Inspirational and well-trained coaches are essential to developing Scottish athletes at all levels.
sportscotland want to see established, leading-edge communities of coaches, whose value and contribution is recognised at the highest level of sport.
Sportscotland will develop and strengthen coaching in Scotland by:
· carrying on the development of the Coaching Scotland strategy with our partners, aligned to the UK coaching framework; and
· provide leadership, support and investment for delivery partners to develop coaching at local, regional and national
Coaches work with all standards of sports participants, from novices to the very top sportsmen and sportswomen.
Full time jobs in coaching are scarce. They usually involve sports such as football, golf, athletics, tennis or horseracing.
Opportunities are more likely on a self-employed or part-time basis in sports centres, sports clubs, schools, activity centres, hotels and holiday camps. Many coaches are volunteers and therefore do their work unpaid.
Coaches monitor athletes' physical and mental condition, devise training programmes and help meet performance targets. Besides commanding a highly elaborate technical knowledge of their sport, coaches must be sensitive and supportive, while still being able to motivate their athletes.
Every coach needs to possess a recognised qualification in coaching, and each governing body of sport devises a training programme for coaching qualifications.
Many Scottish colleges offer Scottish Qualifications Authority courses in sports coaching and development. Some of these courses include the opportunity to study for national governing body awards. For a list of colleges offering this type of course, contact your local careers service or, if you are at school, contact your guidance teacher.
For more help and advice contact sportscotland's Coaching Team or Sports Coach UK, an organisation dedicated to coach development and education throughout the UK.
As a result of the review of Coaching Scotland in 2005, sportscotland has continued to expand and invest in a network of coaching professionals, whose primary role is to manage the education and development of coaches in their sport or local authority area.
sportscotland currently has a 30-strong Coaching Network made up of individuals based in local authorities and governing bodies.
sportscotland will continue to expand and invest in the Coaching Network to further the development and professionalism of coaching in Scotland.
Scottish Disability Sport
COACHING SCOTLAND…….COACHING NETWORK
Key Performance Outcomes for SDS as a partner of sportscotland.
1. Development and delivery of an Integrated Coaching plan aligned to the action points of Coaching Scotland
Plan to be prepared.
2. Delivery of diverse annual programme of coach education and training reflecting the needs of sport in line with Long Term Player Development Pathway
· LTDP expert resource group to be established
· conduct research
· work with UK partners
3. Support the successful implementation of UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) courses
To work with Scottish partners and seek guidance on most effective level of support.
4. In partnership with identified Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGB’s) produce a workforce development (WD) plan for coaching
· identify appropriate SDS sports for (WD)
· possibly Strand 1 and Strand 2 sports
· audit of selected sports (2)
· agree sport needs
· set up SDS organised sports specific governing body level 1 course with subsidy
· develop plans per sport with gradual build
5. Establishment and maintenance of a Regular Coaches Forum to meet the needs of local coaches
· establish SDS Pilot Coaches Forum
· fund and set up education evenings
· identify top speakers
· possible clothing identification
6. Establishment and maintenance of a Coach Scholarship Programme
· identify coach scholarship funding
· invite applications
· determine potential recipients
7. Maintenance of an accurate database of coaches to include volunteer and paid coaches
· set up coach registration on website
· invite established coaches to register
o per sport
o per disability group
o per area
o level of involvement
o education background
8. Increase the number of paid coaching opportunities
· encourage the appointment of sport specific disability coaches at area level
9. Production and implementation of Coach Mentoring programme
· identify experienced disability coaches
· identify coaches to be mentored
· establish a programme of opportunities
