Information on Loughborough
News Index
2009
Nov 2009Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Loughborough research calls for professional coaching pathways
Posted on 26/12/08
Loughborough research calls for professional coaching pathways
Researchers at Loughborough University have warned that the lack of paid opportunities and professional pathways for coaches undermines the Governments aim to make the UK the worlds number one coaching nation by 2016.
Staff at the Universitys School of Sport and Exercise Sciences (SSES) undertook the three-month project on behalf of sports think-tank Sportnation, and uncovered a shortfall of paid coaching positions and limited career progression for home grown coaches which placed an unfair burden on unpaid volunteers. They called for better support for coaches at all levels, and greater appreciation of their role.
Professionals from 12 sports athletics, badminton, cricket, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rowing, swimming, tennis, triathlon and volleyball were consulted in the study which was designed to examine the issues within coaching and current coaching structures.
Utilising the expertise of research team Dr Tess Kay, Professor Kathy Armour, Dr Chris Cushion and Dr Rod Thorpe the study included analysis of existing published material as well as one-to-one interviews with Performance Directors and senior representatives from the identified sports.
According to the research, 69% of the 1.2m to 1.5m sports coaches in the UK are unpaid volunteers and in a sport such as athletics for example there are as few as 12 full-time paid performance coaches in the UK, with some disciplines having no full-time coach at all.
The research found that relying on a voluntary structure led to some groups being under-represented in coaching, in particular females, non-white groups and people from less affluent sectors of the community. Several of the sports interviewed felt that this narrowed their appeal to potential participants and limited the range of talented young athletes they attracted.
The research also found inconsistency between sports and a lack of formal pathway from recreational and community coaching through to coaching of elite athletes.
In response to the findings, commissioning organisation Sportnation has produced a report Are we missing the coach for 2012 which calls for investment in creating between 160,000 and 233,500 additional paid professional coaching positions by 2016.
The report identifies three principal factors child and family poverty, the rise in one-parent families and working hours which mean reliance on volunteerism can result in social exclusion within sports coaching and sport. As a result only a self-selecting group of people can afford to give up their time as volunteer sports coaches. Better support and funding would give greater recognition to the contribution these people make, provide better support for those who want to develop their coaching abilities further, and widen the pool of potential coaches.
Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Youth Sport Dr Tess Kay, who led the project, believes the research enabled the department to put hard evidence behind previous assumptions.
We were very aware of the challenges facing coaches in the UK, especially in relation to providing appropriate support to athletes at the highest level of elite performance, but what the research showed us was how acute the problems actually are, she said.
It is very clear that the excellent work done by coaches on a voluntary basis needs to be more fully supported. There is a real need for clearer pathways for developing coaches and more investment in people willing to give their skills and time to coaching.
Its been really helpful to be able to tap into such a range of expert opinion from within sport to tell us what it needed. We do need to invest heavily in coaching if were truly serious about maximising this countrys enormous potential in sport. If we do this we can bring in a far wider range of talented young people and support them much better in their pursuit of excellence.
Whether this will actually happen does depend on appropriate support from sport itself, politicians, Government agencies and commercial partners. We have to hope their support will be forthcoming.
Latest News
Launceston Road junction improvements begin | |
|---|---|
 | Highways, Transportation & Waste Management20 November 2009Launceston Road junction improvements beginWork on a new road layout to ease traffic congestion is starting at a key junction in Wigston next week. The £60,000 improvements to the junction of Station Road and Launceston Road include a new mini roundabout and an extension to the on-pavement cycle lane.... 21 Nov 2009 Launceston Road junction improvements begin |
Accident-reducing road improvements in Hinckley | |
| Highways, Transportation & Waste Management20 November 2009Accident-reducing road improvements in HinckleyWork is starting on the second phase of a £110,000 road improvement scheme to reduce accidents along a key route in Hinckley. The work on Dodwells Road and Normandy Way, which is being carried out by Leicestershire County Council, is due to start on Monday.... 21 Nov 2009 Accident-reducing road improvements in Hinckley |
Seven schools receive £16 million revamp | |
| 20 November 2009Seven schools receive. .... 21 Nov 2009 Seven schools receive £16 million revamp |
Interactive event to challenge views on museum culture | |
 | University of Leicester PhD organise 'Materiality and Intangibility: Contested Zones', an event for researchers and artists working with museums... 20 Nov 2009 Interactive event to challenge views on museum culture |
An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke | |
| 10th Man to walk on the moon to lecture at the University of Leicester in a filled-to-capacity public event... 20 Nov 2009 An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke |
Related News
Loughborough Findings on Sports Coaching | |
|---|---|
 | Researchers at Loughborough University have warned that the lack of paid opportunities and professional pathways for coaches undermines the Governments aim to make the UK the world s number one coaching nation by 2016. ... 29 Jan 2008 Loughborough Findings on Sports Coaching |
Ian Armiger Awarded | |
| Ian Armiger, Loughborough University s Director of Swimming, is to be honoured at the 2007 Sports Coach UK Coaching Awards. ... 14 Nov 2007 Ian Armiger Awarded |
Loughborough Club, Coach and Volunteer Evening | |
