‘Are We Missing The Coach For 2012?’ - commissioned from Loughborough University by Sportnation, calls for an extra 160,000 to 233,500 additional paid coaches to be in place by 2016.
sports coach UK – the organisation tasked to lead the development and implementation of a world-leading coaching system - has questioned this figure, stating that extensive consultation has established that 42,000 additional positions will meet participation, talent-development and performance objectives, and training requirements. It also takes into account the capacity of Governing Bodies of Sport (GBs) and support agencies to establish a sustainable coaching structure1.
The Sportnation report has also claimed that a culture of volunteerism in sports coaching means there is a lack of formal remuneration and career structure for coaches. It says that this risks a ‘brain drain’ from coaching as well as perpetuating a cycle of social exclusion.
The UK Coaching Framework – developed by sports coach UK in cooperation with policy, funding and sporting partners – contains a vision of a coaching system that is cohesive, ethical, inclusive and valued where skilled coaches support children, players and athletes at all stages of their development, and which is a world-leader by 2016. This system will be underpinned by a clear career structures for coaches within a professionally regulated vocation, giving coaches the structure they deserve.
Initiatives are already in place to meet this vision. The Community Sports Coach Scheme, a recommendation of the DCMS Coaching Task Force Report (2002), has created an army of professional coaches, establishing over 3,000 paid Community Sports Coaches (CSCs).
Research by sports coach UK shows that the scheme has also reduced social barriers and has had a major impact in recruiting paid coaches from black and ethnic minority (BEM) and lower socio-economic backgrounds. It has also improved the quality of coaching through increased Continuous Professional Development, the sharing of good practice and the support of the sports coach UK coach-development network.
Quantitative evidence suggests the scheme has also had a beneficial impact on volunteer coaches as CSCs have passed on new ideas, challenged current thinking, and ‘upskilled’ local deliverers.
The UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC), also established as a result of the DCMS Coaching Task Force Report (2002), is another initiative in the move to professionalise coaching. The UKCC ensures that the courses delivered by GBs are externally verified and endorsed and meet a set standard, sport-wide.
The Sportnation report proposes a structure whereby coaching volunteers are categorised as ‘sports helpers’ and not coaches. However, initiatives such as the UKCC recognises that it is important not to lose sight of the community values, mutual support and sense of belonging inherent in volunteer coaching and that there is a place in the UK coaching system for both trained volunteer and trained professional coaches. The balance between volunteer and paid coaches will be closely monitored, with a progressive and targeted increase in the number of paid coaches.
Ensuring the United Kingdom has a world-leading coaching system by 2016 presents an exciting challenge for all involved, but the foundations have already been laid to ensure this challenge is met.
Ends
Notes to Editor:
For more information please contact Heather Moir on 07980 595064 or hmoir@sportscoachuk.org, or Chris Pearce on 0113 2744802 or cpearce@sportscoachuk.org
sports coach UKis a charitable organisation, jointly funded by Sport England and UK Sport, and is the lead agency charged with the development and implementation of a UK Coaching system. More information at www.sportscoachuk.org <http://www.sportscoachuk.org>
The UK Coaching Framework will put in place a structure to create an ethical, inclusive and valued coaching system where skilled coaches support children, players and athletes at all stages of their development in sport, and which is number one in the world by 2016. More information at www.sportscoachuk.org <http://www.sportscoachuk.org>
Sportnation is an independent think-tank supported by the Lucozade Sports Science Academy.
1 This figure will be the subject of further analysis and a final workforce projection up to 2016 will be developed by March 2009.
