March Week 3 2026
COACHING, EDUCATION, AND LICENSING UPDATE
The development of coaching standards is a core aspect of British Powerlifting’s drive for improve governance objectives, and it is great to have the opportunity to provide an update on some key aspects of our Coaching and Education programme, as well as draw attention to already published updates on the Coaching License.
Level 2 (Lead Coach) Course is now Available for 2026!
I am extremely excited to announce that our Level 2 Coaching Course has now been accredited by CIMSPA and we are ready to accept our first cohort of students! So much work has gone into updating, refreshing, and developing this course from its previous iteration, and I cannot thank enough those who have worked on this project.
The new course will feature 4x online webinars as well as a 1-day practical element. These practical days will be offered across the country. These measures have been put in place to enhance the accessibility of the courses to ensure that more people have the means to attend and develop their skills. The course covers various essential topics related to coaching, including advanced biomechanics and physiology, technical development, game-day coaching strategy, nutritional support, advanced planning, programming and periodisation theory and application, psychology and soft skills of coaching, and much more. The course will be taught by Charlie Marillier, Scott Simon, Craig Spicer, and myself.
The 4x online webinars will occur on the following dates:
– Monday June 15th, 18:00-20:00
– Monday June 22nd, 18:00-20:00
– Monday July 6th, 18:00-20:00
– Monday July 13th, 18:00-20:00
with Practical Days occurring across the country shortly following these webinars.
This is the most far-reaching, detailed and specific course we have ever produced, and includes lessons on biomechanics and physiology, the art and science of coaching and soft skills, detailed programming and periodisation theory and application, classic and equipped powerlifting, and much more.
I have put together an information presentation for the new course to give you as much insight into each aspect of the course, which you can access using the following link.
You can book onto the new Level 2 (Lead Coach) course by accessing the following link here.
If you have any questions about the course, or want any further info before booking on, please email me at josh.inman@
We look forward to seeing you on the course!
Coaching at BUCS 2026
Last year, as part of the quick debut of the Coaching License, head coaches were able to nominate non-licensed coaches under their responsibility. Upon review of last year’s competition, it was announced earlier this year that this would be removed, and that all coaches at BUCS would require the Coaching License. This was announced as part of the guidance document in January, however we appreciate that some have not read this, so we would like to point this out again to give coaches ample time to gain their Coaching License should they wish to, so that everyone is adequately prepared.
There is no requirement for coaches to be registered within the competition section on Sport:80 or to be allocated to a specific athlete. So please ignore the blue “Coaches Registration” button – you do not need to complete this.
Coaches simply need to ensure they hold a valid, in-date coaching license on their own Sport:80 account to present at the registration desk of the competition, where by they will be provided with a Coaches wristband/pass.
To apply for a license, the following documents must be uploaded and approved:
- Coaching Safeguarding Certificate
- DEI Certificate
- ADEL Certificate
Please check the Coaching License guidance document on the British Powerlifting website for details on which courses and providers are accepted.
Once these are approved, the license can be applied for in the coaching section of the platform. There is a walk-through video demonstration on the “Coaching Courses” page of the British Powerlifting website which shows you how to upload documents and navigate the Sport:80 platform.
Coaching License Update for 2027
The implementation of the Coaching License in recent months has generally been a wide-spread success, and has allowed for the beginning of the journey to a safer and more effective coaching landscape at our Nationals events. I know the licensing team behind the scenes have been doing a sterling job at turning over applications, dealing with issues as and when they arise, and reviewing the safety and development of the license.
As stated in the new guidance document which was published right at the beginning of this calendar year, as of 1st January 2027, the Coaching License will now hold the requirement of a Level 1 (Assistant Coach) qualification (or equivalent or superseding BP or IPF qualifications, such as the Level 2) in order to obtain it. This change has been agreed on unanimously by the whole team for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, the federation has a duty of care to its athletes, in particular its sub-juniors. As the sport grows, so does the need to ensure safe and effective coaching practices at our Nationals events. The Level 1 (Assistant Coach) qualification is aligned with and approved by CIMSPA as an entry-level qualification which ensures that coaches have a detailed understanding of the safeguarding and safe practice requirements of high level sport, and protect against potentially unwanted situations. This is not a large change, as currently over 80% of all licensed coaches meet these requirements, and this change begins to bring us in line with all other NGBs and their approaches.
Secondly, as British Powerlifting makes its drive for recognition of governance within UK Sport, certain parameters need to be met, and the federation has to demonstrate its willingness and ability to support the people, policy and procedural aspect of a growing sport. This is just one step towards achieving our governance targets, and when this is reached, a multitude of benefits, including additional government funding, may become accessible to the sport, meaning more resources may be funnelled into local divisions and the provision of Nationals events to help accelerate our drive for excellence.
Lastly, education and learning is not all about self-development, but about community development. Every time one enhances their own knowledge or skills, they directly impact the community and those around them, which leads to athletes further enjoying and participating in the sport we all love.
I wish to draw your attention to this change at this point, so that if you still need to obtain your Level 1 qualification, you have almost a full calendar year to do so.
I believe, along with the full education team, licensing team, and board, that this is a positive development of the license which is in line with every other similar National Governing Body, and will serve to better the landscape of participation within our federation.
*PLEASE NOTE: This change does NOT affect any competitions in 2026, including BUCS.
Further Questions
We are always looking to gain feedback from the community, and the positive feedback already received by so many people has helped drive this development of the license and the development of our Education Pathway.
If you have any questions, would like to discuss any of the above, or would like some additional support, please contact me on josh.inman@
Thank you,
Josh Inman & the Education and Coaching Team
Education Lead