This project involved a documentary review of policy and practice in a range of regulated and non-regulated professions and industries across Europe regarding non-formal and informal learning in coach education.

The project included a consultation phase with selected national governing bodies, UK Sport, Sport England and English Institute of Sport (EIS) exploring practice and processes across sport accrediting informal and non-formal learning in coach education. The final report includes detailed good practice principles and suggested process for accrediting informal and non-formal learning in both home and international countries.

Key Findings

• Key enablers to implementing systems within sport coaching included:
  • Helping learners to understand if they are an appropriate candidate for qualification by informal and formal learning
  • The development of an effective mentor workforce
  • Providing assessment opportunities relevant to both the learner and coaching environment
• Key concerns and challenges included:
  • Ensuring systems are not too onerous for the learner
  • Effecting culture change, considering sport coach education to be a learning journey rather than qualification collection exercise
• The delivery of effective and efficient systems within a cost-effective funding model

Date: 2015 – 2016

Client: UK Sport, Sport England and EIS