[Year]
Ryan Prentice
Club and Coaching Officer
Ulster Badminton Coaching System Development
Plan 2015-2021
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
Introduction.
The Olympic sport of Badminton is one of the UK’s top six participant sports, with a well established network of clubs, coaches and volunteers. It is one of the most inclusive sports, appealing equally to both sexes, as well as a wide range of minority groups. Throughout the province there is a lot of great work going on, on a weekly basis by coaches of
all levels and experiences and we as a Governing Body understand the value of this work in
getting players started in the sport and providing them with help and advice to improve and
develop.
The purpose of this Coaching Plan is to identify as a Governing Body how we can support and
develop coaches at all stages of the playing pathway, shown below. The plan will focus on the 4
year period, April 2015 – March 2019, and will set out targets and actions on how these will be
achieved over this period.
As an organisation we believe that good coaching is all about the participant or player and the
process to deliver the support they need to enjoy their sport and fulfil their potential at whatever
level that may be. To be able to deliver on this we need capable coaches at all stages of the playing
pathway.
This plan will look at our current position with regards to coaching, our strengths and weakness,
gaps in the area and how we can look to address these and move the coaching system on for the
betterment of the players, both current and future.
Consultation
A number of people have been consulted during this process to inform this plan. They were
representatives from the following groups:
Ulster Badminton
Badminton Ireland
1. Primary schools
2. Secondary schools
3. Junior Clubs
4. Adult clubs
5. Raw Performance Squads
6. Emerging Performance Squads
7. High Performance Squad
8. Ireland/GB National Centre
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
Sport Northern Ireland
Club and Coaching Consultation Group
Club officials
Active Coaches
Mike Woodward, Badminton World Federation Coaching Tutor
Current Position In September 2012 Ulster Badminton began a process of self evaluation and benchmarking to establish where the organisation currently sat in regard to the following different systems across the association:
Club Development
Talent
Coaching
High Performance
Governance This Sport Northern Ireland process was to help the Governing Body with strategic planning for the funding period, known as Performance Focus. This system saw each Governing Body system ranked against a number of different areas on a 5 stage marking process. This process is outlined below: 1. Not yet Established – Best practice has yet to be established
2. Emerging – Best practice has partially been produced
3. Established – Best practice has been partially produced and partially applied
4. Embedded – Best practice has been fully applied and managed
5. Excellence – Best practice has been fully applied and is world leading. The diagram below shows Ulster Badminton’s Coaching System position as of the self evaluation
in 2012 and the target for 2017.
Develop & Planning
ID & Recruitment
Education &Training
Mgment & Support
Reward &Profile
Talent / HP Development
Overall System Rating
2012 Emerging Emerging Emerging Established NYE Emerging Emerging
2017 Established Emerging Established Established Emerging Established Established
Coaching System prior to 2013:
No designated person responsible for the overall development of the system.
Work on the system and organising courses fell into the remit of Ulster Badminton staff
and Badminton Ireland coach tutors.
No long term plan in place.
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
Coach Education courses were limited with Introductory and Level 1 course available but
limited opportunities beyond this.
Limited coach development opportunities available.
Coaching System post 2013:
Full time member of staff within Ulster Badminton responsible for the development of
the coaching system
Sport Northern Ireland support through the Coach Legacy Programme to allow Ulster
Badminton to carry out a 2 year project developing a small group of talent coaches.
Ulster Badminton’s ongoing commitment to delivering coach development programmes.
New Badminton Ireland coach education pathway through the Badminton World
Federation from Introductory level to Level 2 with a Level 3 due to be available from
September 2015.
Badminton Ireland coach licensing programme, for all active coaches.
The changes listed above have begun to address some of the issues around the development of
badminton coaches within Ulster and the other three provinces. Coaches now have the
opportunity to attend education and development courses both regionally and nationally.
