Published on:
24
October 2013
As part of the Council's plans to ensure a legacy from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games a programme of coaching courses called 'Building the legacy - coaching for the future' was held during the October school holiday.
Based at Lornshill Academy, 226 people attended a wide range of nationally accredited coaching courses. The initiative is unique to Clackmannanshire and was designed to meet anticipated demand for sport in 2014, as well as to develop the leadership skills of secondary school pupils.
A total of 15 courses were held during the week with a total of 800 hours of training delivered by experienced and qualified tutors in a mixture of practical and theory sessions. Those attending were aged from 12 years to over 80 years. Local young people made up 30% of the candidates with others having travelled from all over Scotland to attend. The tutors were from all over the UK.
A particular success of the programme was the rebound therapy course, which supports people with a disability, as this was the first open course to be held in Scotland.
The range of courses: basketball, basketball officiating, table tennis, football, rebound therapy, pre-school, disability inclusion, badminton, marketing, first aid and child protection were influenced by the Commonwealth Games, the Community Sport Hub, the interests of Lornshill Academy pupils and local demand.
One candidate on the table tennis course said afterwards: "This was an excellent course, giving me lots of ideas on how to introduce beginners to the sport of table tennis."
The badminton tutor said: "The badminton basics course is a great way to upskill your knowledge and experience to lead badminton sessions in a variety of different environments. As a tutor, it's fantastic when the candidates get really involved in the activities throughout the course which is exactly what happened at Lornshill Academy. I am confident they will go on to inspire a new generation of badminton players in years to come!"
Praising the 'Building the legacy - coaching for the future' programme, Education, Sport and Leisure Convenor Councillor Ellen Forson said: "This programme of courses has proven to be a popular and invaluable. Many Lornshill pupils attended courses and they will be first members of the school's leadership academy, where over 80 pupils have volunteered to develop their coaching skills by delivering sessions within the school and local clubs. The 'Building the legacy - coaching for the future' programme has given our young leaders the skills and confidence required to engage with school clubs and clubs within the Community Sport Hub."
The October initiative is likely to be repeated in 2014, and any young people planning ahead should put this in their diary.
The evaluations have been very positive with 90% of the candidates recording the highest score for their enjoyment and value of this initiative. The annual programme of coach education is available on ClacksWeb. Please email sportsdevelopment@clacks.gov.uk with any enquiries about future courses and booking requests.