Coaching.

The pathway

Seven progressive levels. Coaches move through as their knowledge, practical experience and responsibility develop — this is the canonical description of the pathway, and other pages link here rather than restating it.

OCR Coach — Foundations

The entry point. The role and responsibilities of a coach, athlete welfare, safeguarding, disability awareness and inclusion, health and safety, ethical coaching, and creating a safe training environment. Expect safeguarding training, first aid and vetting requirements at this level.

OCR Coach — Participation

Delivering safe, structured, enjoyable sessions for beginners and recreational athletes. Fundamental obstacle movement and introductory technique, running and physical preparation, strength and fitness for OCR, safe equipment use, athlete readiness, session planning, demonstration and feedback. The level most relevant to club and gym coaches.

OCR Coach — Performance

Coaching athletes with competitive goals. Performance-focused technique, running development, strength and conditioning, performance analysis, programme planning and periodisation, competition preparation, recovery, nutrition awareness, athlete mindset and adaptive coaching. Coaches here build programmes, not just sessions.

OCR Coach — National

Experienced coaches working with advanced and national-level athletes. Long-term athlete development, seasonal and annual programming, training load management, competition planning, performance review, and preparing athletes for National Championships and international competition.

OCR Coach — International

Coaching within international and high-performance environments.

OCR Coach — Senior International

Substantial experience and increased responsibility at international level.

OCR Coach — Master Coach Trainer

Coach education, mentoring, assessment, national coaching development, and maintaining the standards of the pathway itself.

You do not need to have been an elite athlete

Good coaching requires more than being able to complete difficult obstacles. It requires understanding athletes, communicating clearly, planning appropriately, creating safe environments, and helping people improve over time.

People come into OCR coaching from athletics, strength and conditioning, personal training, climbing, gymnastics, ninja sport, parkour, functional fitness and endurance sport. Plenty arrive from outside sport entirely.

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you already hold relevant qualifications or substantial coaching experience, OCRA can consider that through a Recognition of Prior Learning process rather than making you repeat what you already know.

Recognition does not remove the requirements specific to obstacle sport, safeguarding and athlete welfare. Those have to be met regardless of where you came from.

Adaptive and inclusive coaching

Obstacle sport can be adapted to support athletes with different abilities and requirements, and inclusive and adaptive principles run through every level of the pathway rather than sitting in a module at the end.

OCRA also intends to support specialist development for coaches working specifically with adaptive and para-athletes.

Development does not stop at qualifying

Coaches are expected to keep developing through practical experience, further education, workshops, mentoring, rule and technical updates, safeguarding updates, and honest reflection on their own performance.

As the sport develops, coaching practice has to develop with it.

Getting started

Current courses appear under courses & training. If nothing suitable is listed, register your interest.