Newyddion

26/11/2024 00:00, I Mewn Blog /

October signified one year since the Home Country Athletics Federations (HCAFs) assumed responsibility for coach and officials licensing, and Welsh Athletics has marked the anniversary by issuing progress reports and future plans for both areas of work.

Over the past 12 months, Welsh Athletics has worked collaboratively with the other HCAFs to ensure coordinated, aligned progress and a positive experience for coaches and officials.

In the year since Welsh Athletics has taken responsibility for coach and officials' education and licensing, we’ve worked hard to ensure that delivery remains consistent and of a high quality, but also to identify the areas in which our systems and process can be upgraded to enhance coach and officials’ experience. We’re delighted to be able to list a number of significant steps forward that we have taken, but we also want to underline our commitment to continuously reviewing and improving our services. As an example, we initiated a coaching review over the summer and will release the findings and recommendations early next year. We fully intend these will shape our focus and priorities going forward, allowing us to build on the success we’ve seen so far whilst tackling some areas that need modernisation and change.

Coach education successes so far:

• With 1600 fully licensed leaders and coaches in Wales and another 400 + going through the DBS renewal process
• Over 65 coach education courses delivered to well over 700 leaders and coaches in the last 12 months
• We have added to our team of expert tutors and developed a new UK-wide quality assurance and verification process in conjunction with all HCAFs
• We have developed a digital licence solution, which will be introduced in early 2025. This – alongside the personal licence checker, which has already been introduced – will deliver much-needed modernisations to the system of coach licensing

Officials education successes so far:

• An increase to just under 400 licenced officials at levels 1-3 in Wales
• The delivery of Welsh official's education courses and workshops to over 100 officials, with over 80 qualifying as level 1 officials in the past 12 months.
• The appointment of a new independent Chair of the Officials Education Management Group - Coreen Beckford
• The introduction and ongoing review of changes which has reduced the admin burden for newly trained officials to become licensed and feel part of the official community
• The forthcoming introduction (in early 2025) of a digital licence solution.  

Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to:

• Introduce a digital licence solution for officials and coaches.
• Continue our review of the content of mandatory training for officials, which will see changes come into effect from April 2025.
• Focus on the progression of officials through the levels, especially from levels 1 to 2, based on feedback from competition providers.
• Expanding the officiating tutor workforce nationally by training more tutor trainers.
• Introduce an in-person assessment for coaching qualifications; to address any low conversion rates identified and explore how we can make better use of the combined course offer where necessary.
• Continue to deliver our coach education course schedule to build coaching capacity in clubs, we will make changes to course delivery methods, enhance course and licensing communications and make some changes to systems used for course reviews and assessments, all with the goal of improving user experience and making the process of completing our courses easier.
• Look closely at licensing trends and areas where we can improve the retention of both coaches and officials. Gaining a deeper understand of why numbers of both are starting to plateau will allow us to put measures in place to reverse this trend.

England Athletics Chief Executive Chris Jones, who chairs the Home Country’s Athletics Federation’ Coach Education Management Group, said:

A year into this work, we are pleased with our progress so far, but know we have much more to do. Projects such as this take time to get right, and as such we are determined to continue listening to and collaborating with our Regional Councils and membership to shape the future of coach education and non-qualification development.

 

There are still gaps to be filled, and some courses still need to change. In making these introductions and changes, we need to ensure that we are developing solutions which meet the needs of those volunteering their time. Technology and other factors mean that this needs to be a very different, more flexible offering than it has been in the past, and this is something we need to get right.

 

With this future work in mind, I have been particularly encouraged by the collaborative approach embraced by all four HCAFs, as we look to implement effective solutions for the benefit of the sport as a whole.

Coreen Beckford, who chairs the Officials Education Management Group, said:

It is wonderful to be a part of the HCAF’s mission to build capacity in the officiating system. Through the Official’s Education Management Group, the Home Countries are taking a number of positive steps on the road towards transforming and modernising learning and development for officials at Levels 1-3.

 

In order to challenge conventional linear models and create a new normal, HCAFs must decouple past traditions from familiar practices by refocusing efforts to redesign the courses of the future, as well as rethinking the services and communication models which deliver these courses to new and existing officials.  

 

Athletics and running is proudly rooted in volunteer contributions and I welcome HCAF-led action towards a place where the recruitment and retention of officials can be better sign-posted, better balanced and meet the needs of a new generation of officials whilst keeping in touch with the heritage and traditions of the sport.

James Williams, CEO of Welsh Athletics added:

Over the last 12 months, we have been focused on two key aspects, ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible and exploring what changes can be made to the pathway for the benefit of the sport in Wales.

 

I believe the first aspect has been achieved, and I thank the whole sport for the way they have supported the process. A huge amount of work went in behind the scenes to ensure the transition was managed in the best possible way, my thanks to Zoe Holloway and Liz Taylor who have led this process internally.

 

With regards to further development of the pathway – the new approach will enable us to utilise the views of Welsh Coaches and Officials to improve the offering. An immediate example of this is the streamlined L1 official's education approach, we listened to the views of Welsh officials, reviewed the low completion rate and modified the approach going forward. This new approach will be reviewed in 12 months time to evaluate its effectiveness.

 

From a coaching perspective, we are committed to supporting the development of coaches to ensure that the coach education course is the start of the process not the end. We want to create a culture of learning and development to ensure every coach across Wales can access appropriate development and CPD opportunities. Further information on this will hopefully be released in the middle of 2025.

 

Can I once again thank the coaches and officials across Wales for their ongoing commitment to their sport.