British Swimming is working with Sports Coach UK to help develop Britain’s coaches and teachers into a world-beating force capable of producing future Olympic Champions.

The governing body for swimming and its aquatic disciplines in Britain has been involved with early discussions around the UK Coaching Framework (UKCF) and has put in a bid to become one of six trailblazer sports to pilot the roll-out and implementation of the scheme. 

The UK Coaching Framework will develop a structure for the development of coaching, recognising the central role of governing bodies of sport, the home country sports councils and UK Sport in determining their coaching needs.

The key features of the framework include the establishment of policy, management and implementation systems to further develop and enhance coach, and therefore athlete, pathways in the UK.

The UKCF sets out three main phases of development over 3, 7 and 11-year timescales, and key outcomes include enhancing the quality and quantity of coaching, increasing the number of qualified coaches leading to sustained and increased participation in sport, and improving performances in sport.

Five key actions have been identified to make a difference and help achieve the outcomes by 2016 - The UK Coaching model, Front-line coaching, Support for coaches, Licensing, registration and specialist qualifications and Research and development.

British Swimming has already been working towards the framework, and following the introduction of the UKCC qualifications and teacher and coach licensing it is in a strong position to help drive it forward. 

British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes believes the framework will provide swimming with the structure it needs to improve the quality and number of coaches and teachers within the sport.

“The UK Coaching Framework provides an excellent template which will enable British Swimming, working in partnership with the home countries, to leave a lasting legacy for the sport,” said Sparkes.

“By significantly upskilling teachers and coaches of the future we can ensure swimming is equipped to manage to challenges of the 21st Century.”

-ENDS-

For more information contact British Swimming media officer Amanda Smith on 01509 632238, 07876 652 318 or email amanda.smith@swimming.org

British Swimming is the National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo and Open Water in Great Britain.  It is responsible internationally for the high performance representation of the sport. The members of British Swimming are the three Home Countries national governing bodies of England (Amateur Swimming Association), Scotland (Scottish Amateur Swimming Association) and Wales. (Welsh Amateur Swimming Association)  British Swimming seeks to enable its athletes to achieve gold medal success at the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
www.britishswimming.org

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