ADAPT Coaching
Standards
These standards define the conditions under which an ADAPT-certified coach operates. They are not a ceiling — they are a floor. Every certified coach is expected to meet them without exception. The best coaches treat them as a starting point and build from there.
What we stand for
Parkour is a discipline that develops capable, confident, self-aware movers. Teaching it well is one of the most demanding and rewarding things a coach can do. ADAPT exists to raise the standard of parkour coaching globally — not to regulate it from the outside in, but to build a community of practitioners who hold themselves to a high standard because they understand why it matters.
These coaching standards reflect that purpose. They are grounded in the reality of what it means to coach parkour — in gyms, schools, parks, urban spaces, and community settings — and in the obligation every coach carries to the people in their sessions and to the discipline they represent.
A coach who meets these standards is not just a safer coach. They are a better coach. The same attentiveness, precision of judgement, and honesty about one's own limitations that makes a session safe is exactly what makes it excellent. Safety and quality are not in tension in parkour. They are the same thing, approached from different angles.
Certification requirements
All coaches delivering parkour sessions under the ADAPT framework must hold current certification at the appropriate level for their role. Certification is not a formality — it represents demonstrated competency across coaching knowledge, practical delivery, and professional understanding.
Coach
The entry-level ADAPT certification. A Level 1 Coach is qualified to assist in the delivery of parkour sessions under the direct supervision of a Level 2 or Level 3 Coach, or to lead sessions in the absence of a Level 2 Coach.
- Capable of teaching the basics of parkour
- Works best in partnership with a Level 2 Coach
- Cannot supervise other Level 1 Coaches
- Must hold current safeguarding and first aid certifications
Lead Coach
The professional standard ADAPT certification. A Level 2 Coach is qualified to plan, lead, and deliver parkour sessions independently across a range of environments and participant groups.
- Can lead sessions independently
- Can supervise Level 1 Coaches
- Should be able to adapt to any coaching scenario presented
- Carries full responsibility for session safety, planning, and delivery
- Must hold current safeguarding, first aid, and DBS/equivalent certifications
Mandatory supporting certifications
Safeguarding training
All coaches working with children, young people, or adults at risk must hold a current safeguarding qualification appropriate to their country of practice. Renewed every three years. See the Safeguarding page for approved providers by country.
First aid certification
All coaches leading sessions independently must hold a current first aid qualification appropriate to their coaching context. Coaches working with under-18s must hold paediatric first aid training. Renewed every three years. See the First Aid Requirements page for full guidance.
Criminal record check
All coaches working with children or adults at risk must hold a current enhanced criminal record check for their country — DBS (England and Wales), PVG (Scotland), AccessNI (Northern Ireland), or the country-equivalent. Renewed every three years.
Coaching environments
ADAPT-certified coaches may deliver parkour in the following designated environment types. In all cases, the environment must have been subject to an appropriate risk assessment before the session begins and must be suitable for the activities planned and the participants present.
Indoor private spaces
Dedicated parkour gyms, parkour schools, sports halls under hire agreement, and other indoor private facilities. Typically the most controlled environment. Coach must verify equipment integrity and surface safety before the session begins.
Indoor public spaces
Leisure centres, community sports facilities, school gymnasiums, and similar publicly accessible indoor venues. Coach must confirm that an appropriate hire or usage agreement is in place and verify that the space and available equipment are suitable for the planned session.
Outdoor private spaces
School playgrounds, private parks, outdoor training facilities under landowner control with permission granted for coaching. Coach must conduct an environmental inspection prior to the session and assess for weather conditions, surface integrity, and third-party access.
Outdoor public spaces
Parks, plazas, public urban environments, and other spaces not under the coach's ownership or formal control. Requires the most careful environmental risk assessment. A reduced coach-to-participant ratio applies (see below). Coach must confirm there is no restriction on using the space for structured coaching activity.
Coaching in any environment without appropriate permission, hire agreement, or landowner consent is not covered by ADAPT's framework and may constitute trespass. It also damages the parkour community's relationship with land owners, local authorities, and the public. Always confirm access before you coach.
