Coach/Leader/Instructor Training

Become a fully qualified ski, snowboard or cross country instructor, or find ways to further your career in snowsports…

FIRST AID

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BACKCOUNTRY

Welcome to Snowsport Scotlands Qualifications page!

Snowsport Scotland is the awarding body for all UK Snowsport qualifications in Scotland and offers a full range of courses that will train, assess and license you to become a fully qualified instructor, performance coach or leader.

Equivalency or APL

If you already hold valid qualifications, you can apply for them to be recognised as "Accredited Prior Learning" (APL) allowing you to either:-

  1. Gain exemption from attending certain levels of qualifications and be granted direct access to the higher level qualification training courses, OR

  2. Be recognised as trained to a certain level and be granted DIRECT ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT

Applications for APL or equivalency should be submitted by this form.

All applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Become an Instructor

There are 2 levels of UK Snowsport instructor qualification. Each is designed to fulfill a specific role in the Snowsports workforce:-

  • The L1 Foundation Instructor licensed to deliver lessons to from beginner up to early intermediate

  • The L2 Instructor is licensed to deliver lessons at all levels from beginner to advanced

L1 Foundation Ski or Snowboard

The L1 Foundation Ski or Snowboard Instructor qualification licenses candidates to teach beginners and early intermediates up to plough parallel at UK ski centres. The qualification can be used in UK artificial ski centres and also in Scottish mountain ski resorts, once the candidate completes an additional 1 day of mountain induction training.

L2 Ski or Snowboard

The L2 Ski or Snowboard Instructor licenses candidates to teach at all levels at UK ski centres. The qualification can not only be used in UK artificial ski centres but it can also be used in Scottish mountain ski resorts, provided the candidate completes an additional 1 day of mountain induction training.

The Process

  1. Before attending the course candidates must first register as a instructor member of Snowsport Scotland and ensure that they are technically proficient at carved turns on artificial surfaces or blue and red runs.

  2. Candidates should then sign up to attend the training course which will be delivered by an appointed Snowsport Scotland Tutor. In some cases training might be delivered in a series of shorter modular sessions.

  3. At the end of the training the tutor will confirm to the candidate if they are at the required level of competency and provide them with 2 documents:-

    • An action plan detailing the skills and areas they need to work on

    • A logbook of tasks and work experience that must be completed in a ski school or club

  4. Once the candidate has completed all the logbook tasks and can demonstrate competence in all the requisite skills they can be approved by their tutor for licensing.

Becoming licensed…

To become licensed by the governing body candidates must also ensure they hold:

…and revalidating

After 3 years, you will need to revalidate your license by providing:

What next?

  • Stay at that qualification level, keep working and keep developing your skills and knowledge by attending regular Continued Professional Development Courses

  • Move into a development coach role working in a regular annual coaching programme with a club with recreational participants

  • Move into a performance coach role working in a regular annual coaching programme training competitors and performance athletes in your chosen discipline

  • Move into an international instructing qualification pathway with BASI or IASI to gain an international ski instructor association (ISIA) award and work abroad.

Become an Alpine or Park + Pipe Performance Coach

There are 4 levels of UK Snowsport Alpine and Park and Pipe Performance Coach as follows:

L1 Foundation Coach

The entry-level 2-day UKSS performance coaching qualification licenses candidates to work with entry-level Alpine or Park + Pipe trainees and young competitors to develop skills as directed by a head coach in a club environment. The qualification can be used across UK artificial ski centres and Scottish mountain ski resorts, provided the candidate completes an additional 1 day of mountain induction training. To download course resources click here.

L2 Club Performance Coach

The 6 day UKSS club performance coach qualification licenses candidates to work with club performance trainees up to FIS level to develop skills for competition as directed by head coach.

To download course resources click here.

L3 Head Performance Coach

The 6 day UKSS club performance coach qualification licenses candidates to lead a team of coaches and plan and implement an annual performance coaching programme. Qualified coaches will work directly with club and academy performance trainees developing skills for competition as well as mentoring and managing lower level coaches. They also have the opportunity to apply for the IVSI international coach certification and license.

