Become an Olympic Weightlifting Coach

We have created coach training programmes that produce world-class weightlifting coaches who help to develop medal winning athletes. As the National Governing Body for Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, these courses offer an unrivalled standard of training and are the only qualifications that are recognised for our exclusive coach license scheme. The skills learned during these courses will allow you to help coach athletes to be at the top of their game. We are proud to work in partnership with the regulated awarding body Focus Awards to accredit our qualifications. Please note: To complete BWL courses you may need access to Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word or equivalent.

There are three courses on the Olympic Weightlifting Coaching Weightlifting Pathway;

Level 1 to become an Assistant Coach
Moving on to Level 2, where you qualify as an Independent Coach
Level 3 which is the most comprehensive coaching qualification that British Weight Lifting have released to date which takes into account an athletes long term development as well as the different areas of weightlifting performance.

British Weight Lifting Workforce Manager Mark Hill provides some insights into the Coaching Olympic Weightlifting pathway and our Level 3 Diploma. To read the blog click here

Certification: Level 1 Award in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting

Is this course for me?

This is an entry level course for aspiring coaches in weightlifting. It is aimed at anyone aged 16 or over, who is new to coaching but has some knowledge of the sport and would like to learn how to apply that in a coaching environment.

What will I learn?

The processes and principles of coaching weightlifting to adults and children, the basic rules of weightlifting, safety in the sport, roles and responsibilities of a coach and planning a session.

You’ll also discover critical coaching skills that can optimise coaching performance, the main physical qualities that athletes need to develop in weightlifting, identify the key positions for the Snatch, Clean and Jerk, learn assistance lifts for weightlifting and learn the BWL Teaching Method to understand why we perform each one of the BWL teaching exercises.

Take a look at all 10 modules of the e-learning.

What does this course qualify me to do?

This is the start of your journey into coaching weightlifting and will enable you assist a more qualified coach to deliver sessions in a club, gym or virtual setting.

Prerequisites:

You must be at least 16 years of age when booking, be able to communicate effectively in English and have some general experience of the lifts and weightlifting.

We offer 3 ways to complete this course:

E-Learning only

Length of course: 12 – 16 hours

Price: Standard £350 | Member £333

E-Learning with face to face practical

Length of course: 12 – 16 hours

Plus an additional 1-day practical session

Price: Standard £375 | Member £356

Practical courses

With the benefit of combining online and practical learning, you’ll gain invaluable experience and feedback from a fully qualified BWL Coach.

The practical day covers the BWL Teaching Method which gives Assistant coaches the tools they will need to guide a complete beginner to execute the Olympic lifts competently, as well as learning the BWL Level 1 Assistance Exercises using the BWL Teaching Process - Back Squat, Press and Deadlift.

You’ll have the opportunity to ask BWL tutors questions relating to the e-learning already covered and how it translates into practical learning, along with peer-to-peer practice and support.

Book Now

Go at your own pace with our Online Only course: BOOK NOW

Book our online course with 1 day face to face practical: BOOK NOW

Combine our online Level 1 and Level 2 courses and save up to £96: BOOK NOW

Combine our online Level 1 and Level 2 courses with a face to face practical and save up to £95: BOOK NOW

Combine Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 (online only courses) and save up to £239 BOOK NOW

Certification: Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting

Is this course for me?

If you hold your Level 1 Award in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting and currently work under the supervision of a more qualified coach, completing your Level 2 certificate is your next step in career progression.

It will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to work as an Independent Olympic Weightlifting Coach.

With a Level 2 qualification you’ll also be able to apply for a BWL Coach License to be able to coach athletes at national competitions.

What will I learn?

Learn psychology and effective communication to help athletes realise their physical potential, gain an introduction to the anatomical demands of weightlifting and how to use the BWL Technical Model to identify errors and make interventions.

You’ll also be trained in 10 key assistance exercises that can be used to increase performance on the Snatch and Clean & Jerk, create linked and progressive sessions in a 6-week training block, design sessions for groups and individuals and gain an introduction to competition coaching.

You will be able to achieve this qualification after you have successfully completed a selection of online assessments. The course has been structured to allow you to do this from home with support from a BWL Educator who will guide you through the assessment process.

Take a look at all 17 e-learning modules.

What does this course qualify me to do?

Work as an Independent coach in Olympic Weightlifting. You can also apply for a BWL Coach License to assist athletes at national competitions.

