Frequently asked Questions about Coach Courses
Q. Can I reserve a space on a course?
Please note that places are on a first come first serve basis. Places on courses cannot be reserved and booking can only take place once payment has been made.
Q. Can I choose the dates of my course?
The dates for your course will be clearly listed on the CVent registration page. All face-to-face dates of the course must be attended for you to be certified.
Q. Do I need to get anything done before I start the course?
All courses require candidates to complete e-learning modules prior to attending the first face-to-face modules.
An ECB DBS check and Safeguarding Young Cricketers (SYC) certificate are not required prior to attending the course, but must be completed before you are certified.
Q. Do I have to be 18 to start the course?
Candidates for ECB Support Coach must be 16 years old and candidates for Foundation and Core Coach Courses must be 17 years old by the start of the course. but will not receive their certificate until they are 18.
Q. How is the ECB Support Coach assessed?
Candidates must attend Module 2 and complete online Multiple-Choice Questionnaire via their e-learning portal.
Q. I’ve completed my assessment but haven’t received my certificate yet?
This may be because you are missing one of the pre-requisites for the course – please check you have all of these in place. Alternatively, if you are aged 17, your certificate will not be generated until you are 18. Certificates take roughly 2 weeks to be delivered. If these suggestions don’t answer why you haven’t received a certificate, email info@cheshirecricketboard.co.uk
Q. I’ve played professional cricket. Does that mean I can automatically coach without doing the course?
No – professional cricketers must complete the same course as those who are part of an amateur club.
Q. I’ve got an ECB Level 2 qualification. Do I need to now complete Foundation or Core Coach Course?
If you already have an ECB Level 2 certificate you do not need to complete another course.
Q. Can I run a session independently with a ECB Support Coach qualification?
NO- As an ECB Support Coach you can only support a fully qualified coach during a session.
Q. Can I run a session independently with a Foundation Coach qualification?
YES- As an Foundation Coach coach you are fully qualified to run coaching sessions independently.
Q. How long is a coaching certificate valid for?
Coaching certificates do not expire, only the pre-requisites. SYC has to be renewed every 3 years (you will receive email reminders from ECB) and your DBS should automatically update year provided you join the update service, unless a recorded incident prevents it from doing so.
If you do not join the update service you will need to complete a new DBS check every year.
Q. I haven’t been coaching for a few years – do I need to do a refresher course?
You will not need to attend any refresher course – with a certificate you will be able to coach, as long as your pre-requisites are all in date- if they are not you MUST renew these.
Q. How long does the Foundation Coach course take?
You must attend 4 x 3 hour modules, normally delivered over 2 days or 4 evenings, plus online learning modules to be completed at home.
Q. How is the Foundation Coach course assessed?
Candidates are observed 3 times over the face-to-face modules and must show competence in a variety of areas.
Q. Is the First Aid course included in the price of the course?
No – First Aid Certificates are no longer a requirement for coaches and not included with the course but we do recommend that all coaches have a current First Aid qualification. Our First Aid courses are advertised HERE when available
Core Coach Q&As
Q: Why is ECB Core Coach changing?
A: The reimagined ECB Core Coach has been designed to better reflect how coaches learn, develop and demonstrate their knowledge, confidence and skills. It recognises that coaches enter development with different experiences, motivations and levels of confidence.
Q: What is changing?
A: From 1st October 2026, ECB Core Coach will begin moving to a multiple routes to the same destination approach. Coaches will work towards the same ECB Core Coach qualification through different routes.
Q: What stays the same?
A: All routes lead to the same ECB Core Coach qualification, operate against the same national outcomes, use the same assessment criteria and meet the same quality standards. What differs is how coaches are supported to develop.
Q: What are the different routes?
A: The routes to ECB Core Coach will be cohort, situated and solo.
Q: When will the routes be available?
A: The cohort route will be available from 1st October 2026. The situated and solo routes will be available from 1st February 2027.
Q: Is the qualification changing?
A: No. Outcomes, assessment requirements and quality standards remain consistent across all routes.
Q: Which route will be right for me?
A: That will depend on your experience, circumstances and preferred way of learning developing. Further information about each route will be shared ahead of launch to help coaches decide which route best meets their needs.
Q: Will every county offer every route?
A: Not necessarily. Counties can choose which route or routes they offer based on local need, capacity and context. Further information about local opportunities will be shared by your county.
Q: Can I still become an ECB Core Coach if my county does not offer every route?
A: Yes. Counties will communicate the opportunities available locally and how coaches can access ECB Core Coach through the routes they make available.
Q: What is ECB Core Coach?
A: ECB Core Coach is a coach education programme for the recreational game and an entry-level qualification for coaching cricket in England and Wales. It has been designed to develop your knowledge, skills and confidence to lead player-centred coaching sessions.
Q: Who is the cohort route designed for?
A: The cohort route is designed for coaches who want structure and connectivity to develop and who value learning alongside other coaches.
Q: Do I need coaching experience?
A: Experience of playing or coaching cricket is desirable but not essential when applying for ECB Core Coach.
Q: How long does the programme take?
A: The cohort route has a minimum duration of eight weeks (56 days) from module 1 to module 8 and is typically delivered across nine calendar weeks.
Q: Why is the programme spread over a minimum of eight weeks?
A: Modules are intentionally spaced over time to create opportunities to apply learning in your own coaching environment, reflect on your experiences and continue developing throughout the programme.
Q: How are the face-to-face elements of modules scheduled?
A: Face-to-face elements are intentionally spaced over a minimum eight-week period to support learning, application and development over time. Counties may organise modules in different ways, including running some modules individually and some modules together, provided the programme meets the minimum duration and spacing requirements. This means the scheduling of modules may vary between each event hosted.
Q: What will I explore during the modules?
A: Key themes include the role of an ECB Core Coach, player development, player-centred planning, batting, bowling, fielding, wicketkeeping, tactical knowledge, physical fundamentals, mental skills, the coaching tools and the continuum of practice.
Q: How is the programme assessed?
A: Assessment comprises two coaching observations, one multiple choice question assessment and one short answer question assessment.
Q: What is Module 8 – Core coaching II?
A: Module 8 facilitates the second coaching observation and the opportunity for coaches demonstrate their development throughout the programme.
Q: Is module 8 scheduled immediately after module 7?
A: No. Module 8 is separated from modules 1-7 and cannot take place on the same day as Module 7. Coaches can complete Module 8 when they feel confident and ready.
Q: Where can my module 8 take place?
A: Depending on the options available through your county, observations may take place in your own coaching environment, within a self-organised local cluster, at a county-organised local cluster or at a county-organised central event. Counties will communicate the options available locally.
Q: Can I be observed with the players I normally coach?
A: Yes. Wherever possible, coaches are encouraged to be observed coaching within their normal coaching environment and with the players they coach.
Q: How long is the coaching observation in module 8?
A: Coaches are observed coaching for a minimum of 20 minutes.
Q: Who and what can I coach during my observation in module 8?
A: Observations can take place coaching an individual, a skill group or a team, depending on your coaching context.
Q: What happens if I am deemed not yet competent?
A: If you are deemed not yet competent in one or more assessment tasks, you will have the opportunity to be re-assessed. Counties may charge a fee for re-assessment and any applicable charges will be communicated locally.