Coaching Courses

It doesn’t matter how good a runner you are, everybody is able to help other runners achieve their best. To be a coach is a rewarding experience as you get to enhance your knowledge and skills, help support the club, and take pride and enjoyment from the success of the runners you have helped.

Ealing Eagles is fortunate that we now have a number of experienced runners and coaches at different levels who are able to contribute to the training sessions made available to club members. If you wish to volunteer with the club in this way, you will be encouraged to gain the appropriate qualifications and supported as you gain experience in assisting with and then co-ordinating sessions. The details below give an overview of the different qualifications available. You can also contact coaching@ealingeagles.com for more information. 

LiRF

The Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) qualification is the first step on the coaching ladder. The course offered by England Athletics is currently available as a virtual course. You will learn the basics of session design and health and safety. Once qualified you will be able to take a more active role in the club and help co-ordinate sessions as well as increasing your own understanding and confidence as a runner and coach.

It is a good idea to get some experience of volunteering with the club (either with beginners or with the club intervals / hills sessions) before you take the course - this will help you decide whether or not this form of volunteering is for you and also help to support the learning you receive on the course. The club offers financial assistance for this course. All we ask is that our leaders aim to use their qualification with the club after they qualify.

Going Further

If you are looking to develop your skills further many options are available to you. The ones listed below are just a few:

1)    Coaching Assistant

This qualification is for those who wish to move towards being a coach and begin to gather experience in the detail of making coaching decisions. Most people wishing to achieve this qualification will be working with juniors and so you should contact juniors@ealingeagles.com for more information. The club offers financial assistance for this course. All we ask is that our leaders aim to use their qualification with the club after they qualify.

2)    CiRF – Coaching in Running Fitness

This is an endurance running qualification primarily for those working with runners up to and including the event group development stage. All applicants must be active leaders or coaches who have completed as a minimum a Level 1 Fitness in Running & Walking, LiRF or Coaching Assistant qualification. CiRF is about the broad application to non track based endurance running events rather than specific events or distances and is not designed for coaches who want to work with runners taking part in track based events, such as 800m–10k track races or steeplechase. When qualified you will be insured to coach without supervision.

The club offers financial assistance for this course. All we ask is that our leaders aim to use their qualification with the club after they qualify.

3)    Athletics Coach

This qualification 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. This qualification is required for those wishing to coach juniors in which case you should contact juniors@ealingeagles.com for more information. If you wish to use this qualification to work with seniors, please contact coaching@ealingeagles.com for more information. The club offers financial assistance for this course. All we ask is that our leaders aim to use their qualification with the club after they qualify.