Athletics coaching qualifications: LiRF, CiRF and UKA coach awards

UK Athletics draws a firm line between leading a session and coaching one, and the qualification pathway is built around that distinction rather than being one single course.

Coaching Assistant: the entry point

Coaching Assistant is where most volunteers start, giving a basic grounding in the principles of run, jump and throw, and putting people in a position to help out under supervision rather than run sessions independently.

Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF)

LiRF is explicitly a leadership qualification, not a coaching one. LiRF leaders work from prepared session plans or task cards and can lead a group of runners aged 12 and over on a run, but are not qualified to coach technique or design their own programmes.

Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF)

CiRF is the next step up, aimed at coaching runners aged 12 and over in non-track-based activities like road, cross country and multi terrain running. It runs over four days, covering technical knowledge, session planning, and assessed coaching practice. Once qualified, you are insured to coach without supervision, a meaningful step up from LiRF.

Insurance and licensing

Every award in the framework requires a clear Disclosure and Barring Service check before it is issued. Once you have both the qualification and a clear check, you receive a British Athletics leadership or coaching licence, which insures you to operate within the specific limits of that award, whether that is leading a running group or coaching independently.

Where to start

If your club is already affiliated, courses are usually booked through England Athletics or your equivalent home nation body. See our guide to starting and affiliating a club if you are setting one up from scratch and need coaches qualified before you can safely open training nights to new members.