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First sports coaches achieve Derbyshire Coach Mark

28 May 2008

The pilot scheme is designed to assist schools in ensuring that the coaches they use are quality assured, operating to a set standard and offering a high quality coaching experience for all young people.

In order to achieve the Derbyshire Coach Mark coaches must attend a number of workshops including those on safeguarding children, coaching disabled performers and FUNdamentals, as well as having a current CRB disclosure and a relevant Governing Body qualification.

A priority within the Derbyshire Coach Mark is that the coaches are also observed against UK Coaching Certificate competencies in line with how to coach skills such as inclusion of all participants, communication and evaluation.

Achieving the Derbyshire Coach Mark is Craig Statham and Sarah Bingham from Amber Valley Borough Council, and Paul Halfpenny from Bolsover District Council.

Also achieving the Derbyshire Coach Mark is freelance coaches Angela Doodson, who runs her own dance school and teaches the community group Creswell Disco Divas as well as at Amber Valley schools, and Ken Hardy, who runs Lane1 Coaching (Little Adults Need Exercise), and coaches at a number of schools in Amber Valley including Aldercar Community Language College.

Each were presented with a certificate, as well as Derbyshire Coach Mark branded bags, folders, ID badges and lanyards, during a presentation at Waingroves Primary School in Ripley.

Derbyshire Coach Mark is currently a pilot project within Amber Valley and Bolsover, with 50 coaches involved who are employed by a variety of organisations including Local Authorities, National Governing Bodies and Coach Agencies.

It will be rolled out in phases across Derbyshire, with a further two or three districts due to come on board in July 2008.

Another 15 coaches will shortly achieve Derbyshire Coach Mark with many of the coaches already achieving the Provisional Standard.

Derbyshire Sport Coach and Volunteer Development Officer Andrea Stone said: “The Coach Mark aims to ensure that young people across the county are receiving a consistently high level of sports coaching, whichever school they attend.

“I congratulate all the coaches who have achieved the Derbyshire Coach Mark while it is still in its pilot phase.”

12 observers have received one and a half day’s observer training delivered by Sports Coach UK and Rugby Football Union to ensure they understood the process, had appropriate observer and questioning skills, and to ensure consistency across all observations.

Schools have received information about the Derbyshire Coach Mark and minimum standards when employing/deploying coaches, with good practice guidance and frequently asked questions sheet.

£9,000 has been secured to support 20 coaches achieve a level 2 or level 3 coach qualifications and to support 40 attendances on minimum operating standards workshops.