A start has been made but there is still major work to do done to produce a coaching system
that caters for the needs of all that are involved in the playing pathway. There are still many
gaps that need to be addressed, these are highlighted in the diagram on the next page, and the
remainder of the document identifies certain gaps and sets out an action on how these issues
will be addressed.
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
Areas for Development within the Coaching system:
In the 4 year period between 2015-2019 we will look to make a positive impact on the following
areas through a variety of workshops, programmes and partnership initiatives We will look to target
the following areas:
Development of Specialist Coaches
Coach Education and Licensing
Recognition of Coaches
These areas will also impact on other areas mentioned above and will have a positive impact on the
coaching system as a whole.
Development of Specialist Coaches
It is crucial for Ulster Badminton as an organisation to ensure we have effective coaches working
with the different populations of players within our playing pathway. For the pathway to be fully
effective we need to ensure we have the right coaches, coaching the right things at the right time
throughout the pathway.
It is important that players are supported at each part of the pathway and are given the best
possible opportunity to move on and progress to reach their potential whatever level that may be.
Lack of 'Specialists' at each level
(school/club/talent)
Communication
Regional Coaching Forum -
Communities of Practice - Culture
Qualified Coaches across the country to
meet the demands of the
organisation
Acessibile Education
pathway, Shuttle Time to Level 3
A minimum of 1 representative
from each county
attendng the Coaching forum
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
As an organisation we need to develop a ‘specialist’ workforce at each stage who have the skills and
knowledge to work with these players. We also need to ensure this workforce is given the correct
development opportunities to they continue to have all the necessary attributes to provide for the
players. Ulster Badminton’s current long term player development model is currently under review.
In 2016 the Badminton World Federation Level 3 Coaching Award will be available and we will use
the information in this programme to help update our player development model.
We see the development of coaches falling into 2 main categories, Participation and Performance.
Both are equally as important and without the correct coaches in both areas it will be extremely
difficult for players to reach their maximum potential.
PARTICIPATION
Those coaches specialising on the participation side will focus their work in schools and junior clubs
and it is here that most players will take their first steps in the sport. These coaches need to instil a
love of the sport in the young players and need to ensure the child is at the centre of their coaching
and that practices are suitable to the participant age and ability. Ulster Badminton envisages a
network of clubs and schools where players are welcomed and supported to fulfil their ambitions
and coaches are one group of key people that have a huge role to play in this. We need all our
coaches working at a junior level to understand Long Term Player Development (LTPD), the different
stages and their role within each stage. We need them to appreciate the different learning styles of
children and how they can change their coaching style to support each child, and of course we need
knowledgeable coaches that can teach the correct technical and tactical skills to young players. As a
Governing Body we need to lead and support the coaches with this, supporting them in improving
and updating their knowledge. Through learning workshops and signposting of courses as well as
creating coaching forums we hope we can offer all our participation coaches with opportunities to
develop themselves and in turn their players.
PERFORMANCE
Performance coaches within our pathway will primarily focus on the work in Raw and Emerging
Performance squads. As mentioned previously the work of the Coach Legacy programme has started
the process of talent coach development and it is from this that we can develop and grow this
programme to create a legacy of skilled and knowledgeable coaches. We need to ensure our coaches
are supported in their role. Performance stream coaches will have access to innovative high quality
learning experiences that in the short term will improve their coaching and longer term prepare
them to effectively support and develop high achieving players. As well as improving the coaches on
court skills and knowledge we will also focus on developing their leadership skills to help them in
their role with managing players, motivating them, and providing feedback and support. Outside
specialists will be used to deliver parts of the Programme as well as Ulster Badminton’s High
Performance Coach who will also provide direction on the Programme as they have first-hand
experience of the developments of play at an elite level. It will also be crucial that coaches have the
opportunity to put their learning into practice and to learn from experiences and to support this we
will ensure coaches have the opportunities to observe national and provincial training sessions,
assist high performance coaches and experience working with players at competitions.
