The aims of the Coach Licence Scheme (CLS) are:

• To set a ‘kite mark’ for the coaching of squash in England.
• To encourage coaches to be as up to date as possible by fostering professional and personal development through training opportunities.

In so doing we aim to promote the highest standards of coaching, to protect players from poor practice and to guarantee a “service threshold” to coaches’ customers - member clubs, players, schools, local authorities etc.    Our ambition is for all practising coaches to be licensed and, to that end; activity will be geared over time to promote licensing and licensed coaches.   We will, for example, review the requirements set out in the Club Charter with regards to coaching. 

The Background

In April last year every registered coach was granted a Provisional Licence for 12 months.  In order to be granted a full licence by the provisional expiry date of 31 March 2006, a coach had to fulfil a certain number of requirements.     Following a review of the scheme a number of changes are to be implemented.

There has been some speculation on the insurance position of coaches.   It is important to emphasise that public liability insurance is available to ALL coaches who renew their membership, on payment of the appropriate premium, irrespective of their licence status.    As part of the drive towards licensing, this will be reviewed in the future, but there is currently NO restriction on the availability of cover. 

The scheme will be re-launched in October this year with an annual  programme of continuing professional development.   The provisional licence period is therefore extended until 31 October 2006.   The entry level requirements for a full licence have also been reviewed and it is no longer necessary to complete either a first aid qualification or attend the Equity in Your Coaching Workshop in order to obtain a licence.    These changes have a number of implications:

For coaches currently without a full licence:

These coaches will have their provisional licence reinstated until 31 October.    They have until that date to complete the requirements, which are:

• Hold an England Squash Coaching qualification.
• Have valid £10m Public Liability Insurance.
• Attend a Good Practice & Child Protection/Child Protection in Squash workshop.
• Complete a satisfactory Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure.
• Complete a Coach Profile Submission.
  

For coaches with a full licence:

Coaches who currently hold a licence have had to fulfil more requirements in order to qualify and in many cases will have incurred cost in doing so.    The licence is valid for three years, during which time a coach will have to attain a certain number “credits” each year.   In recognition of the additional commitment already made by a currently licensed coach, the Equity workshop and First Aid qualification can be used as credits for the first two years of the licence. 

For information, the benefits of coach licensing are summarised below:

To the Coach

Being a licensed coach:

• Gives you continuing professional development opportunities.
• Is a guarantee to employers and customers that you have met specific requirements  so they can be confident in contracting your services.
• Means you are actively promoted by England Squash.
• Gives you the opportunity (only available to licensed coaches) to work in the England Squash (Area and National) Academy  programme.
• Gives you the opportunity to be listed on the England Squash website thereby increasing job opportunities.
• Gets you the ‘Coaching E-zine’ tri-annually.
• Gives you access to the Continuing Professional Development programme.
• Gives you access to Coaches Conferences and Seminars.
• Gives you access to on-line resources.
  

To the “Customer”

You can have confidence that a coach:

• Has achieved the benchmark for squash coaching in England.
• Has demonstrated a commitment to ongoing professional development in addition to holding a Coaching qualification.
• Is appropriately insured.
• Has met the required standards in Child Protection.
• Has kept up to date with moving trends within the game.