New Coach Award fuses core theory with specialist volleyball modules

We are delighted to announce the launch of our new Volleyball England Coach Award.

This new course follows a blended delivery model, bringing together face-to-face practical sessions, webinars, and on-demand e-learning.

For the first time, the Coach Award will allow learners to specialise in one of four technical modules: volleyball, beach volleyball, sitting volleyball or junior volleyball.

Gillian Harrison, Strategic Manager (Volleyball For Life), said: “This course is much more bespoke to different disciplines, allowing coaches to progress through the coaching pathway in their preferred discipline.

“In creating the Coach Award, we were guided by feedback from learners who have taken the new Assistant Coach Award. We also followed a similar model to reduce the course from four to two days practical – where we focus on the technical and tactical aspects of the sport – and introduce online learning for generic coaching practice, knowledge and understanding.

“These changes have been made to benefit learners. They will reduce the weekend time commitment and travel and accommodation costs. While introducing e-learning will allow learners to access those topics at a time that fits in with their existing commitments.”

The cost of undertaking the Coach Award remains the same as its predecessor (UKCC Level 2 Certificate) at £450. This covers the cost of accommodation, an evening meal and one year’s subscription to the Art of Coaching. 

Standalone technical modules will be made available as CPD for everyone in the near future. 

Bookings

The first Coach Award courses are now available to book onto: 

• Volleyball – Course starts 2^nd March with practical sessions taking place between 7^th – 8^th April at the National Volleyball Centre (Bookings close 23^rd February)
• Junior volleyball – Course starts 9^th March with practical sessions taking place between 6^th – 7^th May during the Workforce Development Weekend* at the National Volleyball Centre (Bookings close 2^nd March)
• Volleyball – Course start date TBC. Practical sessions taking place between 16th -17th September during the Workforce Development Weekend* at the National Volleyball Centre (Bookings open in April) 

*Workforce Development Weekends are pre-planned dates in which dedicated time is set aside to focus on CPD for officials, coaches, and volunteers. These will be key dates for when we aim to organise one Coach Award for the North, one for the Midlands and another for the South. 

To book onto a course, please log into VolleyZone and search for ‘Volleyball England Coach Award’ in the events section. Please note places are on a first come, first served basis.

To be able to book, you will need to meet all the eligibility criteria and be registered as a coach. Please make sure you complete the booking process fully once you add the course to your shopping cart. 

The first beach volleyball and sitting volleyball course dates will be confirmed at a later stage. If you are interested in attending one of these courses, please formally register your interest here so we can contact you when they become available. 

For more information on the Coach Award, please visit our coach education page.