Overview
| Qualification Number | 600/1509/3 |
| Credit Value (Guided Learning Hours) | 64 (458) |
| SFA/LAD Funding Code | 600/1509/3 |
| Entry Age: | 16 |
| Qualification Operational Start Date | 01/04/2011 |
| Qualification Review Date | 28/02/2016 |
| Certification End Date | 28/02/2019 |
| Qualification Structure | See Structure |
| Supporting Materials | See Materials |
This qualification is equivalent to Level 4 on the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)*.
To find out how to apply to deliver this qualification see the How to Apply section. There are no costs involved in applying or becoming a 1st4sport recognised centre.
Developed in partnership with SkillsActive, the 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (QCF) is designed to give learners the opportunity to gain the skills, competences, credit and ultimately a qualification in performing within the elite sports training and competition environment, specifically within their chosen sport. The learner will be able to help to plan, manage and evaluate their training programme and the extent to which their sport influences their life.
The qualification forms a crucial part of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE), helping to develop and nurture elite athletes. The AASE programme gives athletes more high quality coaching hours, better access to modern, well equipped facilities and the use of new technologies. It also provides for second career development, should an athlete fall short of their ultimate sporting goal or choose to follow an alternative career path.
*Please note there may be exceptions to the above. Further information about the EQF can be found on the EQF Portal.
Prerequisites
Only learners who are accepted on to the AASE programme will be able to access and achieve the 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (QCF). AASE entry routes are only open to:
- full-time contracted apprentices at professional clubs
- full-time elite athletes receiving support from the lottery world class programme and identified by their governing body of sport
- any young people involved in the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
- those talented young people in the ‘academy environment’ at professional clubs not yet offered full-time terms.
Learners will need to refer to governing bodies of sport for further information on entry and eligibility to access the 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (QCF).
Structure
The qualification is divided into the following units:
| Unit Title | Accreditation No. | Level | GLH | Credit Value |
| 1 | Plan, Apply and Evaluate Own Technical Skills to Achieve Excellence in Sport | F/503/0781 | 3 | 20 | 3 |
| 2 | Understanding Technical Skills to Achieve Excellence in Sport | L/503/0749 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 3 | Plan, Apply and Evaluate Own Tactical Skills to Achieve Excellence in Sport | J/503/0779 | 3 | 20 | 4 |
| 4 | Understanding Tactical Skills to Achieve Excellence in Sport | R/503/0753 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 5 | Plan, Apply and Evaluate Own Physical Capability to Achieve Excellence in Sport | R/503/0784 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 6 | Understanding Physical Capability to Achieve Excellence in Sport | K/503/0757 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 7 | Plan, Apply and Evaluate Own Nutritional Programme to Achieve Excellence in Sport | Y/503/0785 | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| 8 | Understanding Nutrition to Achieve Excellence in Sport | R/503/0767 | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| 9 | Plan, Apply and Evaluate Own Mental Skills and Attitudes to Achieve Excellence in Sport | D/503/0786 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 10 | Understanding Mental Skills and Attitudes in Relation to Excellence in Sport | Y/503/0768 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 11 | Plan and Manage Own Lifestyle to Achieve Excellence in Sport | H/503/0787 | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| 12 | Understanding Lifestyle to Achieve Excellence in Sport | D/503/0769 | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| 13 | Manage Own Career in Sport | F/503/0795 | 2 | 15 | 2 |
| 14 | Understanding How to Manage Own Career in Sport | R/503/0770 | 2 | 15 | 2 |
| 15 | Communicate and Work Effectively With Other People to Achieve Excellence in Sport | J/503/0796 | 3 | 20 | 3 |
| 16 | Understanding Communicaiton and Teamwork to Achieve Excellence in Sport | H/503/0773 | 3 | 30 | 4 |
| 17 | Maintain the Health and Safety of Self and Others at Training and Competition Venues | L/503/0797 | 2 | 15 | 2 |
| 18 | Understanding Health and Safety at Training and Competition Venues | M/503/0775 | 2 | 20 | 3 |
| 19 | Understanding the Fundamentals of Coaching Sport | J/601/2101 | 2 | 22 | 3 |
| 20 | Understanding How to Develop Participants Through Coaching Sport | Y/601/2104 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| 21 | Supporting Participants' Lifestyles Through Coaching Sport | H/601/2106 | 2 | 16 | 2 |
| 22 | Understanding the Principles of Safe and Equitable Coaching Practice | M/601/2108 | 2 | 13 | 2 |
Materials
Unlike many other awarding organisations, which just supply you with the basic qualification standards, we go that extra mile to support you by providing:
- full and comprehensive Learner Packs, which include a full set of structured learning and assessment tasks to help you deliver and assess the qualification
- tutor/assessor guidance notes, which include sample answers to support you when assessing your learners
- online qualification administration, enabling you to process learners quickly and effectively, and making the records we hold on your learners accessible to you at the click of a mouse.
For recognised centres and tutors, the qualification is supported by the following resources:
- generic administrative guidance and tools for recognised centres
- Qualification Specification outlining the requirements of delivering and assessing the qualification
- 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (QCF) Tutor/Assessor/Verifier Guidance to Delivery.
For learners, the qualification is supported by the 1st4sport Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance (QCF) Learner Pack.
Fees
Fees are charged per learner and provide registration and certification for the qualification, as well as a 1st4sport Learner Pack, learning resources and a certificate. There are no costs involved in applying or becoming a 1st4sport recognised centre. Further information on fees is available in your qualification application pack.
How to Apply
Organisations new to 1st4sport
If you are not already a 1st4sport recognised centre, you need to apply to become one. The first step is to check you can meet the Centre Recognition and Qualification Approval Criteria for this qualification and submit the forms to us.
You can find more information on this process by visiting: Five Steps to Becoming a 1st4sport Recognised Centre.
Please note: you will not be able to become recognised or approved until you have confirmed that you can meet these criteria.
Existing 1st4sport recognised centres
If you are already a 1st4sport recognised centre and would like to seek approval to deliver this qualification, please check that your centre can meet the Qualification Approval Criteria.
You can find more information on this process by visiting: Four Steps to Becoming Approved to Deliver an Additional Qualification.
Please note: you will not be able to become approved until you have confirmed that you can meet these criteria.
QCF
This qualification sits on the new QCF. Further information about the benefits of the new framework can be found by visiting the Ofqual website.
All learners being registered for QCF qualifications are required to have a Unique Learner Number (ULN) issued by the Learner Register. To be approved to offer this QCF qualification, you will need to demonstrate that you can access and verify learners’ ULNs with the Learner Register. For more information about this process, please visit the Learning Records Service website.
