scottishathletics to now lead on licensing for Coaches and Officials

Tuesday 11th July 2023

Statement from UK Athletics

scottishathletics will assume responsibility for the licensing of coaches at all levels and Officials at Level 1-3 in the UK later this year.

Home Country Federations across the UK – Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales – are picking up the licensing responsibility from UK Athletics.

Further information about these changes can be found in the supporting FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) included as part of this communication.

From 1 October 2023, coaches at all levels and Officials at Level 1-3 will be licensed to their respective HCAF rather than UK Athletics.

Individuals will be contacted directly by the HCAFs later in July to inform them of a change to the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) of their license and to request that they accept revised licence T&Cs to enable coaches and officials to remain insured beyond 1 October.

 In summary

• Each HCAF will continue to deliver coach and officials education qualifications in their respective home nation.
• The HCAFs will work collaboratively to ensure the continued coordinated alignment of education qualifications for both coaches and officials across the UK as part of these new arrangements.
• England Athletics will, as part of these new arrangements, coordinate key administrative processes associated with the production of licenses for both coaches and officials on behalf of each of the HCAFs. This will include management of the digital and IT systems used UK wide to administer and deliver education qualifications.
• England Athletics will coordinate these functions as part of an agreed and aligned UK wide approach to coaching and officials education and reflective of the principles agreed in the established UK wide strategy for our sport “Athletics Unified”.
• UKA will continue to provide specific coach education and development in relation to those working on the World Class Performance Programme at elite level as well as continuing to provide leadership in DBS checking and safeguarding.
• UKA will provide education and licensing for Officials at Levels 4 and 5.

Colin Hutchison, our chief executive

In a joint statement, the HCAF chief executive officers said: ‘Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is clear there remain challenges faced by the sport, particularly in the critical area of recruiting and retaining coaches and officials.

‘The world is very different to the one that we realised pre-pandemic and…