Your Assistant Coach Training is designed to support you to coach “under supervision.”  Supervision will look  different for every coach, and the priority is to always keep yourself and rowers safe. You will learn in your training, it’s up to you to make sure you have the right skills and qualifications for the role you are carrying out. Equally, it is the responsibility of your club or programme to help you to work under suitable supervision for you in your role. 

It is essential for anyone taking on any coaching role to fully understand the specific guidance set out in RowSafe. 

There are two main types of supervision for coaches: direct, and indirect. 

What is Direct Supervision?

Direct supervision means that a Lead Coach is with you in person, giving you advice, corrections, and feedback right away.

With direct supervision:

• A Lead Coach will be alongside you, watching everything you do.
• You get feedback instantly, which helps you fix mistakes quickly and keeps you on the right track.
• This also helps keep things safe because if something becomes too challenging for you, requiring support from the lead coach. 

Direct supervision is great when you’re new to coaching. It helps you feel supported and helps you grow. But it can sometimes make you depend too much on the Lead Coach, which might slow down your ability to make decisions on your own.

What is Indirect Supervision?

Indirect supervision is when a Lead Coach helps you, but not face-to-face all the time.

With indirect supervision:

• You might receive support through emails, video reviews, or written reports.
• The Lead Coach might give you session plans to follow
• The Lead Coach could be nearby, but not right next to you

This kind of supervision gives you more freedom to learn and grow on your own, which helps you build confidence and independence. It is also beneficial because the Lead Coach doesn’t have to be with you all the time, which can save time. But it can feel a little isolating sometimes, and you won’t get immediate feedback. This can make it harder to know if you’re doing everything right, which could lead to poor habits or safety risks.

Which Type of Supervision Is Right for You?

The type of supervision you get depends on your experience as a coach and the situation you’re in:

• Direct supervision is best for new coaches who need lots of feedback, especially in situations where safety is important.
• Indirect supervision is great when you’re ready for more freedom, and when flexibility and independence are needed.

As you grow as a coach, the best way to learn might be a mix of both – some direct guidance when you need it, and more independence when you’re ready for it. Even the most experienced Head Coaches benefit from working alongside others, and it is good practice to ensure you never coach in complete isolation. 

What Does This Look Like in Practice?

1. For Coach level and above:

• Usually, you’ll coach on your own without supervision relative to a risk assessment. 
• If there is a safety risk (based on a risk assessment), supervision or additional safety support might be needed.

2. For Assistant Coaches – This will always need to be risk assessed

• If the environment and/or activity is deemed high risk, you will need direct supervision
• If you are under 18, you will need direct supervision.
• If the environment and/or activity is deemed low risk relative to the rowers taking part, you can coach under indirect supervision.