Coach-to-participant ratios
The following ratios define the maximum number of participants a coach may be responsible for in a given environment. These are hard limits — they exist because parkour involves real physical risk that requires active supervision and the ability to respond immediately when something goes wrong.
| Environment | Maximum ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor private or public spaces or managed outdoor spaces | 1 : 15 | Per coach. A Level 2 Coach can lead up to 45 participants with appropriate Level 1 support at this ratio. |
| Outdoor public spaces | 1 : 8 | The reduced ratio reflects environmental unpredictability, the presence of third parties, and reduced control over movement zones. |
| Children and young people (all environments) | 1 : 15 or lower | Coaches must reduce ratios further based on the age, ability, and support needs of the group. Younger children and those with additional needs require smaller groups. |
| High-risk activities or elevated environments | Coach's professional judgement | Where movements involve significant height, novel structures, or elevated challenge, coaches must reduce ratios to a level that allows adequate supervision and spotting. Document your reasoning. |
Ratios are calculated per active coach, not per course booking. A Level 1 Coach co-delivering with a Level 2 Coach counts toward the ratio only for activities they are directly supervising.
Professional conduct
The following standards apply to every ADAPT-certified coach in every session. They are not exhaustive — professional judgement and personal integrity will always be required. But they define the minimum ADAPT expects and the community deserves.
Arrive prepared
Inspect your environment before participants arrive. Check all surfaces, structures, and equipment you plan to use. Conduct or review your risk assessment. Know your emergency procedures. Have emergency contact information accessible. Know the location of the nearest first aid kit and the route to the nearest hospital.
Know your participants
Before the session, be aware of any medical conditions, injuries, or additional needs among those in your care. For children's sessions, ensure that registration and consent processes have been completed. Never begin coaching a group you know nothing about.
Operate within your certification level
Do not coach movements, populations, or environments that fall outside your training and experience. If you are unsure whether something is within your scope, seek guidance before proceeding. Honest self-assessment is a core coaching competency — not a sign of weakness.
Respect the participant's agency
Parkour develops autonomous, self-aware movers. Your role is to support that process — not override it. Never pressure a participant to attempt a movement they are not ready for. Create explicit permission to decline a challenge without embarrassment. Treat hesitation as information, not an obstacle to manage.
Maintain appropriate boundaries
Physical coaching can involve contact for spotting and demonstration. All contact must be purposeful, minimal, and carried out with the participant's awareness and consent. No private communication with minors outside sanctioned organisational channels. No dual relationships that compromise professional judgement.
Record incidents
Any accident, injury, near-miss, or safeguarding concern must be recorded in writing as soon as possible after the event. Records must be stored securely and reported to your organisation and insurer in line with their procedures. See the Accident and Incident Reporting page for guidance and templates.
Hold current insurance
All coaches delivering sessions must hold current public liability insurance that explicitly covers parkour coaching in the environments they work in. Do not assume a generic sports coaching policy is sufficient. Verify the coverage. See the Safe Practice page for guidance on insurance requirements.
Represent the discipline with integrity
You are not simply delivering sessions — you are representing parkour to every participant, parent, venue, and bystander who encounters your coaching. How you prepare, communicate, and manage difficulty shapes how the discipline is perceived and whether the communities we work in continue to welcome us.
Ongoing development
Certification is a point in time. Coaching is a practice that develops over a career. ADAPT expects all certified coaches to engage in ongoing professional development — not because it is required, but because it is what good coaches do.
This means staying current with developments in coaching science and pedagogy; renewing safeguarding and first aid certifications on schedule; engaging with the ADAPT community and the broader coaching world; attending CPD courses relevant to your practice; and — above all — reflecting honestly on your own coaching and committing to improving it.
The best coaches we know are still students. They watch sessions, ask questions, seek feedback, and change their minds when they encounter better thinking. That disposition — intellectual curiosity combined with rigorous self-honesty — is the most reliable indicator of long-term quality in a coach. ADAPT's CPD programme exists to support it.
Compliance and enforcement
These standards are a condition of ADAPT certification. Coaches who consistently fail to meet them, or who are found to have acted in serious breach of them, may have their certification suspended or withdrawn. ADAPT will investigate concerns raised about the conduct of certified coaches and will cooperate fully with statutory authorities and national governing bodies where investigations are underway.
If you have a concern about the conduct of an ADAPT-certified coach, contact us. Concerns relating to safeguarding should always be directed to the dedicated safeguarding address below.