26 December 2011

Two of athletics’ up and coming coaching talents will be amongst the first graduates of UK Sports Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme (ECAP) following their final workshops last week.

The two-year programme has offered an accelerated development opportunity for emerging high performance coaches who are already working within the High Performance System, to enable them to become the elite coaches of the future.

In athletics, Developing Coaches Jonas Tawiah Dodoo and James Hillier have been involved with the programme. The two have worked alongside the vastly experienced Dan Pfaff and Malcolm Arnold respectively at Lee Valley and Bath.

Coming together for the seventh and final workshop at Ashridge Business School, last week the coaches reflected and consolidated what they have learnt throughout the programme, whilst also it provided the opportunity to think about how they will continue their development going forward.

UK Sport Director of Performance, Peter Keen, who will present the coaches with their graduation certificates, said: “I congratulate the 12 coaches who are graduating from ECAP  for the hard work and dedication they have shown over the past two years. I have no doubt that the journey they have been on and lessons they have learnt will aid them enormously as they continue to progress with their coaching careers.

“Ensuring we have a system in place that means we can nurture and develop our best coaches is crucial to the continued success of British Olympic and Paralympic sport and programmes like ECAP enable this to happen.”

The course offers a combination of individualised ‘on the job’ training, with the coaches working alongside designated Master Coaches and Mentors, complemented by a structured workshop programme, focussing on the non-technical coaches skills. Guest speakers, including England U21 and Team GB football coach, Stuart Pearce, have spoken to the group, offering guidance and advice.

Two further groups of emerging high performance coaches are currently midway through their own ECAP journeys, with the latest intake announced by UK Sport in October.

2010-11 Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Graduates

Ian Wynne (Canoeing – Flat Water)

Rob Greenwood (Swimming)

Paul Manning (Cycling)

Mark Earnshaw (Rowing)

Nick Smith (Canoe – Slalom)

James Hillier (Athletics)

Jonas Tawiah Dodoo (Athletics)

Mark Rose (Swimming)

Greg Baker (Disability Table Tennis)

Steve Jennings (Taekwondo)

Craig Parnham (Hockey)

Luke Preston (Judo)