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26/11/2008
International coaching conference
ABAE national club and coach manager Matthew Williams recently represented the ABAE at the International Coaching Conference at Twickenham Stadium.
The ABAE is one of 31 sports committed to implementing the UK Coaching Framework, which aims for the UK to have the world's leading coaching system by 2016. The event explored current standards of international best practice, the latest research in the development of coaching expertise, and some of the opportunities and challenges that national governing bodies for sport will encounter in the coming years.
The need to understand athlete needs at all stages of sporting development was emphasised, as was the need to clearly identify key coaching roles required to support athletes at each level. For example, the role of a coach who introduces and engages children within a sport would be very different role from that of a coach developing elite adult athletes, and different attributes and skills are required by each.
NGB coaching systems should also clearly identify which skills and attributes are required by coaches at each stage of athlete development, and appropriate coach development opportunities should be available to support coaches to develop their skills. Such coaching systems clearly recognise the vital role that all coaches play in supporting athletes to fulfil their potential, from the coach providing an initial experience of the sport in school, the coaches working day-in day-out to support athletes within clubs, through to coaches within the elite environment of international performance and competition. High quality coaches are required at every stage to ensure that sporting potential is fulfilled.
Matt Williams said: "The ABAE are currently producing a coaching delivery plan as part of our commitment to the UKCF. This plan will outline the steps that boxing will take to support the development of our coaches and coaching systems over the coming years. A period of consultation with boxing coaches will take place to inform the development of the plan and to ensure that the needs of our coaches are clearly articulated and reflected."
Further information will be posted on the ABAE website in due course.
The event was jointly organised by the International Council for Coach Education, Sportscoach UK, the UK Centre for Coaching Excellence, the European Network of Sport Science, Education and Employment and the RFU.
A host of top quality speakers were on hand to offer insights, including Baroness Sue Campbell CBE (Chair of Youth Sport Trust and UK Sport), Sir Clive Woodward CBE, Sir Trevor Brooking CBE and Rob Andrew.