121/2003
27 October 2003
31 Sports Kick Off New Era for Coaching
New national qualification will create a real career for sports coaches from the school yard to the international arena
Plans to revolutionise sports coaching in the UK received a boost with the news that 31 sports have endorsed the new national qualification for coaches.
Sports as diverse as archery and volleyball, football and cricket, are supporting the National Coaching Certificate (NCC), which will give coaches a nationally recognised and transferable professional qualification for the first time. From parents wanting to help improve their children's skills to elite trainers, the certificate will recognise their abilities and achievements.
The certificate is being designed by sports coach UK (formerly the National Coaching Foundation), working with governing bodies, UK Sport and the Home Country Sports Councils.
Sports Minister Richard Caborn welcomed the step forward for the NCC saying:
"Coaches are crucial for sport at all levels - on the school pitch, in the local club or for major international teams. They are the people who motivate, encourage and inspire.
"This certificate will recognise coaching as it should - a profession with a proper accredited qualification and career development structure - and help to tackle the shortage of coaches, both professional and voluntary."
Evan Crawford, the Rugby Football Union's Head of Coaching Development also backed the move, saying:
"We are totally committed to and fully behind the concept of the National Coaching Certificate.
"Like many governing bodies the RFU has ploughed its own furrow and developed its own coaching courses and we feel we have done well in this area.
"The NCC now gives us an opportunity to benchmark rugby union against national standards and other sports. If one of the requirements for governing bodies is that their qualifications must now fit in with a national qualification network, then that gives coaching huge credibility as a career."
20 of the 31 sports will be funded to implement the NCC by the end of 2006. The other 11 will receive non-financial support to enable them to lead the second wave of implementation shortly thereafter.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1 Following the DCMS Sports Summit on July 14, formal invitations to participate in the National Coaching Certificate were issued to the governing bodies of 31 sports. In the light of the overwhelmingly positive responses received, the announcement today confirms that all of those sports have agreed in principle to be considered for inclusion within the 20 that will make up the first wave of implementation.
2 The 31 sports are:
Angling; Archery; Athletics; Badminton; Basketball; Bowls; Canoeing; Cricket; Cycling; Equestrian; Football; Golf; Gymnastics; Hockey; Judo; Karate; Mountaineering; Movement/Dance; Netball; Orienteering; Rounders; Rowing; Rugby League; Rugby Union; Sailing; Squash; Swimming; Table tennis; Tennis; Triathlon; Volleyball.
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