 | Advice will be available for aspiring or current sports coaches, volunteers and representatives from sports and leisure clubs throughout Charnwood at an event next week. A Club, Coach and Volunteer evening is to be held at Loughborough University s John Beckwith Building from 6.45pm to 8.30pm on Thursday, October 15. ... 09 Oct 2009 Loughborough Club, Coach and Volunteer Evening |
Coaching the Coaches! | |
 | CLUBS and coaches in Charnwood are set to benefit from a free event organised by the Charnwood Sport and Active Recreation Alliance (CSARA). The first Club and Coaches evening of 2009 will take place on Tuesday, March 17th between 6.30pm and 8.30pm..... 04 Mar 2009 Coaching the Coaches! |
BBC Award for Swimming Coach | |
| Ian Armiger, Loughborough Universitys Director of Swimming, was presented with the Judges Award at last nights (26 November) BBC East Midlands Sports Awards 2007.... 28 Nov 2007 BBC Award for Swimming Coach |
Relevant News
Cricket Coaching in Loughborough | |
|---|---|
 | If you are in Loughborough and want to brush up your cricket skills then the ECB High Performance Centre at Loughborough University just might have what you are looking for.... 25 Oct 2007 Cricket Coaching in Loughborough |
Ian Armiger Awarded | |
| Ian Armiger, Loughborough University s Director of Swimming, is to be honoured at the 2007 Sports Coach UK Coaching Awards. ... 14 Nov 2007 Ian Armiger Awarded |
New Professor of Exercise Physiology | |
 | Myra Nimmo has been appointed as Professor of Exercise Physiology at Loughborough Universitys School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.... 21 Nov 2007 New Professor of Exercise Physiology |
Cricket Confidence | |
| An independent study has confirmed the educational and social benefits of a charitys 50m campaign to regenerate competitive cricket in state schools.... 23 Nov 2007 Cricket Confidence |
BBC Award for Swimming Coach | |
| Ian Armiger, Loughborough Universitys Director of Swimming, was presented with the Judges Award at last nights (26 November) BBC East Midlands Sports Awards 2007.... 28 Nov 2007 BBC Award for Swimming Coach |
Most Read News (today)
Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood | |
|---|---|
 | A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... 18 Jul 2008 Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood |
Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools | |
 | Andy Reed MP today announced the giving away of chess sets to schools. The chess sets are available for schools as part of a scheme to provide a quarter of a million chess sets into the school network. Negotiations with manufacturers and distributors means that ten sets and boards can be offered to every school in England. ... 13 Feb 2008 Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools |
Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. | |
 | 14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places.... 02 Jul 2008 Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. |
The Carbon Benefits Project | |
| Dr Eleanor Milne to speak about this timely work on Thursday 19 November at the University of Leicester ... 20 Nov 2009 The Carbon Benefits Project |
Robot in Loughborough Town Centre | |
 | Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites.... 27 May 2008 Robot in Loughborough Town Centre |
Most Read News (this month)
Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology survey | |
|---|---|
| Community Services29 October 2009Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology surveyLeicestershire County Council today held a press conference at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre to announce the conclusion of a groundbreaking three year archaeological survey to locate the battle of Bosworth, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Battlefields Trust archaeologist, Glenn Foard, revealed an exciting collection of finds from the Battle of Bosworth of international archaeological significance.... 30 Oct 2009 Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology survey |
Loughborough Fair | |
| The popular, annual Charnwood Borough Council-organised event will open at 6pm on Wednesday, November 11th and run until Saturday, November 14th 2009.... 03 Nov 2009 Loughborough Fair |
Police searching for missing man have found a body | |
 | Police searching for missing man have found a bodyPolice searching for a 77 year old man from Loughborough, who has been missing since yesterday evening, have found the body of a man. Ernest Sanham from Park Road in Loughborough, was admitted to the Leicester General Hospital on Thursday 22nd October 2009 suffering from confusion.... 26 Oct 2009 Police searching for missing man have found a body |
Loughborough shoppers to benefit from Bonfire Night Advice | |
| Information about being safe on Bonfire Night will be available for shoppers who visit Loughborough town centre on Wednesday.... 03 Nov 2009 Loughborough shoppers to benefit from Bonfire Night Advice |
GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY RAISES TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR CHARITY | |
| Street children in the third world and some of the most endangered animals on the planet are set to benefit from generous visitors the Great Central Railway. The award winning Leicestershire heritage line teamed up with two charities to raise money at special gala events.... 26 Oct 2009 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY RAISES TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR CHARITY |
Most Read News (alltime)
Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood | |
|---|---|
| A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... 18 Jul 2008 Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood |
Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools | |
| Andy Reed MP today announced the giving away of chess sets to schools. The chess sets are available for schools as part of a scheme to provide a quarter of a million chess sets into the school network. Negotiations with manufacturers and distributors means that ten sets and boards can be offered to every school in England. ... 13 Feb 2008 Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools |
Robot in Loughborough Town Centre | |
| Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites.... 27 May 2008 Robot in Loughborough Town Centre |
Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. | |
| 14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places.... 02 Jul 2008 Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. |
Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire | |
 | Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week. The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July).... 22 Jul 2008 Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire |