British Cycling Level 2 Coaching

Whoop I am now a qualified Level 2 Cycling Coach with British Cycling!

I previously wrote up the experience of getting my Level 1 qualification that you can read here.

I wanted to develop Level 1, but due to COVID everything was understandably delayed. The course scheduled for the end of October last year thankfully went ahead. However, due to the lockdown situations, we saw a bit of a delay in the middle, but May saw the final assessment day rescheduled – we got there in the end!

Course Structure

• Task 1 – there are 2 coached practical evaluation days, led by a British Cycling coach where you build skills and deliver a session that is evaluated and assessed. I planned a session on cornering, which was clearly popular as there were 3 other participants who had picked the same technique. This showed the difference in coaching styles and ways you can deliver the same technique as none of the sessions were the same (we were also complete pro’s when it came to cornering by the end also).
• Task 2 – online exam that is a theory assessment and to be completed prior to task 3 and 4.
• Task 3 – independent coaching experience including delivery of 6 progressive sessions over a 12 week period. My sessions covered mounting and dismounting, braking, pedalling and gear selection, cornering, leading and following, group riding. They were delivered in the order listed as a natural progression in riding techniques.
• Task 4 – further practical evaluation day, led by a British Cycling coach that is evaluated and assessed. This was my favourite of the sessions as you had free creative design on how you delivered the session covering one of the techniques set by British Cycling. For my session I covered group riding including change of formation and also balance and coordination. Riders practised the techniques required for group riding, then changing the formation with the lead rider moving to the back of the group. They then had to collect a cake ingredient from the ‘shop’ (this was a water bottle) and deliver it to the ‘kitchen’ for the cakes to be baked, which were at two different places on the course. There was also cake at the end (would be mean not to right?!).

Course Prerequisites

In order to take this course you need to have the following in place:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Valid Emergency First Aid certification
• Complete Safeguarding & Protecting of Children online course
• Coaching insurance (including within your British Cycling membership, which is required)
• Level 1 coaching certification (although there are exemptions if you are able to provide proof that you have experience of leading and coaching already in place and are accepted at the discretion of British Cycling, however, they would prefer Level 1 in place if possible)
• Be able to have a minimum of 3 riders who will be available for the 6 hour long sessions for Task 3

Remit of Level 1 and Level 2

I have had questions around what the differences between the two are and basically Level 1 is the fundamentals of cycle coaching and Level 2 is developing coaching skills. Both are focussed around the British Cycling coaching guides and for Level 1 you can deliver the British Cycling set sessions and for Level 2 you can use the techniques in a session design of your own. The coaching qualifications also go on to Level 3, which is the highest qualification on offer from British Cycling and allows coaches to plan, deliver and evaluate training sessions/plans to individuals also for specific disciplines.

My Thoughts

Having a second lockdown in place left some uncertainty but there was sufficient time to deliver my sessions ahead of the final evaluation day. It was not without obstacles as we went into tier 4 and lockdown number 3 when I was only 4 out of the 6 sessions into my delivery, so the finalisation of task 3 was inevitably delayed.

We had a zoom call session with the group to cover Components of Fitness, which would usually fall within the final day of Task 4 but given the pandemic this was something that could be done in the interim online. This actually turned out to be valuable for other reasons as there was an open chat/feedback part where we were discussing other resources we all refer to including recommended books/films that some of us found useful.

I was lucky I had a really lovely group of people on my course and despite social distancing needing to be in place it worked well and we all adapted. My British Cycling coach was Dawn Hunter and she was great – I would definitely recommend Dawn! I think it is extremely important to have a coach to lead who can provide clear instruction, guidance, constructive feedback and advice. We set up a what’s app group chat for all discussion points and Dawn was super responsive and helpful!

In addition to the coaching experience I learned that my slow bike handling skills need a lot of work! (I actually knew this already so no great surprise there). One day I will be able to track stand!

Now to put the coaching skills into practice and use what I have learned to help others.