Support for Coaches
The coaching qualifications are just a small part of the coach development pathway. Coach education is often compared to learning to drive, you take driving lessons until you pass your test, you become a really good driver through practice and experience – coaching is pretty similar, you can learn the skills and gain the knowledge of coaching though coach education, but becoming a good coach happens through all of the years of practice, learning from other coaches, your players, your successes and your mistakes.
It is therefore essential that coaches are supported beyond ‘passing their test’ and that they are able to do so in a system that is right for both them and their players.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Whatever your coaching level or role, keeping up to date and continuously developing your skills is really important, especially if badminton is to realise the challenge of ‘developing the best coaching system in the world’.
This is necessary just to keep up with developments in coaching and the sport, before we think about trying to keep one step ahead. Because people learn in very different ways, CPD can take all sorts of formats, such as short CPD workshops and conferences, working with other coaches and mentors, as well as self-directed learning using resources available such as the internet, books, other sports etc. Most coaches already engage in some form of CPD without really recognising it as such, but we would like to ensure that those coaches who really invest in their own development are recognised for doing so.
CPD will be linked to the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) and will be particularly relevant for those coaches who are planning on progressing to Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Badminton (UKCC), with a series of short workshops and home study modules to help coaches who would like to work towards a UKCC qualification.
Further Information
There are numerous CPD opportunities available to coaches ranging from First Aid Courses to Safeguarding and Protecting Child Workshops. You may wish to view the sports coach UK website and view the generic Coaching Workshops they have on offer or contact your local Regional Officer to see what is on offer from your County Sports Partnership.