L4 National Performance Coach

The UKSS National performance coach award qualifies candidates to work with the National Team and contribute to the development of snowsports through a research paper.

Qualification access is granted from application to Snowsport Scotland.

The Process

Becoming licensed…

To become licensed by the governing body candidates must also ensure they hold:

…and revalidating

After 3 years, you will need to revalidate your license by providing:

  1. Before attending the course candidates must first register as a coach member of Snowsport Scotland

  2. Ensure that they are technically proficient at carved turns on artificial surfaces or blue and red runs (L1), or they have attended the previous required coaching course (L2+)

  3. Candidates should then sign up to attend the training course which will be delivered by an appointed Snowsport Scotland Tutor. In some cases training might be delivered in a series of shorter modular sessions.

  4. At the end of the training the tutor will confirm to the candidate if they are the required level of competency and provide them with 2 documents:-

    • An action plan detailing the skills and areas they need to work on

    • A logbook of tasks and work experience that must be completed in a working club

  5. Once the candidate has completed all the logbook tasks and can demonstrate competence in all the requisite skills they can be approved by their tutor for licensing.

Become a Cross Country Performance Coach

As a qualified Cross Country Coach you can secure year-round work at one of the Nordic clubs. There are 4 levels of Cross Country Performance Coach qualification as follows. Due to numbers, Nordic coaching courses are currently being arranged on an ad-hoc basis. If you are interested in participating in a coaching course please register your interest by clicking here and we will contact you with details in due course.

L1 Foundation Coach

The Cross Country Foundation Coach 2 day course can be delivered on rollerskis or on snow and focuses on building the skills to delivers foundation skill sessions in a structured club or facility setting.

The Foundation Coach typically works with beginner and novice skiers focusing on skill development and enjoyment.

L2 Performance Coach

The Cross Country Level 2 Performance Coach works will work within a club or centre environment. They will coach skiers who are beginners through to proficient skiers who may elect to tour for fun, health and fitness reasons or to compete. The Cross Country level 2 Performance Coach may also be the lead club coach and a further 1 day module is offered for this role.

The award can be taken on roller skis/track matting or on snow. If the award is gained on Rollerski candidates can be converted to a full on snow award with a one day on snow induction course and assessment.

L3 Senior Performance Coach

By application with supporting portfolio

As a Senior Performance Coach you would look to lead a team of coaches and plan and implement an annual performance coaching programme. Working directly with club and academy performance trainees developing skills for competition (eg. British Championships & FIS Races). You would also be mentoring lower level coaches.

L4 National Performance Coach

By application with supporting portfolio

As a National Performance Coach you would be working with the National Team (Junior; U23; Continental; World Cup).  You would also look to contribute to Snowsports development through their mentoring of less experienced coaches.

The Process

  1. Before attending the course candidates must first register as a coach member of Snowsport Scotland

  2. For L1, ensure that you are comfortable on roller skis (or cross country skis):

    • Be able to perform classic and skate techniques with good coordination and balance and with reasonable weight transfer.

    • Be able to make descents and climbs of moderate slopes using appropriate techniques and with good balance.

  3. Candidates should then sign up to attend the training course which will be delivered by an appointed Snowsport Scotland Tutor.

  4. At the end of the training the tutor will confirm to the candidate if they are the required level of competency and provide them with 2 documents:-

    • An action plan detailing the skills and areas they need to work on

    • A logbook of tasks and work experience that must be completed in a working club

  5. Once the candidate has completed all the logbook tasks and can demonstrate competence in all the requisite skills they can be approved by their tutor for licensing.

Becoming licensed…

To become licensed by the governing body candidates must also ensure they hold:

…and revalidating

After 3 years, you will need to revalidate your license by providing:

L1 On-Piste Snowsports Leader

The 1-day on-piste leader training course offers an accessible entry level qualification that licenses the holder to lead individuals or groups on-piste in Scottish ski areas.

