Advanced Recreatioal Running Coach

The first step is to register for the program on the Coach Education Calendar (organised by your State / Territory Athletics Association).

To see a list of all upcoming coach accreditation courses, please refer to the Coach Education Calendar. 

Once you have enrolled into the course, you will be given access to the online modules and assessment tasks via the Athletics Learning Centre.

The Advanced Recreational Running Coach course offers flexibility with both online and face-to-face delivery options available.

• Facilitated Learning: Available either online or face-to-face

• Online modules: Available online only

• Assessment: Available online only

For the online practical course, you must participate in five 1-hour sessions, facilitated live. Attendance and active participation are required. These sessions will not be recorded.

The online modules and the assessment can be completed at your own pace.

To earn your Advanced Recreational Running Coach accreditation, here’s what you need:

• Qualifications: Recreational Running Coach (Level 1)

• Age: Must be 16 or older.

At the completion of the this course, coaches need to be able to demonstrate the following behaviours and skills.

2-RR-1: Understand principles of running economy and VO2 max and apply training interventions for improving them in runners.

2-RR-2: Identify common technical errors of long distance running and apply coaching strategies for correcting them.

2-RR-3: Develop uphill and downhill running technique, and plan and deliver specific sessions for improving this skill.

2-RR-4: Understand running footwear, how they can change the force distribution on a runner’s hips, knees, and ankles, and provide individualized advice to runners based on their needs.

2-RR-5: Understand how barefoot and soft surface running can be implemented in a training program, the risks, and potential benefits.

2-RR-6: Understand how plyometrics training can benefit running performance, reduce the risk of injury, and plan an appropriate progression of plyometrics exercises to train a runner’s stretch-shortening cycle.

2-RR-7: Deliver a Functional Movement Training program for runners.

2-RR-8: Understand Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and use prevention, education, and referral strategies for managing cases in recreational runners.

2-RR-9: Educate runners using the Australian Dietary Guidelines and make evidence-based nutrition and hydration recommendations for recreational runners.

2-RR-10: Identify and address suspected cases of Exercise Associated Hyponatremia in long distance runners.

2-RR-11: Promote a ‘food-first’ approach to nutrition, understand the AIS’s Sport Supplement Guidelines, and use the framework to educate runners about safe and effective supplementation strategies.

2-RR-12: Create a suitable campaign training program for beginner, intermediate, and advanced runners preparing for an event up to Marathon distance.

2-RR-13: Understand and apply principles of periodisation relevant for long distance running to create an effective season plan.

The cost of the Advanced Recreational Running Coach accreditation is determined by the State/Territory Athletics Association, so it may vary slightly depending on your location.

Generally, the course costs around $320, which includes both the practical course and online modules.

For more detailed pricing information, please contact your local Athletics State Association.

All accreditation courses have an option for recognition of prior learning. You can find more information here.