NWANA Nordic Walking Coaching Pathway

The NWANA Nordic Walking Coaching Pathway is for professionals responsible for the structured development, training, competition preparation, performance monitoring, and long-term progression of Nordic Walking athletes.

Coaching is not an entry-level professional pathway and does not become available immediately after completion of the Nordic Walking Instructor – Beginner Level Certification.

Before entering Coach education, a candidate must develop the technical knowledge, instructional ability, practical experience, and professional judgment required through the NWANA Instructor Pathway.

The Coaching Pathway includes three progressive coaching levels and additional specialist licenses for qualified coaches working with children and youth.

Coaching Begins with Instructor Development

Every future NWANA Coach begins with the Nordic Walking Instructor – Beginner Level Certification through NWANA Academy.

After completing the Beginner Level Certification, the candidate continues progressively through the required Instructor education, licensing, and practical-development stages.

Before becoming eligible to enter the Coaching Pathway, a candidate must:

• progress through the required NWANA Instructor levels;

• develop documented experience teaching Nordic Walking;

• demonstrate advanced understanding and performance of Nordic Walking technique;

• demonstrate the ability to observe, analyze, explain, and correct technique;

• complete the applicable assessments and practical requirements;

• satisfy the professional and conduct requirements established by NWANA;

• demonstrate readiness to assume responsibility for athlete development and structured training.

Previous athletic, instructional, fitness, coaching, or competition experience may be considered by NWANA, but it does not by itself authorize direct entry into Coach education or allow a candidate to bypass required NWANA stages.

From Instructor to Coach

An instructor teaches Nordic Walking technique within the scope of an active Instructor License.

A coach assumes broader responsibility for:

• athlete development;

• structured training programs;

• planning and monitoring training workloads;

• technical development under training and competition conditions;

• competition preparation;

• performance observation and evaluation;

• recovery and progression within the coach’s approved professional scope;

• long-term development of the athlete.

Teaching Nordic Walking technique is therefore an essential foundation for coaching, but holding an Instructor License alone does not grant Coach status.

Coach education becomes available only after NWANA confirms that the candidate has completed the required Instructor Pathway stages and practical development.

How Coaching Progression Works

1. Complete the Required Instructor Pathway

Complete the Instructor education, assessments, licenses, and practical experience required by NWANA before entering Coach education.

The applicable preparation includes progression through:

• Level 1 — Fundamentals Instructor;

• Level 2 — Fitness & Wellness Instructor;

• Level 3 — Competition Technique Instructor.

Progression must include practical instructional development. Completion of courses without the required assessments and experience is not sufficient.

2. Become Eligible for Coach Education

After the required Instructor Pathway preparation has been completed and verified, the first eligible Coach education becomes available through NWANA Academy.

Eligibility to begin Coach education does not activate a Coach License.

3. Complete Coach Education and Practical Preparation

Coach preparation may include:

• athlete assessment;

• training principles;

• session and program planning;

• workload organization;

• technical development;

• competition preparation;

• performance monitoring;

• practical coaching assignments;

• case studies;

• written assessments;

• video review;

• supervised or evaluated coaching experience.

4. Qualify for the Development Coach License

After completing the education, assessment, and practical requirements established for Level 1, submit a Professional License Eligibility Review.

If eligibility is confirmed, NWANA provides private instructions for purchasing the Active NWANA Development Coach License.

5. Develop Documented Coaching Experience

Progression to higher coaching levels requires practical coaching activity and evidence of readiness for greater responsibility.

The required experience may depend on the athletes, training environment, program, competition level, and responsibilities involved.

6. Progress Through the Coaching Levels

Level 2 becomes available only after the required Level 1 preparation and coaching experience have been completed and verified.

Level 3 becomes available only after the required Level 2 preparation, advanced coaching experience, assessments, and other requirements have been completed and verified.

Candidates cannot skip required coaching levels or enter an advanced Coach level directly.

Three Progressive Coaching Levels

Level 1 — Development Coach

Active NWANA Development Coach License

Level 1 is the entry level of the NWANA Coaching Pathway.

It is intended for qualified coaches working with beginner and developing Nordic Walking athletes in clubs, groups, community programs, sports organizations, and introductory competitive environments.

The word Development refers to the athlete’s stage of preparation, not the athlete’s age.

A Development Coach may be responsible for:

• evaluating an athlete’s current preparation;

• establishing appropriate development priorities;

• planning structured training sessions;

• supporting technical consistency;

• introducing progressive physical preparation;

• monitoring the athlete’s response to training;

• preparing developing athletes for appropriate competitive participation;

• maintaining training and development records when required.