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
COACH MENTORING
Mentoring is a powerful tool in the development of coaches at all levels and will form an important
part of our coach’s development journey. Historically coach learning has taken place through
education courses and workshops and while these will always remain important mentoring offers
coaches more individual support to increase their knowledge and accelerate their learning. As an
organisation we have already embarked on the use of mentoring to support a small group of
coaches. The Coach Legacy Programme saw us use an experienced coach educator and developer
from England and through the use of one to one sessions and video recording of session’s coaches
where able to receive individual feedback highlighting their how to coach strengths and
development areas. We feel this is a crucial aspect going forward in supporting our coaches and
improving their skill set. As an organisation we will look to invest time and resources into mentoring
and look to fully utilise our staff workforce, including our High Performance coach, Talent coaches
and coach education tutors.
It is a long term ambition of Ulster Badminton to recruit and develop a team of coach mentors from
our own pool of coaches. These mentors would be experienced specialists in their own area of the
system and would be identified and given the appropriate training required to support the next
generations of coaches coming through.
MINIMUM STANDARDS
It is important all coaches operating within the playing pathway meet the necessary minimum
standards required to ensure the safety of themselves and of the players. All coaches should meet
the following criteria:
Completed a Badminton Ireland coaching qualification
Passed an Access Northern Ireland background check (or Garda vetting)
Attended a Safeguarding Children and Young People workshop
Be First Aid trained
Completed and signed the Badminton Ireland coaches charter
Be listed on Badminton Ireland’s coaching register (from September 2016)
These standards are in place to ensure each coach is suitable for the role they are in as well as
providing the coach with the skills and knowledge both on and off court to ensure they deliver safe,
enjoyable and progressive practices at all times.
The level of coaching qualification will vary depending on what part of the pathway the coach is
operating. Introductory level (Shuttle time) coaches can assist a Level 1 at club level however
coaches operating at a Performance level should have a minimum of a Level 2 qualification to act as
a lead coach. Many of these qualifications and checks require updating on a regular basis and
ongoing development of all coaches will be important to ensure minimum standards are always
maintained.
CONTINOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
It is important for coaches to have an internal desire to improve and development themselves and
to support this Ulster Badminton as an organisation need to provide relevant opportunities for the
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
coach no matter what level they are involved at. Our LTPD will be the guide to the type or
development opportunities we provide for the different levels of coaches, as will individual
development plans for certain coaches. We will look to ensure all coaches receive the appropriate
development opportunities and support to help them help the players in attaining and surpassing
the benchmarks set against each stage of the development model.
All development opportunities will support the targets and aims of our Long Term Player
Development model and all 5 of the Performance factors listed below with be focused on:
1. Technical
2. Tactical
3. Physical
4. Psychological
5. Lifestyle
As an organisation we want to help create and grow a culture of learning within our coaches at all
stages of the pathway. We want our coaches to be proactive in identifying opportunities for
themselves to improve. We want to ensure they are aware of the different forms of learning
available to them, formal, non- formal and informal and to help support them in these different
areas. As an organisation we will continue to look at different opportunities for coaches but we want
coaches who want to do more in their spare time away from the court to improve themselves. We
then want to use forums and other opportunities to allow these coaches to share this information
with others and to help with growing this learning culture.
Action Plan
Development of Specialist Coaches
Performance Coaches: Responsible: Timescale:
Coach should be leading or assisting in the delivery of performance squad sessions within the Ulster Badminton programme
Talent ID and Development Officer
Ongoing
Individual analysis of each coach working with a performance squad, completing a competency profile focusing on strengths and weaknesses.
