Apply now for Medway Coaching Academy
Applications are now open for the second year of a
pioneering scheme to nurture the next generation of sports coaches
in Medway.
The
Medway Coaching
Academy, run by Medway Council’s 2012 and Sports Development
Team’s Coaching Academy, is harnessing the inspiration of the 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games to encourage new people to get
involved in coaching and volunteering in sport.
The scheme is open to anyone over the age of
16 in Medway and involves the completion of a foundation course of
six modules. These take place at Medway Park and cover subjects
including anatomy, physiology, nutrition, sports injuries and
prevention and psychology.
Successful graduates are then given support
and advice to gain and sport-specific coaching qualifications. They
can also join Medway’s volunteer database and get access to an
array of opportunities to get involved in community and elite level
sport.
Suzanne Loveridge, 23 from Cliffe Woods,
completed the modules this year and has gone on to work as a
volunteer supporting the coaching of young athletes at Medway
Park.
She said: “The modules contained good and
relevant information about coaching, no matter which sport you
would like to do. You share the room with so many different people
wanting to coach in different fields of sports, which opens your
eyes to what is out there and enables you to have good contacts for
future work.”
The Medway Coaching Academy has been awarded an Inspire
Mark by London 2012 organises, for the contribution the scheme is
making to encourage participation in sport.
The award is the badge of the London 2012
Inspire Programme that recognises innovative and exceptional
projects directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s community
services portfolio holder, said: “High calibre coaches are vital to
supporting increased participation levels in sport and establishing
Medway as a regional centre of sporting excellence.
“We already have some excellent coaches and
clubs training and competing here and this is an exciting
opportunity for yet more people to join the army of coaches
delivering sport in Medway and inspiring our future stars.”
There are 60 places available on the 2012
academy, and places are free to Medway residents. Any spare places
will be opened up to non Medway residents for a small fee.
For more information and to apply online visit
www.medway.gov.uk/coachingacademy.
Alternatively call Medway Council’s 2012 and Sports Development
Team on 01634 338766 or email sportsdevteam@medway.gov.uk.
Back to December 2011 news