Sport Coaching Strategy

Sport Coaching Strategy 

     

    

 

1. Background

The Sport Coaching Strategy of Leeds Metropolitan University has been developed in the context of the overall strategic plan of the University. The University has set out a vision: ' to be acknowledged for our commitment to student success; our innovation and enterprise; our global reach and local impact'.

 

 

2. Objectives of the Sport Coaching Strategy

In support of this goal, the Sport Coaching Strategy of the University seeks: ' to create an excellent and inclusive learning environment for students and practitioners of sport coaching, informed by research and enterprise which impacts at a regional, national and international level '.

In order to achieve this vision, six core objectives have been set:

 

1. Professional preparation

Provide a full range of high quality and flexible professional preparation programmes, with an emphasis on front-line coaching; high performing coaches; coach developers and coaching system builders.

 

2. Research

Deliver applied and ground-breaking research that is informed by the needs of participants; coaches; coach developers; Governing Bodies and other relevant agencies.

 

3. Sport Coaching infrastructure

Establish a high quality sport coaching infrastructure to support participation, performance, student learning and targeted high performance objectives.

 

4. Sport Coaching innovations

Deliver innovative services for solutions for sport coaching through research and enterprise.

 

5. UK Centre for Coaching Excellence

Seek to activate the designation of the University as the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence in support of Government policy and in partnership with key agencies.

 

6. International focal point

Establish the University as an international focal point for the development of sport coaching.

 

 

3. Progress

The implementation of the strategy is overseen by an Implementation Group that meets on a monthly basis. The group links with an ad-hoc strategic group working within the Carnegie Faculty and wider University levels.

Areas of progress within the strategy include the consolidation and further evolution of the undergraduate Sport Coaching programme; the development of Masters and PhD level programmes in Sport Coaching, all of which are supported by a vibrant programme of professional development through Governing Bodies at levels 1 - 3 of the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC).

The Sport Coaching infrastructure has been consolidated and two senior appointments have been made with responsibilities in High Performance and Enterprise; and in Professional Development. The University also deploys a range of full-time, part-time and volunteer coaches in support of its objectives in student participation and engagement; talent development; performance and high performance.

A Sport Coaching Innovations unit has been set up to drive the link between research and enterprise. This has led to a number of key revenue generating projects with Governing Bodies of Sport; Policy and funding organisations in sport; the corporate sector; the EU Commission Sport Unit and International partners. The work of this unit is also closely linked to the recently formed research centre in Sport Coaching and Physical Education (SCoPE).

The Global Coaching Office has also been located at the University as part of a long-term partnership with the International Council for Coach Development (ICCE).

Following on from this development, the University has indicated its intention to enter a partnership with ICCE; Morrisons PLC and WDR to form a social enterprise company called the Global Coaching House. This enterprise will create networking and professional development opportunities for sport coaches at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics and beyond, as well as forging strong synergies with business.

 

 

4. Morrisons Coaching for Performance

As part of the implementation of the strategy, the sport coaching team has also been engaged in an innovative programme to apply sport coaching principles to business as part of the Morrisons Coaching for Performance Programme. This programme, which has been running since March 2010, has played an important role in enhancing employee engagement and business performance within Morrisons.

As a result of this success, Morrisons and its embedded training partner WDR, have sought the formal involvement of Leeds Metropolitan University in the creation of a social enterprise company with the running title of 'The Centre for Coaching Excellence'.

 

 

5. The UK Centre for Coaching Excellence

Since 2007, Leeds Metropolitan University has held the designation of UK Centre for Coaching Excellence. This designation, announced by the Minister for Sport, arose from a competitive process that was initiated in the context of the UK Coaching Framework. The University has invested significantly in developing the infrastructure to support the activation of the Centre, through its Sport Coaching Strategy.

The University has sought to activate this designation with Sports Coach UK, the organisation that has been charged with leading the implementation of the UK Coaching Framework. Sports Coach UK has indicated that it does not wish to activate this designation on the basis that it does not have the funding and that, apparently, there is not support among the key partners across the UK for the implementation of the concept.

Notwithstanding this position, the University remains fully committed to the activation of the Centre, as agreed within the context of the UK Coaching Framework, with the key objectives of:

 

1. Acting as a focal point for education and further development of high performing coaches of children; talent identified athletes; adult participants; high performance athletes.

 

2. Subject to the agreement of each home country, to develop a UK-wide consortium of key agencies and individuals with proven track records in coaching and coach education.

In addition, the University has committed to the provision of a range of services in line with the objectives that were set out as part of the initial tendering process.

The University holds the view that the activation of a collaboratively formed and operated UK Centre for Coaching Excellence is central to the achievement of the vision of the UK Coaching Framework and to the establishment of sport coaching as a professionally regulated vocation.

 

 

6.       Process of engagement

Leeds Metropolitan University now proposes a process of engagement with key partners across the sport coaching landscape of the UK with a view to:

 

a.       Understanding the sport coaching policy objectives of Government and other key partners to 2016 and beyond.

 

b.      Identifying the ways in which the Sport Coaching Strategy of the University might assist partners in sport coaching to achieve their objectives and support the implementation of the UK Coaching Framework.

 

c.       Exploring possible models for the establishment of the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence, maximising synergies, teamwork and efficiencies across the sporting landscape.

 

d.      Exploring possible synergies between the UKCCE concept and the proposed Centre for Coaching Excellence that has emerged from the Morrisons Coaching for Performance project.

 

e.      Exploring how the University might contribute to the coaching landscape beyond 2012.

 

This process of engagement has been formally commissioned by the Dean of the Carnegie Faculty, Gareth Davies and will be led by Pauline Harrison, recently appointed Strategic and Business Learning Manager at the University. The process will involve formal discussions with key partners in sport coaching in the first instance. A preliminary report will be produced by the end of May 2012, following which the University will seek to finalise its position by agreement with key stakeholders.