Coaching in Competition
Coach Status Requirements at Events
A Licensed Coach Status is required to coach at all EC-Sanctioned events.
Registered Coaches may apply for a Single-Event Coach status upgrade at a cost of $55 per event on a temporary basis, while completing the requirements for Licensed Coach status.
No valid Coach Status: Not eligible to coach at EC-Sanctioned Events.
Registered Coaches: A valid Registered Coach Status is required (“Pending” is not valid).
Non-compliance: See the Coaching Compliance section of the Schedule of Fines and Penalties.
Single event Coach Status Upgrade
Only for EC Registered Coaches. Temporary upgrade to Licensed status for Registered coaches.
$55 per event for Registered Coaches where Licensed status is required. A valid Registered Coach Status is required (“Pending” is not valid).
All Single Event Coach Status Upgrades must be done online in advance of an event through your My-EC account.
All temporary coaching fees collected are 100% designated to funding coach education programs.
Need a Single event Coach Status Upgrade?
Coach Status Validation
Competition organizers are required to validate that all coaches at EC-sanctioned competitions hold Licensed Coach Status, or that Registered Coaches have purchased a a Single-Event Coach status upgrade. They do so with password protected access to our coaches list on the EC Competition Organizer portal.
While Stewards also have the capability to check and validate Coach Status, it is not an expectation or requirement as their role and focus is on maintaining the safety and health and welfare of participants in and around the field of play.
Answering Your Questions:
There have been numerous questions that come up since the program began in 2021 and now have increased with the enforcement of verified Licenced Coach Status at EC-sanctioned events. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions below:
FAQ’s for Coaching at Events
No, you do not.
You are self-coached at an event if you do not have a coach that attends with you. All athletes regardless of age, sport licence type, or level of event are permitted to be self-coached.
Simply indicate ‘self’ in the coach field on an entry. Self-coaching does not require athletes to hold Coach Status nor to purchase a Temporary Coach Status and does not affect amateur status in any way.
A parent, family member or friend is only considered a coach if the definition as outlined in the Coach Status Program applies to their relationship.
Within the program, a coach refers to all individuals who provide instruction, coaching and/or training to human participants for the purpose of learning equestrianism.
A person helping an athlete in a non-coaching capacity – such as setting fences in a warm-up ring only as directed by the athlete, providing grooming services, or offering emotional-support – is not considered a coach and is not subject to EC Coach Status requirements.
Currently, the validation of Coach Status is not digital. EC-sanctioned events are manually verifying a coach’s status. If an athlete provides the name of a coach on their entry that does not hold the appropriate status (licensed, or Single -Event Coach Status upgrade) – then that coach will not be in compliance with EC rules and consequences will be determined for both coach and rider including point invalidation or enforcement of not in good standing status and not be permitted to participate.
If someone is found to have provided false information on their entry form, their points from the event in question may be invalidated. Example: An athlete indicates on their entry that they are self-coached, but in fact are being coached by an individual that does not hold the required credentials for the event.
