Level 1 Youth Athletics Coach
Coach Education and Development Pathway
Your Role: Youth coaches primarily work with athletes between the ages of 5 and 12 years. A successful youth coach is able to create a supportive training environment that fosters a lifelong love of the sport and develops their athletes' fundamental movement skills of running, jumping and throwing. Youth coaches may work in Primary Schools, Little Athletics Centres, Affiliated Athletics clubs, or in private coaching businesses.
The first step for all aspiring coaches is to gain an Athletics Coach Accreditation
Step 1: Gaining Your Accreditation
Register for a Level 1 Youth Coach Course or Recognition of Prior Learning.
Complete the Community Coaching Essential Skills course.
Complete the Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction.
Complete Level 1 Youth Coach Online Modules.
Attend the Facilitated Learning Course (Face to Face or Online)
Achieve a passing grade on the Level 1 Course Assessment task.
Next Steps and Further Education
Your Level 1 Youth Coach accreditation is just the beginning of your coach development journey. Based on your objectives, coaching environment, athletes, interests, and motivations, design your own development pathway and specialise in youth athletics or gain the skills to work with higher level athletes.
Specialise in Youth Athletics
Coaches primarily working with youth athletes can choose to specialise in this area by earning their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Youth Coaching Badges. Badges can be earned by reaching the target number of CPD Points.
Earn 250 CPD Points
Earn 50 CPD Points
Earn 500 CPD Points
How you earn CPD points is completely up to you! But to help you get started, tap the button below to see the recommended learning pathway for Level 1 Youth Coaches.
Gain a Higher Accreditation
Coaches who wish to progress to coaching older athletes (13 years and over) can enrol in the Level 2 Development Coach or Level 2 Recreational Running Coach accreditation programs. Tap the tiles below for more information.
How to Earn CPD Points
There are so many ways to earn CPD points to gain advanced coaching badges. This section will have a look at just a few that are especially relevant for Youth Coaches.
Join a Club and Find a Mentor
Register for the Club-Connect Coach Mentoring Program
Connect with an affiliated athletics club or approved senior mentor.
Complete a structured 3 to 6 month mentoring and training program, progressing from shadowing a senior coach to coaching independently with a small group of club-level athletes.
Submit your completed program diary signed off by your mentor coach.
Earn 75 CPD Points.
Working with a Mentor
Complete Online Courses
The Athletics Learning Centre has over 75 free courses for Athletics coaches.
View the recommended courses for Youth Coaches here.
Complete courses at your own pace, on your laptop, tablet, or smart phone.
Earn credit towards higher accreditation levels for relevant courses.
Earn between 5 and 50 CPD Points per course.
Online Courses
Attend Practical Workshops
Attend workshops hosted by Athletics Australia or other relevant organisations that support your ongoing development.
See upcoming workshops on the Coaching Calendar.
Contact Athletics Australia to receive credit for other workshops that you’ve attended.
Earn up to 75 CPD Points per workshop.
Practical Workshops
Share Your Expertise
Share your knowledge and coaching experiences with the community by submitting an article to Athletics Australia’s Coaching website.
See more information here.
Earn up to 200 CPD Points.
Sharing Your Knowledge
Other Education
Receive Credit for relevant Tertiary Education.
Other sport coaching qualifications
Hosting education and workshops.
Self-reflection.
Further reading.
Other Education