Community Sports Coaches
What is the Community Sports Coach Scheme?
The Community Sports Coach Scheme (CSCS) was formerly introduced in 2004 as the result of several key national audits on sport in the UK.
Coaches are employed by a range of employing agents either individually or in parternship. The aim of the scheme is to ensure that local communities can gain access to high quality coaching from suitably qualified professional coaches. These coaches work with a range of organisations (e.g.local autohirities, education, sports clubs and the leisure industry to name a few) supporting existing opportunies as well as creating new activities - driving participation; supporting talent and creating excellence and enjoyment.
Sports supported by the scheme are as follows: -
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Archery |
Cricket |
Hockey |
Orienteering |
Squash |
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Athletics |
Cycling |
Judo |
Rounders |
Swimming |
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Badminton |
Equestrian |
Karate |
Rowing |
Table Tennis |
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Basketball |
Football |
Mountaineering |
Rugby League |
Tennis |
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Bowls |
Golf |
Movement, Exercise and Dance |
Rugby Union |
Triathlon |
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Canoeing |
Gymnastics |
Netball |
Sailing |
Volleyball |
Profile of a Community Sports Coach
CSCs must have acheived a Level 2 National Governing Body (NGB) Coach Award in their chosen field. In addition they will normally have comepleted or be in the process of completing the following coach education courses: -
- Child Protection
- First Aid
- Disability Awareness
- Equity Awareness
- Long Term Athlete Development
In exceptional circumstances, coaches can be employed with less than this qualification but should achieve it immediately upon starting employment.
Some additional exceptions can be made, for example, where a sport does not have a recognised qualification structure, or if the post is Multi-sports, coaches should have at least one Level 2 and several Level 1 coaching qualifications.
CSCs are employed either on a full-time or part-time basis.
Through the coordinated needs analysis and planning process, a range of employing bodies (including County Sports Partnerships themselves, specialist sports colleges, local authorities, NGBs and clubs) may be identified to employ the Community Sports Coaches.
Salary scales and the specific job title of coaches may need to be flexible to reflect local need, job role and employment market. The recommended salary range for Community Sports Coaches is £18,000 to £26,000.
CSCs need to be committed to their personal development as a key requirement to their role. Coaching Development Officers are integral to the development of CSCs supporting the implementation of coach education and development programmes.
Coaches must be employed by the Employing Organisation on a contract and paid through a payroll system on the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. They cannot be self-employed and being paid by invoice.
Coaches must follow an employers' child protection/safeguarding policies and procedures as well as relevant health & safety and equity guidelines. When on site of another organisation they should be familiar with any local rules, such as emergency procedures, standard operating procedures and or discipline/behavioural guidlines.
Deployment Activities
Coaches should coach for a MINIMUM of 70% of their time. The rest of their time can be taken up by administration, their own training and development (CPD), or travel between sites on the same day. They are not be deployed as development officers. Development work should be carried out by Sports Development Officers (SDOs), a NGB Development Officer and/or line managers.
Of their coaching work, no more than 30% of that time can be taken up coaching within curriculum time. When coaching in schools coaches should, where possible, "Team Teach", working with the teacher to jointly run the session and to impart specific coaching knowledge to the staff.
Deployment Planning
The activities of CSCs should be planned in advance. The Employment Organisation must provide copies of these plans to Sport England on a bi-yearly basis to ensure the work of CSC continues to meet the requirements of the scheme and monitor each schemes progress.
Deployment Plans should be working documents that inform both the coach and manager of how best to use coaching time to get the maximum benefit for the local area or project. Deployment Plan templates can be obtained from the Parternship Coaching Development Officer.
The CSCS is monitored bi-annually by Sport England (March & Septmeber). Managers of schemes must ensure that records are kept on the following: -
- Coaching hours delivered
- number of new coaching hours delivered
- number of individual young people who have recieved coaching
- number of attendances
- number of indvidual girls coached
- number of young people with disabilities coached
- number of young people from priority areas (listed by each CSP)
- number of people who have receieved coaching that are from Black, Asian or other ethnic minority groups
Therefore CSCs are encouraged to keep up-to-date and accurate records based on the areas outline above.