High Performance Coach Talent ID Development Officer
September / October 2015
Use the audit information to develop an individual development plan for each coach
High Performance Coach Talent ID Development Officer
September 2015
Provide each coach with 1-1 mentoring
High Performance Coach Ongoing
Ensure all coaches are knowledgeable with each stage of the Ulster Badminton Player Development model and their role at the stage they are working
High Performance Coach Talent ID and Development Officer
Ongoing
Coaches will have access to working with players at high level
High Performance Coach Ongoing
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competition, with and without their mentor / more experienced coach
Observe National squad training sessions
Coaching Officer Ongoing. Ensure regular opportunities throughout each season
Participation Coaches:
Audit of participation coaches to find out workforce information and challenges they face. Number and level of qualified coaches
Coaching Officer December 2015
Review of workforce numbers, breaking information into fields (male/female etc) and looking at supply and demand of coaches
Coaching Officer January 2016+
Regional workshop programme in 2 different locations to support the work of the participation coaches led by an experienced coach from within Ulster Badminton. The workshops will provide help with issues the coaches have and also offer them access to advice and support from the lead coach. Experienced club coaches, Ulster Badminton staff and tutors will be used to deliver the programme
Coaching Officer September / October February / March each season
Coaching forum, linked with the workshops above but will allow coaches to share experiences and examples of best practice with each other to allow for continued learning
Coaching Officer 2/3 per season
On going support for club coaches through workshops, roadshows and club visits
Coaching Officer Ongoing
Observe provincial / performance squad training
Coaching Officer Ongoing
Ensure coaches have knowledge of provincial Performance programmes and entry routes into them.
Coaching Talent ID and Development Officer
Ongoing
Coach Education and Licensing
Badminton Ireland as the National Governing Body for the sport have overall responsibility for all
coach education courses within the 4 provinces. As a provincial body Ulster Badminton are
committed to this process and to supporting the national body with all Ulster based courses.
From 2016 Badminton Ireland will introduce a new licensing requirement for all active coaches in all
4 provinces that will see them register with the national governing body. Coach Licensing is
important to help ensure all coaches, paid or voluntary, are keeping up to date with qualifications,
news and development opportunities and it is our aim to support Badminton Ireland in getting all
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coaches to join the Coaching License system. By 2016 it will be compulsory for all active coaches to
complete CPD hours to remain a registered coach. The register will allow Badminton Ireland to
ensure all coaches qualifications, checks and certificates are kept up to date and coaches complete
the relevant number of CPD hours and to also improve communication with coaches and ensure
they can support them in their needs. Ulster Badminton will commit to supporting Badminton
Ireland and local coaches in ensuring they have access to the licensing system and ensure
appropriate and sufficient courses and workshops are held within and across Ulster to ensure our
coaches have development opportunities to gain the required number of points without the need to
travel to Dublin. The licensing scheme will aim of improve the standards of players across the 4
provinces through helping to create a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce.
IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT
As a sport we need to ensure we always have a suitable number of qualified coaches to meet the
demands of the sport. Players, ex-players and volunteers all need to be encouraged to take formal
coaching qualifications. Identification, recruitment and then development of coaches is crucial to
ensure there is always new blood coming into these roles. The majority of this recruitment will take
place at club level. Clubs through parents of young players and junior players who are becoming too
old for the junior club are the two greatest opportunities to get new people involved. Members of a
senior club are also another group to attract potential junior club coaches. Club officials should
actively approach these groups with the idea and also provide them with a role description so they
know what is expected from them. (See Appendices A and B) Another important area for coach
identification and recruitment is targeting performance players. Performance players will have spent
time in the system and will understand its structure and the level and commitment needed to be
part of a performance squad. They will also have experienced working with performance coaches
and the environment they have created and therefore will have a good level of technical and tactical
knowledge. Performance players, once they reach 16 years old, should be encouraged to attend
coach education courses while they are still in the programme and encouraged where appropriate to
spend time working with younger players, whether in a younger performance squad or in a club
setting.
