ADAPT

ADAPT

This pages describes the various  qualifications, part of the international ADAPT Qualification Programme, created by many of the founders and principal developers of the sport/discipline. The qualification programme provides the industry benchmark for parkour/art du deplacement coaching, and has been formulated over several years by many of the founding figures of the sport/discipline of parkour/art du deplacement. To receive an ADAPT qualification is to be approved to teach the discipline of parkour/art du deplacement by the foremost practitioners and coaches in the world, including the original Yamakasi.

Further Information

Our qualifications have been developed in conjunction with 1st4sport Qualifications, the awarding body for active learning and leisure, they have been endorsed by Skills Active, the relevant Sector Skills Council and are regulated by Ofqual.

For more information you can contact us at [email protected]

Definition

The ADAPT Qualification Programme was created as a response to the rapid and widespread growth of the discipline of parkour around the world, which in turn led to people attempting to imitate the movements of the art without adequate training, understanding and/or preparation.

A body of highly experienced practitioners, including several of the founders of the art, gathered together to create a set of coaching standards by which practitioners could qualify to pass on the fundamental principles and movements of the art accurately, safely and competently. Parkour, if practiced well, can be an amazing vehicle for developing physical and mental fitness, toughness and all-round capability. As with any athletic discipline, however, if practiced poorly or without proper guidance the results can be negative and/or harmful.

The ADAPT qualifications ensure that any individual who wishes to coach others in the art will do so in a knowledgeable, professional, competent and safe manner. The global network of ADAPT coaches also gives a new coach an existing resource of highly experienced coaches and coaching bodies to support him or her in their development as a coach.

The aim now, as it was then, is to make the art accessible to any and all who want to learn and thus to bring its incredible benefits to a much wider demographic.

What is expected of an ADAPT coach?

The ADAPT qualifications are the standard qualifications an individual must possess before he or she is capable of teaching the fundamental principles, methods and movements or parkour, either in a class format or on a one-to-one basis.

An ADAPT coach has to be well-rounded and competent in all aspects of the discipline: physically strong and durable, fit, healthy, and technically sound in all areas. He or she must also be capable of leading classes, both planned and unplanned, and well-versed in basic anatomy and physiology. The ability to lead a thorough warm-up in preparation for a training session is essential, plus he or she must possess good knowledge of how to develop the physical and mental attributes required of a traceur.

It is also expected of an ADAPT coach that he or she understands the necessity of a balanced and healthy diet, and the importance of good nutrition as essential support for sustained training.

The ADAPT coach must display self-discipline and a desire for self-improvement at all times, must practise regularly and demonstrate individual strength of character. It is not enough to be able to showcase good movement skills and be physically strong. The candidate must also be a capable and committed teacher; approachable and helpful to all who wish to learn; polite, courteous and attentive to the students at all times.

Upon receiving an ADAPT Qualification, the new coach will be quality-controlled by Parkour UK and must attend at least two Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses with a Level Three Coach per year.

Level Three Coaches may at any time visit any sessions run by a coach to examine the quality and consistency of the coaching.

In summary, an ADAPT coach is expected to have sound knowledge of:

• Technique
• Physical conditioning exercises
• Coaching and communication skills
• Warm-up & cool-down before and after training
• Basic anatomy and physiology
• What constitutes a healthy diet
• Injury prevention and management
• First Aid

ADAPT Session Standards

All coaches must adhere to and fulfil the ADAPT standards when running any session. Any class must be geared towards the students, and as engaging and enjoyable for the students as possible. Classes should be student-centred, which means after necessary demonstration by the instructor the students are then encouraged to practise the exercise as often as is required for their optimal benefit.

The minimum ADAPT session standards are laid out below:

Session Structure

Each session should consist of a warm-up, a cool-down, and adequate training content for the level of experience of the participants. Health and safety guidelines must be always adhered to, and the session should be of appropriate length while maintaining a good learning rhythm and teaching best practice at all times. All students must be included in the exercises.

Class Management

At all times the coach must maintain control over the running of the class and never delegate control to an unauthorised individual. In the event of a persistently disruptive student within the class, that student should be asked to stop participating in the class.

