Snowsport England has operated a trusted coach licencing system for over 40 years, helping manage the quality of coaches and coaching.

The registration and licensing of coaches refers to a three-tier scheme that helps us manage the quality of coaching delivery and coach development:

  • Membership for individuals, and a basic range of services for coaches or those interested in coaching; helps build a working relationship and continued communication with coaches.
  • Registration of active and qualified coaches allows Snowsport England to support and mentor instructor and coach development.
  • A licence to practise as a coach within snowsport is a measure of currency of coaching practice that builds upon qualifications; a licence can support the effective recruitment, employment, and deployment of skilled coaches.

More Information

Coaching Award

Part of being licensed involves refreshing the training to your award every 3 years. To do this you will need to complete approved refresher activity. There are numerous ways for you to do this depending on your award and they will be displayed on the course calendar.

UK Snowsports Coaching Conference

This 2-day conference is a blend of classroom sessions and practical workshops with some on the hill and others in the classroom. The conference has a theme which covers all disciplines, instructor and coaches of all levels and experience. Day one is usually made up of keynote speakers who are experts on the theme and their task is to engage all attendees in the theme, the second day is the practical day where the practical sessions allow you to start put the learning from day one into practice. You can see more about this year’s conference below.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
3 years3 years3 years3 years3 years3 years

 

Skilful Skiing Week

A week in the mountains which is open to all Snowsport England Members. The week is run by our Senior Tutors. The days are split into developing your skiing in the morning then putting into practice across the whole mountain in the afternoon. This week is perfect for maximising your time away.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
3 yearsN/A3 years3 yearsN/AN/A

 

Skilful Skiing Day

Our Skilful Skiing Day courses are focussed on developing your personal skiing performance, enabling you to develop year-round. The day is all about your performance, and the content is focused on your needs.

Skilful Skiing Performance Courses are for Skiers who…

  • Want to enjoy their time on skis
  • Like to learn in a fun and social environment
  • Want to be skilful, adaptable skiers.

Invest in your skiing and get more from your time on skis. Our Skilful Skiing Performance courses are designed to develop your skill and get you achieving your goals on the hill.

Expect a social experience with a group of like-minded people looking to make the most of their time on skis.

There is a lot of time spent on skis during this day but there are also elements of discussion to help you “feel” your own performance as this is vital in developing higher levels of performance.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
3 yearsN/A3 years3 yearsN/AN/A

 

UK Snowsport Instructor Workshop Days (Ski & Snowboard)

Traditionally we have always run refreshers for various disciplines and levels of awards. These days are a blend of recap and development, which incorporates some classroom discussion and then out on the hill and they often consolidate on tools already covered on training courses. What we are going to be doing is pulling together these days with certain content so you can identify which will suit your development needs. These will be focussed on the needs of Foundation Instructors (L1) and Instructors (L2) and Ski and Snowboard will be separate.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
3 years

Foundation Instructors and Instructors

3 years

Foundation Instructors and Instructors

N/AN/AN/AN/A

 

UK Snowsport Development Coach Workshop Days

These days are a blend of recap and development, which incorporates some classroom discussion and then out on the hill and they often consolidate on tools already covered on training courses. The focus will be on the coaching tools used throughout the coaching process at the same time you will get to ski.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
3 years

Development Coach and Alpine Development Coach

N/A3 YearsN/AN/AN/A

 

UK Snowsport Performance Coach Development Days

These are a new addition in our coach development offer. The day is a blend of classroom work before making our way out onto the hill to put the theory into practice. We have used insight from coaches on the front line and created a day all about developing skill and how this is key in developing talent.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
N/AN/A3 Years3 Years3 Years (SB only)N/A

 

UK Snowsport Adaptive Awareness Training

This course helps you adapt your sessions within your current remit to work with a variety of skiers with varying degree of physical and learning challenges. Its all about putting the individual first and adapting the way you work to enable them to have a lifelong love of snowsport.

Development Ski Instructor and CoachesDevelopment Snowboard Instructor and CoachesAlpine Performance CoachesPark & Pipe Performance Coaches (Ski)Park & Pipe Performance Coaches (Snowboard)Roller Ski and XC Instructors and Coaches
3 Years3 Years3 Years3 Years3 YearsN/A

 

You can always do a training course which will change the WHO, WHAT and WHERE you coach.

Roller Ski and XC  Coaches –

A one-day Coaching Workshop either on Roller Skis or XC skis

On-line Nordic virtual CPD. T

  • Video of candidates roller skiing (classic and skate – all techniques)
  • Lesson plan on a topic determined by tutor
  • One to one session with tutor (to review lesson plan and videos)
  • Attendance at a minimum of 3 on-line modules (covered a variety of topics including : session planning and organisation, problem solving, safe coaching and risk management, proficiency scheme and coaching awards, coaching specific techniques, etc)

First Aid

First Aid is an essential skill for all snowsport instructors, coaches and leaders – to be licensed you need to ensure you have an up to date First Aid Qualification suitable for your award. You have a responsibility to maintain a current first aid award to ensure you can look after skiers and snowboarders in your care.

First Aid Policy

DBS Checks

All coaches, instructors and Club Welfare Officers working with children must have an Enhanced DBS with barred check list for working with children. Snowsport England carries out the DBS disclosures for all members and any others operating within snowsport. Click here to apply online. If you hold another role in snowsport that involves teaching, training, caring for or supervising children, or helping children with a disability, or driving a vehicle for children (organised by the club), email dbs@snowsportengland.org.uk for further information.

Check our safeguarding page for how to safeguard your club.

DBS Disclosures

Safeguarding

We require all our coaches and instructors to have up-to-date safeguarding training – to be licenced you need to ensure you have an up to date safeguarding certificate.  We are only able to accept certain courses – see our safeguarding pages for details as other courses will not be accepted.

Safeguarding Training

For further information email coaching@snowsportengland.org.uk