Now you have your Passport and you are coaching under supervision of a previously qualified coach, you can start to complete your Coach Certificate Modules. There are now two routes you can take along the pathway by either becoming a Group Coach Certificate holder or Coach Certificate holder.
What’s the difference between a Group Coach Certificate holder and a Coach Certificate holder?
A Group Coach Certificate holder may only coach in the RDA group they are registered to and have taken their assessment at whereas a Coach Certificate holder may coach in any registered RDA group.
If a Group Coach Certificate holder wishes to be a Group Coach Certificate holder at another group, they must complete a new assessment at the second group in order to be registered there. This differs from a Coach Certificate holder as they will not need to be assessed at each new group they coach at.
There are three theory/practical modules and two E-Learning modules.
The three theory/practical modules are Horsecare & Knowledge, Coaching and Therapy & Medical. These can be obtained either through attending an organised training day, or in your group delivered by the correct level of coach. To see who can take each module and how to deliver the course, please click here.
The Pre-Assessment Checklist is an online module and can be accessed through our eLearning site here. Once you have completed this, please print off your certificate and keep it in your Coaching Passport.
Your first Safeguarding Certificate needs to be obtained during a face-to-face Safeguarding Training day. Delivered by the RDA or any of the BEF member bodies. Before three years passes, you can top this up with an online Safeguarding Course (we have one on our eLearning site here). Thereafter, you can alternate between a face-to-face day and online, every three years.
Safeguarding Training Pattern for RDA Coaches
If you wish to become a Group Coach Certificate holder, you are now ready for your assessment.
To arrange assessment, you will need to contact a Coach Developer or a Regional/County Coach. They will talk you through what they are going to assess you on and run you through how the day will go. It is not as scary as it sounds and if you are concerned, ask for some help from your mentor within your group. It is a good idea to read through the Coach Assessment Criteria so that you know what to prepare for. If you are already Coaching under supervision of a qualified Coach, there shouldn’t be any surprises in there!
Once you have been assessed and the paperwork is sent back into National Office, one of the coaching team (that’s us) will update our records and send you out your very own Group Coach Certificate!
As a Group Coach Certificate holder you can now take sole responsibility of your own sessions and can coach unsupervised within your group. If you want to have the flexibility to coach any session within any group, you will need to work towards obtaining your Coach Certificate.
If you wish to become a Coach Certificate Holder, which is where we would like all of our coaches to be, you will need to gain experience coaching at a minimum of two other groups, under the supervision of each groups regular coach (as well as completing the above 5 modules if you have not already done so). We ask a minimum of one session per group be coached, however, if you want to do more, there is no upper limit. Once you have gained the experience in other groups you need to arrange to be assessed to obtain your Coach Certificate.
To arrange assessment, you will need to contact a Coach Developer or a Regional/County Coach. They will talk you through what they are going to assess you on and run you through how the day will go. It is not as scary as it sounds and if you are concerned, ask for some help from your mentor within your group. It is a good idea to read through the Coach Assessment Criteria so that you know what to prepare for. If you are already Coaching under supervision of a qualified Coach, there shouldn’t be any surprises in there!
Once you have been assessed and the paperwork is sent back into National Office, one of the coaching team (that’s us) will update our records and send you out your very own Coach Certificate!
As a Coach Certificate Holder you can now take sole responsibility of your own sessions and can coach unsupervised within any RDA group.
A Coach in Training may chose either route along the pathway, either going to Group Coach level or going straight up to Coach level. However, if you chose to go to Group Coach level first you are not limited to then moving up to Coach level, to do this you just need to gain experience of coaching in two other RDA groups (as mentioned above) and then be reassessed at one of these groups at Coach level.
If at any point you are in need of assistance or have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone to one us here at the National Office Coaching team. We are here to help.