As well as the areas above it is also important for Ulster Badminton and our clubs to consider other
ways in which volunteers and potential coaches can be recruited. Ways could include, students
requiring experience as part of a degree programme, community groups where members may have
spare time to commit to a local club, young people on an award scheme such as Duke of Edinburgh
and also volunteer schemes within local areas. These are just some examples of ‘other’ areas where
recruitment may be possible as the traditional way of recruiting people may not always prove
successful therefore it is important to look at alternative ways where support can be added to our
sport.
It will be also be important for us as an organisation for us to ensure we offer development courses
across the province so current and potential coaches have the opportunity to attend locally based
events, further helping to create a workforce that is province wide.
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
Action Plan
Coach Education and Licensing Responsible: Timescale:
Identify potential coaches from current and ex players, club volunteers and parents for all stages of the player development model. Once identified can individually speak with each of the players so to their suitability for the different areas.
Coaching Officer Talent ID and Development Officer High Performance Coach
Ongoing
Provide access to Shuttle Time (Introductory Level) and Level 1 courses within Ulster each season.
Coaching Officer Coaching Tutor
Minimum of 6 courses held annually in Ulster, spread out around the counties
Signpost coaches to suitable courses both regionally and nationally for their continued development
Coaching Officer Talent ID and Development Officer
Ongoing
Support the work of Badminton Ireland in delivering a professional coach education programme across the 4 provinces
Coaching Officer Coaching Tutor
Ongoing
Work with Badminton Ireland to ensure all active coaches are joining the coach license scheme and all coaches on the scheme are availing of its benefits
Coaching Officer Talent ID and Development Officer (Talent coaches)
September 2016
To support all Ulster coaches on the coach license scheme to ensure they can avail of CPD opportunities locally and regionally to ensure their qualification remains up to date and they remain eligible for the scheme
Coaching Officer Ongoing
Recognition of Coaches
May 2015 saw the launch of Ulster Badminton’s own awards programme. As a Governing Body we
have developed this annual programme to recognise the amount of work that clubs, coaches and
volunteers from across the province carry out to support the development of players, clubs and the
sport as a whole. The programme will cover five different areas, three of which will focus on
coaches:
Junior Club Coach of the Year
Young Coach of the Year
Talent Coach of the Year
This will be a completely new area for Ulster Badminton going forward. It is vitally important our
current and future coaches feel valued and feel that their hard work is being recognised and
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highlighted by their peers and the Governing Body. The area is not simply about an annual awards
programme but the work should act as an inspiration to others to get involved in coaching. By using
positive examples of local people and highlighting their work on the Ulster Badminton website,
social media outlets, local press we are acknowledging their work and hopefully inspiring others to
follow their lead. We want the passion and love of the sport that our coaches have to help attract a
new generation into the sport, whether they are other club members, volunteers, parents or current
players that the coach is working with. Coaching should be seen as a respectable and rewarding job
that has progression routes for those individuals willing to work hard and develop themselves. As a
governing body we want to acknowledge the work of dedicated coaches to support them in their
coaching careers to help them to develop, progress and to reach their goals within coaching,
whether this is a part time or full time coach.
Action Plan
Recognition of Coaches Responsible: Timescale:
Launch of the Coach of the Year Awards programme in May 2015. The programme will seek to highlight and award the great work being carried out by coaches across the province at the different stages in the player development model
Coaching Officer May 2015
Increase awareness of the awards programme and the nomination process on an annual basis, through use of the website, social media sites, club visits and at local and regional competitions
Coaching Officer December 2015 and then on an ongoing basis annually. Nominations to close in February each year from 2015/16 season
Use the Ulster Badminton website for regular features on Ulster coaches and the work they are carrying out
Coaching Officer Website Co-ordinator
Ongoing
Work with Sport Northern Ireland and Badminton Ireland to ensure coaches are recognised in their respective programmes
Coaching Officer Annually
Create a culture within Ulster that recognises and appreciates the contribution of all Ulster based coaches to ensure they feel valued and supported in their roles and work
Coaching Officer Talent ID and Development Officer High Performance Coach
Ongoing
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
APPENDIX A
_________________ Badminton Club
Roles and Responsibilities – Head Coach
Name of Coach: _________________________________
Responsible to: Club Manager / Club Committee
MAIN DUTIES
To take full responsibility for the club’s junior coaching sessions at ____________ Badminton
Club.
