The British Kendo Association Kendo Coaching Portal

Kendo Coaching Program

Coaching Development Overview

Coaching covers a wide range of roles and levels, but all levels offer a rewarding role in which you can pass on your knowledge to help others develop and progress.

In today’s litigious society it is essential that the Professional Indemnity and Public Liability offered by our association be linked to recognised coaching competence and ability.

This is reflected in the current association policy that in order for a club to be recognised under the Guidelines for Opening and Registering BKA Clubs it should be able to provide a qualified coach (L1 or L2) at every session where teaching takes place. Teaching in this instance is defined as activities taking place where instruction is given about what is to be practiced and/or where instruction is given about how the activity is to be practiced.

What does coaching involve?

Coaching can start from assisting and supervising activities at your local dojo through to coaching at a major international event. Whatever level you are at you will be passing on your knowledge to a range of participants. You will need to be able to adapt and change your style depending on the age, gender and technical proficiency of the groups you are coaching/teaching.

Coaching is difficult to do well but a highly rewarding aspect of one’s kendo experience.

Who does the role suit?

Coaching roles are suited to those people who want to help their club members to develop and progress. They are ideal for existing club members who have reached a level of proficiency and are keen to pass on their skills.

Prospective coaches need to be patient, have good communication skills and the ability/mental maturity to be able to adapt their teaching style to a range of different groups of learners.

Why should you get involved?

Quality coaches are vital to the development of Kendo in the UK and in delivering high quality Kendo practices.

Personal reasons to get involved:

To give something back and to help those who have helped shape your Kendo career.

It’s a highly rewarding role.

If you want to thoroughly understand a concept or skill, teach it to someone else.

How do you get involved?

If you want to become a BKA coach speak to your dojo leader or Dojo Representative (DR) to find out what opportunities are available. Ask your local regional or national coaches about coaching courses in your area.

Talk to the British Kendo Association’s coaching officer or a BuEc member to find out about upcoming courses and what preparations you will need to undertake. Check out the BKA website’s kendo coaching page for upcoming coaching courses, support materials and award criteria.

British Kendo Association Coach Award requirements:

Essential before attending the coaching course or applying to the coaching board:

• Full Member of the British Kendo Association
• DBS checked through The British Kendo Association (renewable every 3 years) or have signed a DBS Exemption form and agree not to coach at any dojo or event where children or vulnerable adults are present
• Hold an appropriate grade dependent on the coach award level applied for
• Agree to abide by the coaching code of conduct and ethics

Desirable

• First Aid Qualification – HSE approved (renewable every 3 years)

BKA Coaching Award Procedures

If you can meet all of the Essential requirements listed above contact a locally based National or Regional coach and the Bucho via Email or by post to express an interest in being assessed for a coaching award on the next available/local coaching course or at the next meeting of the coaching board. Be sure to include:

Your name and BKA number, the level of award you wish to be assessed for, your current grade and your age.

For the L1 Club Coach and L2 Club Coach awards it will be necessary to complete a Kendo Bu Coaching Portfolio and attend a coaching assessment course where you will be assessed by a BKA Coach Assessor.

Providing all the essential requirements of the award are met, the required elements of the kendo bu coaching portfolio are in order and you have an up to date DBS check or exemption form it should be possible to be accredited and receive your Menjo on the day of the course.

For the L3 Regional Coach and L4 National Coach awards it will be necessary to complete a Kendo Bu Coaching Portfolio and post/Email this to the kendo Bucho to arrive no less than 14 days before the next coaching board will meet. The board will consider your application and notify you of their decision in writing (Post or Email) within 14 days.

Note! All active coaches need to ensure that they have coaching insurance cover. This can be done by contacting the membership secretary and paying the insurance fee.

Coaching Board

The makeup of the coaching board for the award of Regional and National coach status and to consider coaching related appeals will be at the discretion of the BUCHO but will seek to maintain its integrity by adherence to the following principles:

The board will be chaired by a co-opted officer (Who holds a National coach award or higher).

There will be a minimum of two and a maximum of 4 other board members

All board members will be holders of the BKA’s National coaching award or will be association officers with particular areas of expertise in Health and safety or Safeguarding and who are also experienced BKA Coaches.

Special Circumstances

High grades (6^th or 7^th Dan) visiting or resident in the UK who are full BKA members and who agree to meet the award criteria may apply for a special circumstances coaching award and at the discretion of the BuEc be awarded National Coach Status.

Unsuccessful Candidates

Should a candidate be unsuccessful and not be awarded an applied for coaching status the responsible coach assessor/s or coaching board chair will provide them with verbal feedback (Face to face or via Telephone) and then in a timely fashion written feedback (Coaching feedback form) about why they were unsuccessful. An important part of the feedback provided will be an action plan that outlines what the prospective coach needs to do to gain accreditation at the desired level.

Assessment Appeal Procedure

An unsuccessful candidate may appeal against decisions made in relation to their coaching assessment. In this circumstance the following procedures will be enacted:

• The candidate must write to the BUCHO stating the grounds for the appeal within two weeks of receiving the written feedback regarding the assessment decision
• Where the BuEc is the body that has declined the award a coaching board chaired by a coaching officer will be convened to consider the appeal
• The Bucho or Coaching officer will action an uninvolved national coach to liaise with the coach assessors involved in the complainant’s assessment process and prepare in a timely fashion a report outlining the grounds for failing the candidate. This will be circulated to the officers of the BuEc and/or coaching board
• The BuEc/Coaching board will meet in a timely fashion to discuss the appeal and arrive at a decision whether the appeal is to be upheld and the coaching level awarded or denied.
• The Candidate will be made aware in writing of the appeal decision within one week of the meeting taking place
• The appeal decision will be final and binding