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April 4, 2017Sport: Get Involved / Sports Coaching | , ,

The Top Online Resources for Sports Coaches in the UK

The Top Online Resources for Sports Coaches in the UK

Coaching can be fun and extremely rewarding. However, it’s important for sports coaches to be properly trained, and to keep up with the latest developments and training techniques.

Thankfully, it’s easy to find information and advice about sports coaching online, whatever your chosen sport. Read on to find out about some of the best online resources for coaches in the UK.

General Sports Coaching Resources – Handy Websites

If you’re looking for information about sports coaching, one of the best places to start is at the Sports Coach UK website. Originally known as the National Coaching Foundation, Sports Coach UK is the nation’s long-established technical coaching agency.

Its website includes information for people looking to get started in coaching and for existing coaches who want to improve their skills. It also includes content aimed at people who are developing other peoples’ coaching skills.

Much of the information on the website is available to everyone, but you can also access subscriber-only sections by registering with the site (free of charge). The organisation also offers paid memberships, which include a range of other benefits as well as website access.

The Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales and Sport NI websites also contain useful information for coaches, including details of local courses, workshops and other events.

Safeguarding is an important issue – and one that anyone coaching children needs to be aware of. The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit’s website is packed with information about the subject. You can watch videos and webinars, find out about the organisation’s research, and download forms and checklists to use in your sports club.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog either. You’ll find posts about training methods, advice for budding coaches, and tips on how to choose trophies to reward your club’s members for their hard work.

Websites for Coaches of Specific Sports

There are plenty of sport-specific websites on the internet, and many of them include resources for existing and potential coaches.

The Rugby Football League (RFL) website features a superb section for coaches, for example, including:

  • Information about the courses that you’ll need to take if you want to obtain your coaching certificates;
  • The Coaches’ Code of Conduct;
  • Details of how to become a licensed coach;
  • Information about funding options for coaches;
  • Details of specific schemes for female coaches and people coaching young players.

Other organisations for specific sports with websites that contain excellent sections for coaches include:

  • England Hockey – features information about courses and workshops, as well as a free to join “Hockey Hub”, which includes videos packed with coaching advice.
  • British Gymnastics – includes coaching videos, course and qualification details, and information about becoming a member of the organisation.
  • The Football Association (FA) – incorporates a wealth of information about coaching courses, bursaries and mentoring schemes.

Online Coaching Courses and Qualifications

E-learning has become more popular in recent years, so you can now take many sports coaching courses online. Sports Coach UK provides its own online course for beginners, “Discover Coaching”, for a small fee. The NSPCC also provides an introductory course about safeguarding for sports coaches on its website.

The FA runs a wide range of digital training courses for budding and experienced football coaches, some of which are free of charge.

Some universities, such as the Open University and Staffordshire University, even offer students the option to study for degrees in sports coaching via distance learning, with some of your course materials being provided online. Anglia Ruskin University also offers an online BSc (Hons) degree in Coaching for Performance in Football – it’s specifically designed for players or coaches who already have contracts at UK Premiership, League or Conference clubs.

Online Resources for Coaches – Social Media Accounts

If, like many people, you use social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter, you can use them to find information about coaching too. The organisations we’ve mentioned have their own social media accounts, for example, so you can keep track of their latest news with ease. You can also use these platforms to help you to connect with other sports coaches, so you can get tips, share your own ideas or discuss the latest training methods.

Make sure you follow us on social media too: we’re on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. We’d love to hear your views about sports coaching and the latest sporting news.

Are you a sports coach? Which online resources do use? Which websites and social media accounts do you think other coaches should check out? Add a comment or share your tips with us on social media.