this unit will provide you with the knowledge to gather the information required to plan orienteering coaching sessions for a variety of participants and courses. In addition this unit introduces you to the Values Statement for Coaching, Teaching and Instructing at a level that underpins your effective and ethical coaching. Conducting Orienteering Coaching sessions: this unit will introduce you to an appropriate range of skills and techniques to enable you to deliver safe and effective orienteering coaching sessions to a range of participants. You will understand the principles of how conducting an effective review of your sessions can contribute to the further development of your coaching practice through structured self-assessment and action planning.

Support the development of orienteering: this unit will introduce you to your responsibilities to others, including your role in the development of the sport and also the legal, environmental and competitive requirements. The unit provides the knowledge that will underpin the coache's practical activities with particular emphasis on ethical and effective communication with the participants you coach and other organisations impacting on your work. To qualify for the Level 2 you must successfully complete all three units.

Assessment

All candidates are eligible to undertake the internal assessment component of the qualification, which is composed of:

A series of assessed tasks covering the three units of the qualification, including:

• The production of session plans the production of courses
• An open book written paper covering all three units of the qualification

The external assessment component follows if you successfully complete the internal component. This comprises: An assessment of the candidate's planning of five coaching sessions with associated courses, maps and descriptions covering the correct criteria An assessment of candidate's coaching ability and oral questions on their performance, underpinning knowledge, understanding and application.