Teaching Ratio

ADAPT sessions run at a ratio of 1 coach to 8 students maximum in an outside environment, and 1 to 15 in an indoors environment that utilises equipment and safety materials.

Risk Assessments

Coaches must carry out risk assessments prior to every session or course of sesisons and must maintain a constant level of dynamic risk management during the session.

Child Protection

Coaches must understand and implement all measures outlined in the ADAPT Programme’s Child Protection Policy. This includes possessing a valid CRB check, obtaining parental consent if necessary, and providing for adequate substance monitoring.

Contact us and register your application

Once you are confident that you meet the experience and skill requirements for an ADAPT qualification you should contact us and register your interest in becoming a parkour coach. We will then make you aware of the next available Assessment Course and send you the necessary information and materials to book yourself a place on such a course. To attend the Level 2 Full Coach course it is recommended a practitioner have at least 3-5 years of regular training in parkour and be physically fit for parkour.

Complete the Prerequisites

Before being able to pass any of the ADAPT qualifications a candidate must possess and be able to evidence possession of all prerequisites. These include a valid CRB/police records check, an up-to-date First Aid certificate and an up-to-date Child Safeguarding certificate. To attend a Level 1 Assistant Coach course a candidate must be 16 years of age, and 18 years of age to attend a Level 2 Coach course.

Take the Assessment

An Assessment Course is the only way to receive an ADAPT qualification. The assessments are rigorous and physically demanding. Upon completion the course assessors will tell you whether you have passed or, failing that, been deferred. If you are deferred you will be able to retake the assessment within 3 months once you have worked adequately on improving those areas which were not up to standard. Failing the re-assessment means you must attend another certification course.

The Level One Assistant Coach is an individual who is capable of assisting a Level 2 Instructor or higher in running a parkour session. A Level One Assistant Coach is NOT qualified to run or lead sessions alone, and if he or she does so the Parkour UK may remove his or her coaching license. He/she will be expected to be able to assist in teaching the basic principles and exercises of parkour safely and accurately, as well as conveying the spirit of the discipline and the correct approach to training. This qualification is the first of the coaching qualifications and enables the individual to begin assisting in a good coaching environment and so gain experience and confidence in order to be able to go on to become a Level 2 Full Coach in due course.

To become a Level One Assistant Coach, the candidate must attend and complete the 1st4Sport Level One Certificate in Coaching Parkour/Freerunning (ADAPT) course. The candidate must have a full, up to date CRB check. It is recommended, but not required, that he or she first attend regular training sessions with an ADAPT Level 2 coach if possible. The candidate may then reserve a space on the next available Assessment Course.

Upon being accepted on to an Assessment Course, the candidate will receive the necessary documents outlining what the assessment will consist of, and what will constitute a passing mark for a Level One Assistant Coach qualification.

A Level One Assistant Coach must have basic knowledge in the following areas:

• Definition, history and principles of parkour
• Parkour terminology
• Parkour ability
• Body management: stretching, preparation, maintenance
• Teaching skills and awareness of best practice standards
• Basic injury management and rehabilitation knowledge
• Available resources

The Level Two ADAPT Coach is the standard qualification an individual must possess before he or she is capable of teaching the fundamental principles, methods and movements or parkour, either in a class format or on a one-to-one basis, unassisted and unsupervised. A Level Two Coach is considered capable of teaching the fundamental aspects of the discipline in any situation and to anyone who wishes to learn.

This level of coach has to be highly competent in all aspects of the discipline, and able to demonstrate all of the basic movements and principles encapsulated within parkour.

To become a Level Two Coach, the candidate must possess an up to date ADAPT Level One Qualification and must have a full, up to date CRB check and First Aid certificate. It is highly recommended that the candidate contact and undergo an informal appraisal with a certified Level 2 or 3 ADAPT coach before attempting the Level 2 course. The candidate may then reserve a space on the next available Assessment Course.

Upon being accepted on to an Assessment Course, the candidate will receive the necessary documents outlining what the assessment will consist of, and what will constitute a passing mark for the Level Two Coach qualification.