Hello Everyone,

this post is a promo for the European Judo Union Level 3 Advanced Coach Award course you can do via the University of Bath.

As regular readers will know, I completed the EJU Level 4 course and am reaching the end of the BSc/Level 5 course at the moment. As such, I know what the value of the courses being offered in Bath are. I am really excited by this Level 3 course!

Unlike the course I have done, which were residential (4 weeks a year), the level three is being done via "Distance Learning" and as such is available to virtually anyone, worldwide!

I am fortunate that I have been invited to assist the programme as a tutor. Which I am really pleased to be given the opportunity to help with. I hope that my internet geekness will be helpful on the course. I suspect I shall be quite involved in helping the course students interact via the internet.
I really hope that the students on the Level 3 gain the connections with other coaches that the courses I have attended have given me.

The course consists of the following modules:

Module 1	Principles of Coaching Gokyo	Module Convenor: Mr Patrick Roux
	To understand and be able to identify the key teaching points of techniques from the Kodokan Gokyo. To understand the principles of Grip entry: kuzushi, tsukuri, kake, renzokuwaza, renrakuwaza (technical/tactical system). To understand the principles of Osaekomiwaza, shimewaza and kansetsuwaza (technical/tactical system).
Module 2	Planning and Physiology	Module Convenor: Mr Jürgen Klinger
	To understand the long term development of the judo player. To understand the creation of session plans, with respect to goal setting, and player profiling. To understand the fundamental components and physical factors required for judo, as a complex sport.
Module 3	Culture of Judo (Ethics, Safety and Etiquette)	Module Convenor: Mrs Jane Bridge-Charlot
	To understand the ethical principles of Olympism and judo. To explain to candidates individual coaching philosophy. To understand the specific safety issues of judo.
Module 4	History and Development of Judo	Module Convenor: Mr Mike Callan
	To describe the evolution of competition judo. To describe the historical development of judo, pre-Kano, during Kano’s life, post-Kano.
Module 5	Communication	Module Convenor: Mr Patrick Roux
	To understand the role of the coach. To be able to analyse and communicate in relation to specific situations. To understand and analyse the coach-athlete relationship process, identifying issues and suggesting solutions. To understand the principles of communication (Clear message, efficient emitters & receptors). To be able to effectively communicate with the player specific objectives.
Module 6	Competitive Judo	Module Convenor: Mrs Jane Bridge-Charlot
	To be able to identify & coach effective competition techniques. To understand the duties & skills of a coach at a competition (including weight management). To be able to transfer of judo principles into an applied competitive situation. To recognise different judo styles.

The modules give a good broad engagement with Judo coaching. At first I questioned the inclusion of the Go Kyo module. After all at level three the coaches should be quite knowledgable right?
But after some thought I think it is a very good idea to include it. It will mean that everyone who graduates the course will have a equal footing on the technical elements of the Go Kyo. There will be a shared knowledge between the coaches, a standard that they all share.

The other modules are all pretty self explanatory and provide a good platform for coaching and also to begin the Level 4 once completed. I wish I had had the chance to do the EJU Level 4 course before the Level 4 (It didn't exist then). The reason I say that is that I think having the background/base knowledge of the Level 3 and some experience at assignment preparation etc would have meant my progression through the Level 4 would have been easier and my grades higher. :-)

The fees for the course are pretty darn good, 65 GBP per module. Except for the final residential module which is 150GBP. For what the course offers I think its very reasonable, even if your currency is not as strong as the British pound.

I know there are students enrolled now, but there are spaces for more people.

I strongly STRONGLY recommend doing this course, to get more information look at the course website ( http://www.bath.ac.uk/sports/judolevel3/home/home.html ), where you can learn about the world class lecturers and also download an application form ( http://www.bath.ac.uk/sports/judolevel3 ... 20Form.doc ).

No doubt before you sign up, you'll have questions. Diego Scardone is the administrator for the Level Three course. So fire any questions at him ( d.scardone@bath.ac.uk ).

Of course you can ask me too.

Lance