Prerequisites:

You must be at least 17 years of age on the first day of the course, hold your Level 1 certificate in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting and be able to communicate effectively in English.

We offer 3 ways to complete this course

E-Learning only

Length of course: 24 – 48 hours

Price: Standard £450 | Member £428

E-Learning and face to face practical

Length of course: 24 – 48 hours

Plus an additional 1-day practical session

Price: Standard £500 | Member £475

Practical courses

The practical workshop offers a fantastic opportunity for coaches to develop through peer-to-peer practice and support.

Our tutors have a broad range of backgrounds and skills from education, strength & conditioning and coaching providing you with the most comprehensive training and skills to become a great Coach.

The 1-day practical session covers assistance exercises and how to apply them to improve weightlifting performance and technique alongside how to apply the exercises appropriately and identify some of the challenge’s coaches might experience.

You will discuss the coach’s role in weightlifting competitions, considering rules of a competition (the ‘need-to-knows’), how to effectively structure a competition warm-up and an introduction to reading the scoreboard.

All assessments have now moved online, to improve on the day learning and allow all the time to focus solely on developing your coaching ability in a practical setting.

Book Now

Go at your own pace with our Online Only course: BOOK NOW

Book our online course with 1 day face to face practical: BOOK NOW

Combine our online Level 1 and Level 2 and save up to £96 BOOK NOW

Combine our online Level 1 and Level 2 courses with a face to face practical and save up to £95: BOOK NOW

Combine Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 (online only courses) and save up to £239 BOOK NOW

Certification: Level 3 Diploma in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting

Is this course for me?

The Level 3 Diploma in coaching Olympic Weightlifting is the most comprehensive coaching qualification that British Weight Lifting have released to date which takes into account an athletes long term development as well as the different areas of weightlifting performance:

Technical performance
Physical performance
Preparation mindset
Performance mindset

What will I learn?

To be successful in the sport of weightlifting requires athletes to lift over a long period of time. The Level 3 Diploma is Coaching Olympic Weightlifting recognises this and gives coaches insight into long term athlete development including what training parameters are important and what the focus should be for each athlete based on their individual stages of development.

It takes the Complete British Weightlifter, British Weight Lifting's long term athlete development strategy and provides insights to coaches which are dispersed with rationale and examples to help coaches in their own practise.

You will be introduced to the coaching theory and practice for weightlifting where you will understand the underpinning theory behind motor learning which involves improving the smoothness and accuracy of movements linked to the Olympic lifts. You will learn how to apply that theory, how to think critically about the types of interventions to your athletes and have a clear understanding of British Weight Lifting's 'What it Takes to Win' model.

You will learn the technical underpinning for weightlifting which includes biomechanical concepts, effective weightlifting technique and the relevance of key derivative exercises in coaching. You will understand how to critically evaluate technique using the British Weight Lifting decision making process and develop your knowledge to be able to think critically about how to structure training to help athletes make effective technical changes.

The course looks at long term planning and organisation for weightlifting. You will become familiar with British Weight Lifting's philosophy and guidance on long-term athlete development, factoring in different stages of an athlete's development.

In addition, you will understand how to prepare for weightlifting competitions where you will learn how to be able to identify the key principles behind world class performance and have the knowledge to prepare an athlete physically for competition.

Take a look at all of the e-learning modules here.

You will be able to achieve this qualification after you have successfully completed a selection of online assessment. The course has been structured to allow you to do this from home with support from a BWL Educator who will guide you through the assessment process.

What does this course qualify me to do?

This course will provide the advanced level of knowledge needed to deliver a comprehensive Olympic Weightlifting coaching programme to support athletes throughout their weightlifting journey from novice to aspiring elite athletes.

Prerequisites:

You must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of the course, hold your Level 2 certificate in Coaching Olympic Weightlifting and be able to communicate effectively in English.

Candidates will require a laptop or computer to access the e-learning as an i-pad or mobile phone would not have the full capacity to perform all the coursework required. Knowledge of windows including Word and Excel is also essential.

Course Delivery: Online only

Length of course: 40 hours.

Please note: As part of the course learners will also be required to take an athlete through a competition (integrating a plan, do and review)*. The length of this process is at the learner’s discretion, however, to maximise both the coach and athlete experience we recommend a minimum of 8 weeks to complete this process. *The competition can be completed in training (i.e., a training session completed under competition conditions).

Standard price: £850

Member price: £808