TRAINING FOR COACHES & VOLUNTEERS
Wells City Harriers will help sponsor its members to attend appropriate training courses to become qualified to
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coach
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officiate
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provide first aid
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assist with team management
See the panel on the home page - right hand side 'Feel Inspired to Volunteer?' to download separate info sheets
For working with the junior members of the Club you will need to be DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) checked.
We are also keen to ensure that our more experienced junior members have the opportunity to learn to assist at sessions - whether that is for Duke Of Edinburgh award schemes; or after taking a formal qualification in coaching. From 2010 the minimum age for an Athletics Leader qualification (suitable for a junior) is age 16. For other courses the minimum age is 18
There is an excellent range of courses offered locally, in Somerset, by Somerset Activity Sports Partnership (SASP). These are quite often courses put on for volunteers of all sports -so you get to rub shoulders with rugby, football, cricket or hockey volunteers too. You'll learn that whatever the sport, we can all learn togther and learn from one another. Courses are either run in an evening or for a full day at weekends.
If you want to take a course, and want the Club to pay for you, please speak to us before you make a booking. If you commit to helping at a club event on a regular basis- such as the junior training sessions, or the Street 5k races, or at the Wednesday training sessions - we will pay for you. (coaches also get some free kit!)
SASP website of courses:
For coaching with the club at Athletics (Running, Jumping or Throwing) or leading an adult running group please take a look at the official UKA coaching page. Speak to one of the qualified coaches about what it entails - it's not too daunting - and you can become part of our valuable team putting something back into the Club. The Athletics Leader course can be taken by anyone aged 16 and over. It is a 1 day course and there will be one coming up in the Somerset/Bristol area over the next few months. The Assistant Coach course can be taken by anyone aged 18 and over and there are courses available but you may need to travel further afield
There is a wealth of information available on the England Athletics website
A good place to start though is by talking to any of the dozen or so Harrier coaches:
Coaches: Paul Chadwick; Graham Goldsmid; Jon James; Al Thorner
Assistant Coaches: Chris Collier, Tom Dukes; Oli Harras; Simon Prior; Duncan Verel; Lawrence Whitehead
Leaders in Running & Fitness: Sharon Bowles ; Lynne Elstob
Assistants in Running & Fitness: Kate Glascott; Bianca Pridham
Being a volunteer coach brings a few rewards: Free Harrier Membership for the year; free training session(s) for you or your son/daughter (at any session you are actively coaching); Coach T-shirt and other kit when available.
For officiating we need volunteers to help with the monthly junior Track & field competition nights in summer (Monday evening training sessions) and at any events or races we organise. Please contact any Monday coach or Graham/Paul if you can help - there is a 1 day course that you can attend to equip you to officiate.
For First aid training , SASP organise a course over 2 evenings or over 1 day. This is a useful knowledge base to have for anyone and individuals/parents should consider going on this for their own families sake as well as for a wider Club benefit. The Club will pay for the training if the individual can then committ to be present at a set number of events that the Harriers organise during a year.
For team management at Cross-country, road-running and fell-running we need individuals or parents of the relevant age groups to take a lead on managing - advice & guidnace will be given and the contact details for the other potential team members so that you can ensure that all harriers (&YOAC members) are given the opportunity to be in a Harrier team. For Track & Field, Yeovil Olympiads take the lead and will appoint team managers. If you wish to team manage - contact us.
CONTACTS:
Graham Goldsmid This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paul Chadwick 01749 812420 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.