To maintain high ethical standards in coaching, ensure they keep up-to-date with their
knowledge, skills and qualifications and prepare all coaching sessions in advance.
To undertake training appropriate to the role e.g. Safeguarding Children and Young People in
Sport.
To work with and include Club Assistant Coaches in the preparation and running of each
session.
To attend club meetings and report on progress.
To offer the club feedback on the organisation and degree of success of junior coaching and
competitions.
To assist in the selection of club teams.
If and when appropriate to travel to competitions with junior club teams.
To inform the Club Manager / Club Committee in advance of any sessions that cannot be
attended.
Signed: _________________________________ Date: ______________________
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
APPENDIX B
________________ Badminton Club
Roles and Responsibilities – Assistant Coach
Name of Coach: __________________________________
Responsible to: Club Manager / Club Committee
MAIN DUTIES
To take full responsibility for the club’s junior coaching sessions at ____________ Badminton
Club.
To develop and maintain high ethical standards in coaching, ensure they keep up-to-date
with their knowledge, skills and qualifications and prepare all coaching sessions in advance.
To undertake training appropriate to the role e.g. Safeguarding Children and Young People in
Sport.
To work with and include Club Head Coach in the preparation and running of each session.
To attend club meetings if required.
To offer the club feedback on the organisation and degree of success of junior coaching and
competitions.
To assist in the selection of club teams.
If and when appropriate to travel to competitions with junior club teams.
To inform the Club Manager / Club Committee in advance of any sessions that cannot be
attended.
Coaching System Development Plan 2015-21
Signed: ____________________________________ Date: ______________________
APPENDIX C
JOB TITLE: Raw Performance Squad Head Coach- Lisburn
REPORTS TO: Talent ID and Development Officer, Ulster Badminton
JOB BASED: National Badminton Centre- Lisburn
Terms & Conditions
The post is on a self employed basis with an average of 4 hours per week
Job purpose
To produce and implement training and competition programmes for Raw Performance Squad
players.
Main duties
Direct, monitor and evaluate the training & competition programme to all Raw Performance players including: weekly schedules & Tournament programmes.
Provide direct coaching input to squad players and support to other coaches and players as required.
Ensure that the training and competition plan of the performance players is aligned to the Ulster Badminton Player Performance Stream Goal & PDM.
Set players specific development goals and monitor the progress of each individual player towards their goals and targets.
Take the lead for the RPS players annual player review and record evidence against the different performance factors in their player profile.
If and when appropriate to travel to competitions for player observation.
Work with the TID Officer to ensure the coaching practises within the Performance squad are in line with National Standards.
Responsibilities
Adhere to the Ulster Badminton Coach Code of Conduct in particular:
Sell Badminton, with an enthusiastic and positive approach to the sport, other coaches and
the National Governing body.
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Provide an effective Role model for players.
Contribute to ensuring a safe and equitable working environment for all people within the
coaching environment.
Adopt coaching practises that follow Ulster Badminton’s Guidelines for safeguarding
children and Young people in Sport.
Essentials
BWF (or Badminton Ireland) Level 2 in coaching Badminton (or commits to achieving this in
18 months)
A Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport certificate (within last 3 years)
Commitment to the Ulster Badminton Coaching Legacy Programme
Evidence of successful coaching within one of the following: Children, Participation, Gifted,
Talent or Elite.
Personal Qualities
Committed
Good Communicator
Energetic
Ambition to progress in coaching
Reliable
Motivated and a motivator
Open to new Ideas and working practises.
Signed: __________________________ Date:________________________________