On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 12:19:45 +0000, Allan Bennett
wrote:

In article , Ste
wrote:

(Adapted from BCU Coaching Directory, Section 5/23)

The main purpose of updating is to ensure that coaches are kept up to
date with best practice.

Are you sure? Don't you mean 'ensure coaches are indoctrinated'?

You need to update at least every three years.

...by attending a single-issue course once every 3 years - that keeps you
up-to-date???

I was intentionally trying to keep it factual. Whether or not I
actually agree with how the system is set up, in order to work I need
to have a valid BCU qualification so I have to satisfy the update
requirements in some form.

I seem to recall that three years were chosen as this coincides with
the validity of first aid certificates and three years is certainly
better than before 2002 when there was no requirement to keep up to
date once qualified, just to keep your membership paid...

After letting my BCU membership lapse, I was told that my coaching
qualification was no longer valid, as I couldn't be up-to-date if I wasn't a
member.

Best bit

...but I could revalidate the award by paying the back-fees. Which,
amazingly, would bring me back-on-track with their current practice!

(BTW, I wasn't the only one in this situation)
snip
I've heard that quite a few people have had the same problem and it's
these sort of policies that give the BCU a bad name. If people want to
coach surely the BCU should be encouraging it rather than trying to
screw as much money out of them as possible.

--
Ste, Ambleside