Note: The qualification does not permit the holder to deliver instruction or coaching. All work must be voluntary and be conducted under the direction of a higher-qualified instructor or head coach in a club, school, or other organisation.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Course attendees must be proficient at parallel turns of varying radius, on red runs in all on-piste conditions.

WHAT’S COVERED: Attendees will be trained and assessed in safe group management, leading techniques and incident management, on-piste in resort.

For anyone interested in ultimately becoming a coach or instructor this is a great starting point. Courses start at just £69 for the day’s training and are open to anyone from 14 years upwards (though you need to be 16 before you can become licensed).

Become a Snowsports Leader

Always fancied the idea of spending your days leading groups on your skis or snowboard?

Then why not get trained as a Snowsport Leader…

L3 Backcountry Snowsports Leader

The 6 day Backcountry leader is licensed to lead snowsports groups on mountain journeys beyond the boundary of a patrolled UK ski resort.  The award focuses around the use of skis, boards, skins and ski crampons for safe travel. It does not include terrain where technical equipment such as axe, crampons or rope may be in needed.

You must ensure that you have either completed the sidecountry leader qualification or applied for recognition of equivalent off-piste safety awards.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Minimum Standard required of an ability to ride with a variety of speeds and lines whilst maintaining flow during riding on black run-angled terrain in favourable off-piste conditions.

WHAT’S COVERED: See Syllabus below

For anyone interested in becoming a mountain snowsports leader, this is the next step. To book your place for 2024, click here.

L2 Sidecountry Snowsports Leader

The 5-day Sidecountry leader qualification licenses candidates to lead parties, on and off-piste within a patrolled UK ski resort. All off-piste descents should be easily accessible from the lift and lead directly to mechanical uplift.

You must be competent on black marked runs and off-piste terrain, able to ski or snowboard the fall line with flow, controlling line and speed in variable conditions.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Minimum Standard required of an ability to ride with a variety of speeds and lines whilst maintaining flow during riding on red run-angled terrain in favourable off-piste conditions.

WHAT’S COVERED: See syllabus below.

For anyone interested in becoming a backcountry leader, this is the place to start. To book your place for 2024, click here.

L4 Mountain Snowsports Leader

The 6 day MSL is the highest level of UKSS leadership award and licenses candidates to both lead, support and instruct individuals and groups with the aim of empowering self-sufficient backcountry skiers and Snowboarders. The award includes terrain where technical equipment such as axe, crampons and rope may be needed.

You must ensure that you have either completed the backcountry leader qualification or applied for recognition of equivalent off-piste safety awards

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Minimum Standard required of an ability to ride with a variety of speeds and lines whilst maintaining flow during riding on steep black run-angled terrain in favourable and unfavourable off-piste conditions.

WHAT’S COVERED: See Syllabus below

For anyone interested in achieving the highest available qualification in the backcountry, this is the final step. To book your place for 2024, click here.

The Process

  1. Before attending the course candidates must first register as a coach member of Snowsport Scotland

  2. Ensure that they are technically proficient, have the right equipment and have the relevant qualifications (as detailed above)

  3. Candidates should then sign up to attend the training course which will be delivered by an appointed Snowsport Scotland Tutor. The Backcountry and Mountain Leadership courses will be delivered by Glenmore Lodge.

  4. At the end of the training the tutor will confirm to the candidate if they are the required level of competency and provide them with 2 documents:-

    • An action plan detailing the skills and areas they need to work on

    • A logbook of tasks and work experience that must be completed in a working club

  5. Once the candidate has completed all the logbook tasks and can demonstrate competence in all the requisite skills they can be approved by their tutor for licensing.

Becoming licensed…

To become licensed by the governing body candidates must also ensure they hold:

  • A current 2-day outdoor first aid training certificate (coaches get £25 off BASP courses)

  • An online safeguarding and child protection training certificate

  • Coach Clean e-learning course from UKAD (from L2)

  • Be at the required technical performance level and passed the relevant assessment days

  • Be 18 years of age or older

…and revalidating

After 3 years, you will need to revalidate your license by providing: