BD backs first ever Coaching Week

British Dressage is showing its support of great coaching as part of the first ever Coaching Week, which launched yesterday, Monday 4 June.

To mark the launch of Coaching Week, UK Coaching, the lead agency for coaching in the UK; with a mission to put coaching at the heart of physical activity and sport, has unveiled its principles of ‘Great Coaching’ which support everyone in the UK to recognise and celebrate when great coaching is taking place.

Research conducted by YouGov on behalf of UK Coaching, revealed that over a 12-month period, 9.3 million adults in the UK received coaching. The majority found coaching to be an overwhelmingly positive experience; one which was enjoyable, motivational and contributed positively to improving their physical health and mental well-being. 

As a result, UK Coaching is helping to clarify the meaning of great coaching to the public, and working with agencies within sport to prioritise the importance of understanding the needs and aspirations of each individual when coaching.

The Principles of Great Coaching are centred on the acronym PEOPLE and have been designed to help people who are coached, coaches and the wider general public understand what great coaching is.

UK Coaching’s Principles of Great Coaching are:

Person-centred
Empowering
Organised
Positive
Learning
Engaging

The Principles will be launched during Coaching Week, which is running from the 4-10 June and is a UK-wide week-long celebration of great coaching. 

UK Coaching is working alongside a range of partners and national governing bodies of sport, including BD, to deliver a week that provides an annual platform to empower athletes and coaches to celebrate great coaching. 

To mark Coaching Week, UK Coaching and British Dressage are inviting people across the UK to share when and where they have experienced great coaching, and to recognise their own coach for practising UK Coaching’s Principles of Great Coaching by presenting them with a #GreatCoaching certificate, available from the UK Coaching website.   

The week also aims to highlight the broader benefits of coaching and the fact that great coaching can inspire others, and make a difference to people’s mental and physical well-being, as well as contributing to their individual, economic and social development. 

BD Training Director Paul Hayler commented: “This week is a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the role that coaches play within the dressage industry. A rider’s coach is a key element of their team. Not only does a coach convey technical knowledge, but also the guidance, mentorship and enthusiasm to inspire a rider to succeed. And to succeed is not all about winning – it can be improving horsemanship, enjoying the sport to the full, having the courage to take part, or aiming for a personal best score.

“We [British Dressage] have a network of Accredited and Recognised Coaches across the length and breadth of the UK and who are committed and passionate about helping riders to get the most from the sport. From coaches working at grass roots levels to high performance coaches working with our leading athletes, it’s important to recognise and celebrate the role they play in helping participants to achieve their goals.” 

Emma Atkins, Director of Coaching at UK Coaching: “To say we’re excited about the launch of Coaching Week is an understatement. Great coaching utilises sport and physical activity to meet our motivations, benefit and transform our lives. 

“As the lead organisation for coaching excellence it’s our vision to help create an active nation inspired through great coaching. Through our Principles the general public now have a guide to understand what that is and what effect it can have on them and society at large.  It is vital that we showcase how over 3 million people, who are currently coaching in the UK, are out there to support others through the medium of sport and physical activity. This is especially important during a time where we are seeing a range of societal issues, such as rising obesity; rising levels of mental health issues; and a growing epidemic of loneliness with both our young and elderly populations. 

“At the heart of all of this is the idea that people change people. Our Principles are centred on this word for that very reason. People change the lives of others. So if you want to make a change in your life go find a great coach who will help you be your best self.” 

Supporting the campaign, UK Sport Chair and former Olympic rowing champion Dame Katherine Grainger said: “I am extremely pleased to be supporting Coaching Week. 

"It is about time that we have an awareness week for coaching in the UK. The stories and success of our athletes are often well known but for millions of coaches, who work across the broad range of sport and activity from grassroots to high performance, their names, sacrifices and achievements usually go unnoticed.

“Coaching Week sets to redress this by providing a platform to allow athletes and coaches to celebrate the great work going on day in, day out, across the UK.

"The important thing to remember this week is that people are motivated in different ways and great coaching is the key to recognising those motivations, enabling people to reach their potential and thereby making a difference to people’s lives.”

Tennis coach Judy Murray, mother of double Olympic and two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said: “I’ve been coaching for almost 30 years so I’m extremely passionate about promoting coaching and am very happy to be celebrating Coaching Week along with the rest of the UK. 

“I started as a volunteer at Dunblane Tennis Club when my kids were tiny and discovered that I loved teaching tennis just as much as I had enjoyed playing.

“Great coaching is about sharing an enthusiasm and understanding of sport with others and helping your pupils improve while having fun, regardless of their age and ability.”

Join UK Coaching in celebrating great coaching and supporting Coaching Week from 4-10 June 2018 and share your #GreatCoaching experiences on social media. For more info, visit www.ukcoaching.org/greatcoaching