SSC Racing Coaching Pathway
Coaching pathway support & advice, and help to get on snow to complete qualifications and gain coaching experience
Coaching is a hugely rewarding profession that you can do casually or as a full-time career. However, it can be complex and expensive to get into. Scottish Ski Club is here to help young, new coaches get involved in ski racing at the next level.
If you are in the early stages of your coaching career, register to join the SSC Coaching Pathway for support & advice. Priority is given to current SSC members who have been involved in our race training program as trainees.
Qualifications
The best way to become a coach with SSC is to get UK Snowsport Alpine coach level 1 & 2 qualifications. This is the light blue pathway shown in the middle of the chart below. That’s not the only way, but it is the best route to go down if you want to coach. Most people also want to instruct, which is where BASI qualifications come in.
Courses run throughout the year. UK Snowsport is an umbrella organisation that works across the Home Nations, so you can attend a course with Snowsport Scotland, Snowsport England, or Snowsport Wales – they are all the same courses. Keep an eye on their websites and social media for course dates being announced.
See snowsportscotland.org/courses-qualifications/#alpine for more information.
Course Funding
SSC does not have funding available to pay for courses, however there are a few national-level sources available:
- Women & Girls Coach Education Subsidy
- John Hynes Fund (must be submitted through a club)
Beyond that, it may be possible to get funding from your local authority. Contact your council for information.
Licensing
Once you have completed a course, this is where SSC can help.
Logbook Tasks
For both level 1 & 2 coaching qualifications, there is a logbook of set tasks to be completed after the course. If you do not complete this logbook, your qualification is not valid (as you only have ‘trained’ status) and you are not insured to work!
At level 1, most people are able to complete these tasks on a dry slope or at a snow dome, so it is much easier to complete in the UK. That’s not to say that they can’t be done abroad, however! At level 2, there are some course setting tasks that must be done on snow, and it is becoming more and more difficult to do these in Scotland, so most people have to go abroad to complete them.
UKSS Alpine L1 coach
Trained status: once you’ve completed the course, you can come and shadow SSC sessions at Hillend* and Scottish mountains. You can complete your logbook tasks during these sessions. You are also welcome to come on Alpine camps to gain more experience, though this would be at your own expense.
*To shadow at Hillend, per Midlothian Council policy, you must have signed up and paid with the snowsports centre to shadow.
Licensed status: once you’re licensed, you can be a paid coach at Hillend sessions, and an assistant** coach on snow.
**An assistant coach may be paid where the numbers and age group spread within the session warrant it.
UKSS Alpine L2 coach
Trained status: once you’ve completed the course, you can come and be an assistant coach on Alpine camps. This is not paid, but you will have all* your expenses covered, including travel and accommodation. This way, you can gain experience on snow, potentially abroad, whilst completing your logbook tasks.
Licensed status: once you’re licensed, you can be a paid coach at any SSC training, including on Alpine camps.
*Subject to camp numbers, budgets, and any additional funding e.g. the SSC Bursary.
Additional Requirements
To become licensed, on top of completing the course and any logbooks, you must have:
- Snowsport Scotland coach membership
- Valid & up-to-date first aid
- Valid & up-to-date safeguarding training
Additionally, to be involved in any Scottish organisation working with children, you must have a PVG check carried out. SSC will do this for you.
If you do not have the items listed above, your qualification is not valid and you are not insured to work!