Applicants must complete the Instructor Pathway prerequisites and the Coach education, assessments, practical assignments, experience, and eligibility process established by NWANA for Level 1.

An Active NWANA Development Coach License includes the professional instructional scope of NWANA Instructor Levels 1–3. Separate annual Instructor Licenses are not required while the Coach License remains active.

Annual license fee: $119

Level 2 — Competition Coach

Active NWANA Competition Coach License

Level 2 is for qualified coaches responsible for the systematic preparation of Nordic Walking athletes for competition.

Level 2 builds upon the Development Coach qualification and requires additional coaching education, assessment, practical experience, and NWANA approval.

A Competition Coach may be responsible for:

• developing structured short-term and seasonal training plans;

• organizing technical, physical, and competition preparation;

• monitoring performance and training response;

• identifying technical limitations under competition conditions;

• planning appropriate competition participation;

• preparing athletes for different courses, surfaces, weather conditions, distances, and competitive demands;

• evaluating competition performance and adjusting subsequent preparation.

Eligibility requires completion of the Level 1 Coaching Pathway requirements and the additional education, documented coaching activity, assessment, and practical preparation established by NWANA for Level 2.

While the Level 2 Coach License remains active, a separate annual Level 1 Coach License or separate annual Instructor Licenses are not required.

Annual license fee: $149

Level 3 — High Performance Coach

Active NWANA High Performance Coach License

Level 3 is the highest level of the NWANA Coaching Pathway.

It is intended for highly qualified coaches working with advanced athletes preparing for high-level national and international competition.

A High Performance Coach may be responsible for:

• advanced athlete development;

• long-term performance planning;

• integration of technical, physical, tactical, and competition preparation;

• individualization of training;

• detailed performance analysis;

• preparation for high-level competition environments;

• coordination with other qualified professionals supporting the athlete;

• leadership within an advanced training program.

Eligibility is based on more than course completion.

NWANA may require:

• advanced Coach education;

• an Active NWANA Competition Coach License;

• documented coaching experience;

• evidence of athlete development;

• practical coaching evaluation;

• advanced technical assessment;

• competition experience;

• professional references or supporting documentation;

• individual review and approval.

While the Level 3 Coach License remains active, separate annual Level 1 and Level 2 Coach Licenses or separate annual Instructor Licenses are not required.

The High Performance Coach License may prepare a qualified coach for advanced club, high-performance, and national-team coaching environments. It does not appoint the holder to a national team or authorize the holder to represent a country, national federation, national governing body, or other organization.

Any national-team appointment is made separately by the organization authorized to select and manage that team.

Annual license fee: $199

Coaching Children and Youth

A primary Coach License does not automatically authorize professional coaching involving athletes under age 18.

Coaches working with children or youth must complete the education, qualification, assessment, participant-protection, and licensing requirements applicable to the athletes and professional role.

The required combination includes:

• an appropriate active primary NWANA Coach License;

• the applicable Children’s, Youth, or Elite Youth specialist Coach License;

• an Active NWANA Minor Participant License;

• the applicable youth-athlete-development education and qualification requirements;

• any additional screening, safeguarding, supervision, consent, communication, organizational, or legal requirements.

Children’s Development Coach

Active NWANA Children’s Development Coach License

This specialist license is for qualified NWANA Coaches approved to work with children within the professional scope established for their coaching role.

The education and assessment for this license address the responsibilities associated with age-appropriate Nordic Walking development, instruction, training, communication, supervision, and program organization.

This specialist license supplements the coach’s active primary NWANA Coach License and does not replace it.

The holder must also maintain an Active NWANA Minor Participant License and satisfy all requirements applicable to the program, organization, professional role, and participant ages.

Annual specialist license fee: $69

Youth Development Coach

Active NWANA Youth Development Coach License

This specialist license is for qualified NWANA Coaches approved to work with developing youth athletes.

The license requires the applicable youth-athlete-development education, assessment, practical preparation, and professional approval established by NWANA.

This specialist license supplements the coach’s active primary NWANA Coach License and does not replace it.

The holder must also maintain an Active NWANA Minor Participant License and satisfy all requirements applicable to the program, organization, professional role, and participant ages.

Annual specialist license fee: $89

Elite Youth Coach

Active NWANA Elite Youth Coach License

This specialist license is for qualified coaches approved to work with youth athletes at an advanced competitive level.

Eligibility requires:

• an Active NWANA Competition Coach License;

• the applicable youth-athlete-development qualification;

• advanced education related to youth athlete development;

• documented coaching experience;

• practical and technical assessment;

• NWANA review and approval;

• an Active NWANA Minor Participant License;

• satisfaction of all participant-protection and program requirements.

This license does not appoint the holder to an NWANA youth, junior, development, or national team.

