Aims
By invitation only, taking the very best Level 3 (UKCC L3 CCRU) community rugby coaches, the WRU Level 4 course is designed to give professional and prospective professional coaches a meaningful academic qualification in coaching. The qualification is arrived at through a close working relationship with UWIC.

The course consist of four modules which each coaching candidate must pass in order to secure their Level 4 qualification via the production of

modular coursework. The modules are delivered in a lecture-discussion format and cover the following topics:

Coaching Process: The coaching process covers motivational issues in sports coaching, reflective practice, and empowerment, working within a conceptual framework, decision making, mentoring, lifestyle management, effective coaching and evaluation.

Performance: Performance covers the demands of the elite game, optimal periodisation, analysing the modern game, strength and power conditioning for an elite player, recover strategies, physiological fitness, performance nutrition, integrated functional conditioning and managing conflicting demands.

Sports Psychology: Covering psychology support and communication, basic psychological skills, performance profiling and goals, advanced psychological strategies, team dynamics and cohesion, competition pressure, mental toughness and applying knowledge to case studies.

Management: Introducing the concept of management, strategic planning, managing change, leadership & group dynamics, developing teams, identifying leaders, talent identification and duty of care to employees and personnel.

In addition, coaches studying for WRU Level 4 qualifications must successfully pass four practical assessments:

Practical Assessments: The four practical assessments involve the candidate taking four coaching sessions across the period of the WREU Level 4 qualification; the sessions are observed by a team of assessors and are marked by the following criteria:

- Delivery of Session Aims
- Technical Input / Correction / Application
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Coaching Style
- Decision-Making Scenarios
- Tactical Appreciation / Application
- Adherence to Task
- Management of Resources
- Session Evaluation / Summary

(All units are mandatory)

Entry Requirements: Candidates must be over 18 years of age before certification. Candidates must hold a Level 3 (UKCC L3CCRU) coaching certificate to participate. They must also be coaching at the required level ie (Premier Division, National Age Grade) candidates are entered to the course by invitation only – following an extensive interview process conducted by appropriate WRU & UWIC staff.

Outcomes: Successfully completing the WRU Level 4 qualification in coaching will give the candidate the equivalent qualification of a student at UWIC finishing their second year in coaching science.

Candidates then wishing to take their Level 4 qualification further can study a further two UWIC modules and qualify with a Post Graduate Diploma in Coaching Science.

To develop the qualification further again, dissertations can be submitted providing a Masters Level qualification.