This course is designed for experienced coaches working in a club environment. The course will provide your with a qualification that is widely recognised across the sport and physical activity sector. 

The Club Coach Award includes both theoretical and practical learning components. The theoretical part focuses on coaching practices, while the practical part can be completed in different disciplines such as beach volleyball, indoor (6v6), sitting volleyball, or junior volleyball (3v3, 4v4). 

Club Coach Award courses run twice per year at the National Volleyball Centre, Kettering, starting in March (May practical session) or July (September practical session). Find out more about the course timeframes by clicking here. 

Click here to book onto a course

What will I learn?

The Club Coach Award is designed to enhance coaches' knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Understanding the role, responsibilities and duties
• Planning, delivering and reviewing coaching sessions
• Individual technical fundamentals
• Team tactical fundamentals
• Developing systems of play
• Preparing to coach a match
• Volleyball England's Fundamentals Framework
• Volleyball England's Game-Based Approach
• Understanding the players they coach
• Building and managing relationships
• Creating a positive coaching environment
• Ensuring safety for themself and others

What does the Club Coach Award allow me to do?

The Club Coach Award enables learners to begin coaching independently within the environment they were assessed in. This may be in either a paid or voluntary role. 

Eligibility

Learners must:

• Be at least 18 years of age on the first day of the course
• Hold a Volleyball England Assistant Coach Award or equivalent*
• Be able to deliver volleyball coaching sessions over the next six months
• Be committed to complete the course within 8 months
• Be registered as a coach with Volleyball England
• Have valid Safeguarding and First Aid qualifications prior to certification**
• Be able to communicate effectively in English (this includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
• Have access to a laptop/tablet, good Wi-Fi, and microphone to participate in online classroom sessions.

Any special learning requirements must be made clear at the registration process. 

*Volleyball England Level 1 Award Introduction to Coaching Volleyball; Volleyball England UKCC Level 1 Award in Coaching Volleyball (QCF); Volleyball England Level 1 Coaching Award.

**Volleyball England First Aid and Safeguarding Requirements for the Club Coach Award 

Recognition of prior learning 

Volleyball England's Recognition of Prior LEarning (RPL) is the recognition of a learner's prior formal learning. This is learning which has previously been accredited within the education system or National Governing Body (NGB) education programme. Through RPL, learners could be exempt from part 1 of the Club Coach Award course: the 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching (Sport and Physical Activity). Further information about how to apply is available in the policy below. 

Course structure

This is an eight month blended learning course where learners attend two online classroom sessions, a weekend face-to-face practical session and study online at their own pace. 

Learners are recommended to set aside two-three hours per week to complete the eLearning and assessment tasks. 

The course is in two parts:

Part 1: A regulated qualification: 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching (Sport and Physical Activity)

This requires attendance at two online classroom sessions; the successful completion of eight eLearning modules and assessment tasks; planning, delivering and reviewing a programme of training sessions in the club environment; and a final online assessment with a Volleyball England assessor. Learners are advised to set aside three-four hours to complete each module and will be able to access the eLearning on demand. 

Sport Structures is our delivery partner for part 1 of the Club Coach Award. This qualification is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). 

Part 2: Technical module

This requires attendance at a weekend practical session and completion of a series of guided self-study tasks. A Volleyball England accredited tutor will lead the technical module. The technical modules are beach volleyball (2v2), indoor volleyball (6v6), sitting volleyball (6v6) and junior volleyball (3v3 and 4v4). 

Once a learner has acheived the Club Coach Award, they can complete additional technical modules without having to repeat Part 1. Existing Level 2 coaches can also access the technical modules as standalone ongoing learning. 

Course fees 

From 1st April 2025, the course is £550 per learner (plus a service fee of 3.2% + 50p). This includes all course tuition, resources, assessment and facility fees, accomodation and an evening meal.

Funding 

Visit UK Coaching to find the latest coach education funding opportunities in your area. 

Certification

The Club Coach Award certificate will be awarded when the learner successfully completes Part 1 and Part 2 of the course and has valid first aid and safeguarding certificates. Please ensure that you have read the Volleyball England Education Course Terms and Conditions prior to booking onto the course. 

How to book

Club Coach Award courses run twice per year at the National Volleyball Centre, Kettering. Click here and select Club Coach Award from the event group drop down to find the latest course. 

You must be registered as a coach to be able to book. 

If there are no courses listed, please complete the course interest form to be contacted when bookings for the next cohort open. 

For further support please contact the Volleyball England Hub Team.