There has never been a more exciting time for sport and coaching in the UK. The prospect of hosting the Olympic and Paralymic Games in 2012 has provided an uplifting impetus and direction for the entire sports system.
The recruitment and support of current and subsequent coaches is crucial if we are to create a sporting legacy that goes beyond the 2012 Games. Now is the time to begin the work that will not only deliver medals at 2012 but which will ensure that the UK has a sporting system that is the envy of the world by 2016.
The system should provide high-quality sport opportunities for children, players and athletes at all stages of their development. They should be supported by qualified coaches working within a supportive structure at club, school, regional and national level. There should be a pathway for every child in sport that provides them with the opportunity to pursue their dreams, guided by their choices and capabilities. Investment in coaching will reap rich dividends in terms of sporting participation, healthy lifestyles and sporting success.
In order to take up this challenge sports coach UK was tasked at the end of 2005 to develop a UK Coaching Framework (formerly The UK Action Plan for Coaching) in partnership with governing bodies' of sport and the key funding agencies: UK Sport, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Home Country Sports Councils, the Department for Education and Skills, the British Olympic Association, Youth Sport Trust and SkillsActive.
A wide-ranging process of consultation was undertaken which spanned all of 2006 and someway into 2007. The findings of which will form the UK Coaching Framework and identify clear targets to further enhance coaching in the UK.
The UK Coaching Framework aims to:
- clearly map out the key goals, structures, resources and outcomes for the UK Coaching Framework (UKCF) over three main phases: 2005-2008 (three years from start date), 2009-2012 (seven years from start date) and 2013-2016 (11 years from start date)
- identify and agree the specific role to be played by sports coach UK as the gevernment-designated support/technical agency for coaching
- identify and agree the optimal working arrangements between sports coach UK and key partners in government and governing bodies' of sport
- identify and agree the processes and procedures required in order for sports coach UK to provide relevant, cutting-edge services, products and systems that support the coaching process at all levels.
Coaching will play a key role in the period ahead, providing exciting and rewarding pathways for many young people and adults in sport, as well as the extra edge that will help our athletes get to the top of the world. sports coach UK is committed to working with governing bodies' of sport and all other agencies to ensure that the necessary coaching infrastructure is in place to make this happen at all levels of our system.
