The Mountain Bike Leader Certificate Course is designed to enable Leaders to take young people off road, on rights of way and bridleways safely, and to get them back without mishap, having enjoyed the experience. It has been developed in close consultation with Hampshire Education Authority by BSCA (website) and the ABCC (Association of British Cycle Coaches website). The ESCC now uses this course as the standard for all teachers to be trained on to take groups out by themselves. It is therefore approved by the ABCC, which provides coach education and qualifications for all the Governing Bodies in cycle sport.

On successfully passing the course and its practical assignments, the leader will be qualified and entered in the registers of BSCA and the ABCC at Teaching Certificate Level. Additionally this means that Leaders will be able to obtain insurance cover and other benefits through the ABCC. This is also the first step to further coaching qualifications in the competitive aspect of cycle sport that are on offer from the ABCC. The Mountain Bike Leaders' Course is heavily weighed towards practical mountain bike off road safety with young people and addresses the following: Group Control and specifics of a cycling group Clothing and equipment Map Navigation Specific to off road cycling Feeding and drinking to avoid sudden fatigue Regulations and Guidelines for Safe Practice Heat and cold, avoidance and recognition of problems Choice, correct sizing and setting up a bike Communications, Leaders equipment and checklists Safety Checks on bikes and maintenance Highlight the importance of off-road First Aid On and off road safe riding technique Our course also combines years of experience from our own instructors to ensure you get a complete training program. All participants should come with a road worthy mountain bike, a helmet that compiles with ANSI or SNELL standards and they must be prepared to ride off road for at least 2 hours, no matter what the weather. However equipment can be supplied if this is necessary . The Course will be run from 0930 to 1700 on both days. There is also a need to show evidence of competence of managing groups of children . This can be either as a qualified Teacher / Youth Worker / or comparable occupation, or by having a qualification that is assessed in group management. ie Mountain Leader Award. This can also be achieved by 20 hours of assessed activity supervised by someone who has these qualifications (they don't have to be a cyclist) or a named person acceptable to BSCA. A valid First Aid Certificate will be required to validate the Leader Award.

Both the supervisory and the First Aid qualifications can be obtained after the course has been completed.

COURSE CONTENT FOR BSCA INSTRUCTOR COURSE

?? Group Control and specifics of a cycling group

?? Clothing and equipment

?? Map Navigation Specific to off road cycling

?? Feeding and drinking to avoid sudden fatigue

?? Regulations and Guidelines for Safe Practice

?? Heat and cold, avoidance and recognition of problems

?? Choice, correct sizing and setting up a bike

?? Communications, Leaders equipment and checklists

?? Safety Checks on bikes and maintenance

?? Highlight the importance of off-road First Aid

?? On and off road safe riding technique