Annual specialist license fee: $119

Minor Participant License

Active NWANA Minor Participant License

This additional annual license is required for an NWANA professional whose approved role involves direct professional work or regular contact with participants under age 18.

It does not replace:

• a primary Coach License;

• a Children’s, Youth, or Elite Youth specialist Coach License;

• the applicable youth-athlete-development qualification;

• participant-protection or safeguarding education;

• background screening when required;

• parental or legal-guardian consent;

• supervision, communication, and reporting procedures;

• organizational approval;

• requirements established by applicable law.

Annual license fee: $49

High Performance Education and National Team Coaching

NWANA may educate, assess, and professionally license coaches preparing to work with advanced athletes, high-performance programs, national-team candidates, and athletes competing at national or international levels.

NWANA Coach education may also be used for the continuing professional development of coaches who already work within clubs, federations, national programs, or other high-performance environments.

An NWANA Coach License confirms the holder’s approved education, qualification, professional level, and coaching scope within the NWANA system.

It does not, by itself, appoint the holder as:

• a coach of a national team;

• a coach of a national federation;

• an Olympic or Paralympic team coach;

• an official representative of a country;

• an NWANA delegation or program coach;

• a Head Coach or Assistant Coach of any particular team.

Appointments to national teams are made by the applicable national federation, national governing body, Olympic or Paralympic organization, or other authority responsible for selecting and managing that team.

Each appointing organization determines whether it accepts an NWANA Coach License, requires additional qualifications, conducts its own selection process, or imposes additional education, experience, safeguarding, residency, citizenship, conduct, or performance requirements.

NWANA may cooperate with national federations and other authorized sports organizations to:

• provide Coach education and continuing professional development;

• evaluate technical and professional preparation;

• develop Nordic Walking coaching standards;

• prepare coaches for high-performance responsibilities;

• support coach-development programs;

• provide information about an individual’s verified NWANA education and active licenses, when authorized;

• deliver education established through a separate agreement with the responsible organization.

An NWANA High Performance Coach License may support a coach’s professional preparation for consideration by a national federation or another high-performance organization, but it does not guarantee recognition, selection, employment, or appointment.

NWANA may separately appoint coaches to programs, teams, camps, development initiatives, or delegations that are organized and controlled directly by NWANA. Such an appointment applies only to the specific NWANA program and does not constitute appointment to a national team.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Education

Education provides the technical knowledge, coaching principles, planning skills, practical preparation, and professional understanding required for the selected coaching role.

Certification

Certification confirms successful completion of a particular course, assessment, or qualification.

Professional License

An Active NWANA Coach License confirms the holder’s current approved coaching role, level, and professional scope within the NWANA system.

Completing a course or receiving a certificate does not automatically activate a Coach License.

NWANA must confirm that the candidate has satisfied the Instructor prerequisites, Coach education, assessments, practical experience, and other requirements applicable to the requested license.

Annual License Period

Active NWANA Coach and specialist licenses remain valid through December 31 of the applicable license year.

RunSignup automatically prorates the annual license fee according to the time remaining in that license year.

Licenses do not renew automatically.

Continued active status may require current education, continuing professional development, documented coaching activity, updated assessments, policy compliance, participant-protection requirements, or other conditions applicable to the new license year.

Professional Scope and Responsibility

A Coach License applies only to the professional level and scope identified by that license.

A Coach License does not automatically:

• authorize work beyond the holder’s approved coaching scope;

• grant Judge, Race Director, or Competition Technical Official status;

• authorize work involving minor athletes without the required additional licenses and conditions;

• appoint the holder to an NWANA team or program;

• authorize the holder to represent NWANA at a particular competition;

• guarantee athletes, employment, assignments, compensation, or team appointment;

• replace any government-issued, occupational, educational, medical, therapeutic, or other license required by applicable law.

Coaches must work within their approved professional scope and comply with current NWANA standards, policies, codes of conduct, competition requirements, and athlete-protection requirements.

Begin Working Toward the Coaching Pathway

Have You Not Yet Completed the Instructor Pathway?

Begin with the required Nordic Walking Instructor – Beginner Level Certification and continue through the progressive Instructor Pathway.

Are You Progressing Through the Instructor Requirements?

Continue in NWANA Academy with the next education, assessment, or practical requirement available through your Academy record.

Coach education will become available only after the applicable Instructor prerequisites have been completed and verified.

Have You Completed the Requirements for a Specific Coach License?

Review the licensing process and submit an Eligibility Review Request before attempting to purchase the license.

No payment is collected during the review. Submission does not activate a license or guarantee approval.

If eligibility is confirmed, NWANA will identify the approved Coach License and provide private purchase instructions.