Eight Admin Jobs Powerlifting Coaches Often Forget (UK)

Admin is nobody's favourite part of coaching, which is exactly why it gets forgotten. None of this is glamorous, but each one is easier to fix before it becomes a problem. This is general information for UK coaches, not legal or tax advice, and it was last checked on 3 October 2026.

If you have concerns about any of these points, contact an accountant, lawyer, or some other relevant and qualified person to give you advice. The below is not a substitute for that, only a brief list of some things you might not have realised you have to consider!

To coach or handle at a British Powerlifting national championship you need a valid Coaching Licence. It covers seven nationals, including Sub-junior, Junior, Classic Bench Press, BUCS, Equipped, Classic Masters and Open Classic. You need safeguarding, anti-doping and Diversity, Equality and Inclusion certificates, approved first, and then you apply through Sport:80. BP says that they will stop checking for new license applications 48 hours before a competition starts, and that applications can take two weeks, so my advice is to apply weeks before the comp, not days, to make sure you don't get caught out!

From 2027 onwards, you're going to need to have completed the BP Level 1 Assistant Coach course or higher. It is a two day course, which costs about £350. There are some ways around it if you have other qualifications though, so make sure to check carefully.

If you keep clients' names, emails, health data (e.g. injuries and externals), or training logs, you're handling personal data, and organisations that do (sole traders included) generally have to pay the ICO's data protection fee. Most small coaches fall into tier 1: a turnover of £632,000 or less, or ten staff or fewer. That's £52 a year, or £47 by direct debit. Skipping it is an expensive mistake: fixed penalties start at £400, and the maximum fine is £4,350.

If your gross coaching income (before expenses) passes the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year, consider if you need to tell HMRC by 5 October after that tax year ends. This is a gross threshold - not profit - so you can pass this without even making money! Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is also being phased in by income: over £50,000 from April 2026, over £30,000 from April 2027 and over £20,000 from April 2028.

A client's photo, video or testimonial is their personal data. Consent has to be freely given, specific, opt-in and easy to withdraw, so get it in writing, separate from the coaching agreement, and say where it will appear. You also need to explain clearly how your athletes can opt-out and honour their wishes if they do!

Injuries, medications and PAR-Q answers count as health data, which is a special category under UK GDPR. You need a lawful basis plus a special-category condition. For most coaches that means explicit consent: a clear statement that names the data, kept separate from other consents. Keep the data private, share it only with people who need it, and decide when you'll delete it.

Generally, public liability covers a client getting hurt and professional indemnity covers your advice. Having a policy isn't the same as being covered for what you actually do, so check that it names online coaching, group sessions and any venue you hire, and ask your insurer or broker if anything is unclear.

Consumers who buy coaching online or by message generally get 14 days to cancel. If you want to start coaching before the 14 days are up, get their express request in writing, and tell them they'll pay for what has already been delivered if they cancel. Start early without that, and they may not have to pay at all. You might want to put your cancellation and refund terms in your agreement before the first payment.

Ads have to be identifiable as ads, so label paid posts with "#ad" at the start of the description or post. Things like "#gifted" and "#aff" could be considered not clear enough. Testimonials aren't evidence that something works, and before-and-after photos need to be genuine, with the client's contact details on file. Claims like "add 20GL in a year" or "lose 10kg in six weeks" need evidence behind them, and the ASA treats such misleading claims as a serious problem.

Save this for admin day. Check the sources below before you act, because rules change.

And if you want help with your admin burden, consider switching to Auriga. Our platform will help you manage your roster easier, saving you time in the spreadsheets, and letting you focus on coaching!