Organisations we collaborate with for mutual benefit
The UKSCA has partnerships and collaborates with a range of related bodies and companies to further our aims and support our members. We will always look to collaborate and partner in a way that is mutually beneficial and where our respective expertise is complementary. However and above all, any partnership should be grounded in shared value and goals.
Over the years, our partnerships have evolved into six distinct types:
1. National Governing Bodies of Sport and professional clubs and teams
One of the reasons the UKSCA was established was to provide assurances to employers that the S&C coaches they were hiring had met the agreed minimum standards of skills and knowledge. Through adopting UKSCA standards in job adverts ie, making UKSCA Accredited S&C Coach or S&C Trainer a requirement, employers can be guaranteed not only that their staff have met standards, but that their professional practice is regulated by an independent body.
We also work with NGBs, clubs and teams on education programmes to upskill existing staff.
2. Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) providers
The UK's first degree in S&C was launched in 2007 and in the last 16 years, over 50 more undergraduate and postgraduate degrees have been developed. S&C modules can also be found in a large number of sports science, therapy and coaching degrees. All the UK's S&C degrees have aligned their syllabus to UKSCA's standards of skills and knowledge and the vast majority deploy UKSCA Accredited S&C Coaches to teach students. A number of these degrees include UKSCA Associate membership in their fees and we also run private assessment days to give students the opportunity to become UKSCA Accredited during their courses.
In 2024, we launched our new 'University and College Affiliate Programme', a partnership model that aims to raise the profile and standards of S&C and related degrees and course, as well as providing support to students and teaching staff.
More details of the University and College Affiliate Programme partnership options can be found here <<hyperlink to blog on it>> and our University and course directory shows our current partners. <<hyperlink to that page>>
3. UK Military
We are incredibly proud to have worked with all of the British Armed Forces over the past 15 years, providing educational workshops with the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and the Royal Air Force.
In 2016-17 we also worked with the British Army to redesign their PTI training programme to embed the latest science behind training adaptation and recovery to ensure the programmes their PTIs deliver, are focussed on injury prevention and performance-orientated goals.
The British Army and the Royal Navy have also worked with us to embed the new S&C Trainer diploma into their PTI training and are upskilling their PTI instructors to become UKSCA Licensed Assessors.
4. UKSCA Licensed Partners - S&C Trainer
Responding to the demand from early-career S&C coaches, sports coaches, physiotherapists and PE teachers, the UKSCA has developed a cutting-edge accreditation - The S&C Trainer. S&C Trainers are required to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through five UKSCA managed assessments. These are similar to the Accredited S&C Coach assessments but at a lower level of skills and knowledge. To meet the needs of the wider sector, we have developed this regulated qualification and we are now partnering with other companies, bodies and individuals to deliver The Level 3 Diploma for S&C Trainers qualification.
Our network of licensed partners is expanding and we welcome partnerships with diverse organisations eager to deliver this prestigious qualification. The Level 3 Diploma for S&C Trainers enables graduates to join the UKSCA as a S&C Trainer, fostering the delivery of high-quality S&C training to a broader audience.
5. Private education companies
To provide additional benefits to our members and to further our aims of disseminating best practice, UKSCA is also partnering with education experts to provide content and materials to support the development of our members. With partners such as UKAD, EXOS and Your Guardian, we can provide members with additional support in areas outside the traditional 'S&C' such as anti-doping and business development.
6. Related professional bodies
S&C coaches work in a variety of settings, often as part of a multidisciplinary team and in their work they are required to collaborate with people from other professions. We continue that theme of collaboration with professional bodies such as Physios in Sport, CIMSPA, BASES and overseas bodies, the NSCA and ASCA.
