Sports coach UK has dismissed suggestions in the media that the UK Coaching Framework, the blueprint to create a world-leading coaching system, will undermine the role of volunteers.
The vision outlined in the Framework is to create a cohesive, ethical, inclusive and valued coaching system where skilled coaches support children, adults, players and athletes at all stages of their development in sport, and that is world-leading by 2016.
The Framework highlights how sports coach UK plans to work in close partnership with Governing Bodies of Sport and each of the Home Country Sports Councils to enhance the quality and quantity of coaches at all levels of sport. The objective is to help coaches play a key role in increasing sport participation, improving sporting performances and in building a clear career structure for coaches within a professionally regulated vocation.
Reports in the media have claimed that the UK Coaching Framework will alienate volunteer coaches but sports coach UK Group Chief Executive Dr Pat Duffy has made it clear that volunteers have a key role to play in the envisaged coaching system, and that the Framework is designed to ensure all coaches get the support they require, be they paid or volunteer.
He said:
"There will be a need for up to 700,000 volunteers annually to be involved in coaching. This volunteer input is pivotal to the creation of a locally based sporting culture that develops young sports participants; supports family life and builds communities. One of the five Strategic Action Areas in the UK Coaching Framework relates to ‘support for coaches’ and proposes wider access to education, qualifications, support and mentoring for all coaches, including volunteers."
Dr Duffy also allayed fears that the aim of the Framework to make coaching a recognised profession will mean volunteer coaches are sidelined.
He said: "One of the other key goals of the Framework is to establish coaching as a professionally regulated vocation. This will include provisions that are volunteer-friendly, while enhancing the standard and status of coaching at all levels."
Following extensive consultation, 29 sports, all four Home Country Sports Councils, UK Sport, Skills Active and the Youth Sport Trust have signed up to the document as the reference point for developing the coaching system in the UK up to 2016 and Dr Duffy added: "All agencies are committed to developing a detailed plan on The Coaching Workforce by March 2009. This document will outline the coaching needs of the UK up to 2016 and it is anticipated that two thirds of the total workforce will be volunteer.
"Before this document is produced, there is a need for an informed debate on the type of coaching workforce we need and on the best way to recruit and support active, skilled and qualified coaches in volunteer and paid roles."
