PDA Sports Coaching SCQF levels 7 and 8

Professional Development Awards (PDAs) extend or broaden professional or vocational skills and are linked to Professional Standards.

The PDAs in Sports Coaching at SCQF levels 7 and 8 have been designed to provide learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a professional within the sports industry in a variety of contexts.

These PDAs are designed to build on National Units and National Qualifications in relevant subjects, as well as other vocationally accredited qualifications in sports and recreation, such as SVQ/NVQ awards and/or prior experience of the learner who may have worked within the occupational area.

Successful learners could gain employment with local authorities, leisure trusts, sports clubs, or may become self-employed as freelance coaches. This may involve working independently or as part of a team of other professionals.

These qualifications are jointly certificated with sportscotland and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and are recognised by the national membership organisation for leisure trusts, Community Leisure UK (Scotland).

These PDAs are available through colleges. They have been designed to be delivered as taught courses and will normally be available as a combination of workshops and self-directed study.

Assessment will be through a series of theoretical and practical assessments.

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This subject will not have alternative assessment guidance for session 2023-24. You should refer to the Group Award/Unit specifications for detailed delivery and assessment information. For general support on delivery and assessment see the HNVQ assessment guidance 2023-24.

The PDAs in Sports Coaching at SCQF level 7 and SCQF level 8 have been developed in the ideology that good coaching is about understanding your role and personal philosophy, connecting with individuals to understand their needs and help them to do something that they might struggle to do alone.

The qualifications provide learners with industry-recognised qualifications, and the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a professional within the sports industry in a variety of contexts.

The target audience is those in work, or seeking employment, who require a specific skill set. The PDAs are suitable for learners who wish to work as sports coaches or within a sports development role.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre. Learners would benefit from having attained the skills, knowledge and understanding required by one or more of the following or equivalent qualifications and/or experience:

  • NPAs, NCs and NQs (National 5 and Higher) at SCQF levels 5 and 6 in appropriate subjects
  • SVQs at SCQF levels 5 and 6 in appropriate subjects
  • SVQ at SCQF level 6 in appropriate subjects
  • direct entrants with occupationally relevant skills and experience
  • some experience in sports coaching would be useful for learners to have
  • for entry to the PDA at SCQF level 8, qualifications at SCQF level 7 in appropriate subjects

The Professional Development Award in Sports Coaching at SCQF level 7 is available for delivery within further education colleges only.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide. The specific delivery requirements are set out in the group award specification.

Each individual unit specification gives detailed information on the evidence requirements and approaches to assessment for each unit.

Group award code (SCQF level 7): GP7Y 47 (32 SCQF credit points)

Group award code (SCQF level 8): GR3C 48 (40 SCQF credit points)

The PDA Sports Coaching SCQF level 7 consists of three mandatory units.

The PDA Sports Coaching SCQF level 8 consists of three mandatory units.

These PDAs are jointly certificated with sportscotland and CIMSPA.

Each of the home nations sports councils, UK Coaching and CIMSPA are committed to working with the respective sports governing bodies to maximise the portability of coaches working across the UK. Home Country Sports Councils have agreed the following portability statement:

'All qualifications and learning opportunities developed in line with the sector's Professional Standards and endorsed by CIMSPA will allow people to operate in their chosen occupation, population and environment across and throughout the UK, eg coach (core occupation), working in the school environment (environment), working with children (population).'

(27 February 2020)

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