Why Coach?
The answer is simple: because coaches change lives
Inspiring coaches not only help us to learn new skills and be active, they also have a transformative and lasting impact on community life.
Coaches Help Us To Be Active
We all know that participating regularly in sport and physical activity makes us healthier and happier. The challenge for most of us though is establishing and sustaining a regular habit. That's where a coach comes in. Coaches are conduits therefore in supporting our communities to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Coaches Help Us Improve
Great coaches get to know what motivates you as an individual. They're experts at designing activities that you enjoy and help you progress and unleash your potential, whatever your abilities. This continuous process gives you a sense of achievement, however big or small, which in turn builds confidence and motivates you, or your children, to continue to practice.
Coaches Help Us To Connect
Coaching has the power to bring people together. Good coaches use the vehicle or sport or physical activity to break down social differences and help us form friendships. This in turn fosters a sense of belonging to a community hub that can play a crucial role in tackling modern day issues such as isolation and loneliness, anti-social behaviour and crime, and anxiety and depression.
Coaches Help Us Grow
Coaches can help instil in us a confidence, a sense of self-worth and a positive attitude; qualities that will stand us in good stead – for life.
Coaches Help Us To Thrive
Being active, feeling a sense of achievement as well as a sense of belonging makes you feel positive. This means that coaching also has a positive, knock-on effect to mental well-being. Quite simply, inspiring coaches create the conditions for us all to thrive – in all walks of life. The real magic happens though when coaching connects entire communities.
The Scale of Coaching in the UK
It makes sense to invest in coaches
Research aimed at valuing the role of sport and physical activity to the nation’s well-being found that for every £1 invested in sport and physical activity, slightly more than £3 worth of social impact is generated.
This was calculated as £42 billion per year, more than three times the total NHS spending on mental health in England in 2018.
Coaches: Catalysts for health and happiness
The significant contribution of coaches who facilitate sport and physical activity should not be underestimated.
The findings support the view that coaches – who make sport and physical activity happen – have a hugely positive impact on individuals’ well-being and happiness.
What is #GreatCoaching
Empowerment
Coaches, the community's catalysts for change, wield the power to transform lives by changing behaviours, attitudes, and habits of people from all backgrounds in all communities.
Inspiration
Inspiring an active nation, they break down barriers for marginalised groups, fostering inclusivity in sport and physical activity.
Guidance
Guiding and inspiring based on individual needs, anyone providing support aligning with aspirations is a coach.
Mentorship
More than instructors, coaches are mentors, motivators, and role models, aiding people of all ages and backgrounds in achieving their goals.
Holistic Excellence
Unlocking life-enhancing potential, coaches offer a holistic, safe, inclusive, educational, and rewarding sporting experience.
Driven by coaches, supported by us – bringing priceless outcomes to life.
Amazing Coaching Stories
- It is often the case that behind an inspiring story of personal development and improvements in physical, social, emotional, and/or mental well-being, there is the guiding hand of a dedicated coach.
- Great coaches changes lives because it’s about people supporting people to be better tomorrow than they are today.
These four videos feature:
1 Paralympian and UK Coaching Ambassador AJ. Taking us through their life story, AJ shows the life-changing impact great coaching can have on a person.
2 We shine a light on the Duty to Care pillar of Safeguarding. We spoke to Roddy Slater, who shares his thoughts on what safeguarding means to him as a coach of young people at Reading Athletics Club.
3 Trailblazing role model Annie Zaidi tells aspiring coaches from ethnically diverse communities: "Write your own narrative. Anyone can be a coach.”
4 Our short film explains the value and importance of boosting diversity in coaching sessions as we visited Brighton Seagals Footbal Club.
Be Inspired...
Case Study
Boxing coaches offer unflinching testimony to the power of coaching as an effective tool to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
READ IT NOW
Mental Health
Rugby coach Adrian Silvester gives an emotional and candid account of the impact mental illness has had on his life and coaching journey.
LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
Coaching For All
Muslim coach breaks racial and ethnic stereotypes and raises awareness of the benefits of building a more diverse coaching workforce.
READ TAHIRA'S STORYRewards of Coaching
Coaching is highly rewarding and often exhilarating. Through coaching, people:
- see their own physical and mental well-being improve
- experience good inner feelings and a sense of well-being
- develop qualities for life – such as confidence, adaptability and leadership skills.
Is Coaching For You?
Often, people shy away from helping out with coaching because they don't feel they have the technical knowledge. But coaching is about more than technique. Indeed many people, without knowing it, have great coaching skills because they already use them to inspire others. For example, mums who nurture their children, managers and leaders who support teams to achieve individually and collectively and children who comfort their friends in difficult times.
FIND OUT MORE THROUGH OUR BORN2COACH CAMPAIGN
Some More of our Campaigns
UK Coaching Week
UK Coaching Week is the annual national awareness campaign which empowers athletes, coaches and the public to celebrate great coaching. This special week highlights the transformative impact of coaching on individual performance, well-being, and community development.
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Women Who Coach
We want to encourage and inspire more women to get into coaching and significantly improve career development opportunities for female coaches. Our digital guide will grow your confidence and enhance your skill set. Empowering stories from inspirational women coaches.
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Duty to Care
The Duty to Care movement aims to help create a nurturing coaching culture where the safety, well-being and welfare of participants is at the heart of coaches’ practice. Join the growing movement of dedicated coaches committed to actively creating a culture of care in sport and physical activity.
LEARN MOREEssential Guides for Aspiring Coaches
Skills and Qualities to be a Coach
Ten attributes to help you build rapport with the people you coach and contribute significantly to maximising their experience, ensuring it is both enjoyable and rewarding.
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How to Get into Coaching
If you are considering embarking on a volunteering role as a coach or contemplating a full-time career in coaching, here is some essential advice to help you take that all-important first step.
READ OUR GUIDE
8 Signs You Were Born to Be a Coach
See if you recognise in yourself these central characteristics of great coaching. These key credentials are intrinsic to helping people be the best they can be.
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15 Things All Coaches Should Know
Valuable advice to boost the confidence and skills of novice coaches as they negotiate their first steps on their coaching journey.
START READING
Great Coaching Skills
Helpful tips to consider the different ways to achieve a great coaching experience, reflect upon your current practice and identify ways to improve further.
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Developing the Whole Person
Holistic coaching models support the development of the whole person, providing an opportunity to help people work on their life skills, and is what coaching is all about.
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