Are You A Future Coach?

Sport Caerphilly, Coach of The Future Programme (COTF), is holding a selection day at Blackwood Comprehensive on Thursday 30th June. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme, supported by Sport Wales, helps provide the best young coaches in Caerphilly with support and opportunities to develop new and valuable skills along with recognised qualifications. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

COTF is currently open to year 11 students, within the borough, who are beginning year 12 or entering college in September 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All coaches who are selected to partake in the two year programme achieve a level 2 Community Sport Leader Award as well as first aid and child welfare qualifications, before they take their places within their local clubs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Charlotte Thomas, 17 from Rhymney, was selected as part of the 2015 intake. At the age of 14, Charlotte found her tolerance and ability to handle stress was slowly deteriorating. Soon it became a struggle for her to carry out everyday activities due to anxiety. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “Through this programme I have not only developed my ability as a coach, but as a person. I now feel much more confident to speak in front of groups of young people and have noticed that I am less nervous when meeting others for the first time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“At the beginning of the programme I found it hard because I was with a lot of people I didn’t know, but with the ongoing support from other young coaches and my mentor Rob, I have come out of my shell and feel ready to take on new challenges.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme has given Charlotte the confidence and motivation to carry on with what she is most passionate about, helping the wellbeing of children and young people with emotional and mental health difficulties through The Present of Positivity Project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award is recognised as a stepping stone into sports and leisure and also assists with entry into Higher Education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Robert Bailey, Lead Officer for the Coach of The Future Programme said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The programme focuses on the development of coaches in community based clubs to aid sustainability to both the clubs and the coach placement. It requires a higher level of commitment and for the coach to be comfortable coaching in a community setting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Alongside COTF we are now offering a new development programme within secondary schools. The School Sport Programme is designed to help pupils achieve the requirements for the Coaches of the Future programme and boost their confidence to deliver within the community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Pupils will gain a number of qualifications and have the opportunity to attend workshops to enhance their professional development.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​