Foundation Coach
To introduce individuals to the fundamentals of coaching, providing them with the essential skills and knowledge needed to facilitate basic coaching sessions in triathlon. The course is designed to help participants develop a foundational understanding of coaching practices and techniques, ensuring they can plan and deliver safe and effective coaching activities under the supervision of a more qualified coach.
Below is a summary of the Foundation Coach qualification. For full qualification details, please click here.
Pre-requisites and Eligibility Criteria
- Aged 14+. (If you are aged 18 and under you will be required to have a parent/guardian complete a parental consent form as part of your application).
- Valid Workforce Licence
What will I learn?
This course covers:
- The role of a foundation coach and best practices in coaching with a focus on professional ethics, values, and adherence to legislation.
- The sport of Triathlon, including the necessary safe equipment and clothing, and the importance of ensuring participants’ health and safety.
- How to plan, deliver, monitor, and review effective coaching activities while engaging and supporting participants.
- Coaching approaches for children and young people
- The basic techniques used in swimming, cycling, running, and transitions in Triathlon, along with guidance on developing one’s coaching practice.
A full description of learning outcomes can be found in the qualification fact sheet.
Format and Duration
The course includes two 1.5-hour online workshops, ten self-led online learning modules, and a face-to-face development day. The workshops and development day are facilitated by a BTF tutor, with the development day featuring practical sessions and a chance to coach a 15-minute session. The average person will need to devote approximately 27 hours completing this qualification, with 10.5 of those hours being guided by the tutor.
Assessment
The course includes four assessment tasks:
- Planning and delivering a 15-minute coaching activity. You will deliver the activity during the face-to-face development day, with a group of other learners on your course participating and the course tutor observing.
- Planning, delivering, and evaluating three coaching sessions to a group of participants in your own coaching environment.
- Completing short knowledge check quizzes for a selection of the self-led online learning modules.
- Developing a coaching philosophy with an action plan for your future coaching.
Additional Information
To complete the Foundation Coach Award, you must coach practical triathlon sessions in your own coaching environment. Foundation Coaches will be able to deliver their own training sessions independently, with the support and oversight of a more qualified coach (Level 2/Group Coach or above).
✅ Foundation Coaches can deliver pre-approved sessions – every session will be reviewed and signed off by the overseeing approved coach.
✅ Stick to the plan – sessions must be run within the agreed session plans, environments, and risk parameters.
✅ Stay connected – Foundation Coaches must check in with their approved qualified Coach before and after each session.
Foundation Coaches
To deliver independently under a Group Coach partnership, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/e/WLvQv3z48f
To be partnered with and provide support to a Foundation Coach, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/e/aD72UGW2U7
All coaches, over the age of 18 years of age who are delivering to under 18’s, must complete and retain Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport, (CWPS) training which can be done before or during your course, however, must be in place prior to completion of your course. This costs £20 however is offered free to those coaching under 18’s. Without this, you will not be sanctioned or insured to coach once qualified to do so. For further details please see here.
Once qualified, what will my remit be?
As a Foundation Coach you will have the following remit:
- You will be able to plan and deliver safe training sessions independently, with the support and oversight of a more qualified coach (Level 2/Group Coach or above) to groups of participants (minimum of 3, maximum depends on activity and is listed in Coaching Guidelines).
- Your session plans must be signed off or prepared by a more qualified triathlon coach including Group Coach, Level 2, Level 2 Diploma, L3 or HPCP.
- If you are aged 18 years and over, you can work with small groups of participants whilst a more qualified coach (including Group Coach, Level 2, Level 2 Diploma, L3 or HPCP) is at the same venue. They do not have to be in direct line of sight, just on the premises in case you need their support.
- If you are aged 14-17 years of age, you must be in the line of sight of a more qualified triathlon coach including Group Coach, Level 2, Level 2 Diploma, L3 or HPCP while coaching.
CIMSPA Endorsed
The Foundation Coach Award is endorsed by CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity), meaning our course meets all the requirements of CIMSPA’s Coaching Assistant Professional Standard. Once you qualify, you’re eligible to become a CIMSPA Practitioner member. This membership confirms to employers, clients, colleagues, and the public that you’ve got the necessary qualifications and keep up with continuous professional development (CPD). It’s a straightforward way to show you’re on top of your game in the coaching world. To find out more, click here.
Course Details
Cost: £310
Should you wish to apply for subsidy, please complete the application form here and await approval of subsidy before booking on the course. You will be given a unique code to use, if you are successful with your funding application.
Upcoming Courses:
Foundation Course – Carluke
- Monday 24 August 2026- online 6.30-8.00pm
- Thursday 3 September 2026 – online 6.30-8.00pm
- Sunday 4 October 2026 (9am – 5pm) – in person – Carluke Leisure Centre, Carluke – book here
