Creating and Developing Coaches Event

In collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, West Riding County FA are hosting a Creating and Developing Coaches event. The event is aiming to raise awareness of football opportunities for the BAME community across the region and in particular get people involved in existing clubs/organisations or setting up their own.

The details of the event are as follows:

Date: Monday 10th October 2016
Time: 19.00 – 21.30
Venue: Bremner Suite (West Stand), Elland Road Stadium, Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0ES

Creating & Developing Coaches aims to inspire the next generation of football coaches. This event welcomes current and aspiring football coaches to Leeds United's stadium to listen and learn about the footballing opportunities that exist in the Leeds area. Attendees will have the opportunity to liaise and network with a number of influential, Leeds based sporting organisations. 

Without coaches and volunteers at grassroots level, participatory opportunities fail to exist. Football is the nation's number one sport and the demand for affiliated new teams and clubs is huge. Attendees of the Creating & Developing Coaches event will be equipped with the knowledge of how to create new teams and clubs and how to make them successful. Attendees will also be provided information on how to take existing clubs to the next level as coaching courses, mentorship programmes and funding streams will be discussed. 

Representatives from key groups will inform attendees about their organisations, the multiple coaching pathways that exist, and how they can get help and even get involved. The groups leading the discussions include:

• West Riding County FA
• Leeds City Council
• Leeds United Foundation
• Sporting Equals
• Black and Asian Coaches Association (BACA)
• West Riding County FA Inclusion and Advisory Group (IAG) 

Before guests listen and liaise with these organisations, FA Regional Coach Mentor Officer (North West), Steve Smithies, will say a few words about the importance of coaching as well as equality and diversity in the system. Leeds United Academy coach and FA Coach Mentor, Chazz Mann, will also provide a brief talk focusing on his journey from grassroots to elite level.

Due to a clear under representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) coaches within football, certainly at professional level, Creating & Developing Coaches particularly targets BAME communities, male and female. 

There is a wealth of brilliant coaching opportunities in the Leeds area but many remain unaware of them, and how to get involved. This event provides a platform to showcase a selection of coaching opportunities that exist within the West Riding region.

All the attendees on the night will speak with all the organisations in discussion groups, as well as having the opportunity to network with grassroots coaches, clubs and organisations, with the key outcome being the creation of clear pathways for people to get involved and open doors for people.

Event organiser, Dr Daniel Kilvington, Senior Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at Leeds Beckett University, said “The event offers a vital platform as coaches, as well as football club secretaries, grassroots volunteers, parents of players, and footy fans who fancy themselves as a future coach, are encouraged to attend to learn about the amazing opportunities that exist on their door step. It really is a brilliant networking event and one which I'm sure the attendees will benefit from. 

“We particularly welcome individuals from BAME communities to attend as there is a clear under representation within the coaching system, notably at professional level. A survey carried out by Sports Coach UK found that BAME coaches make up three percent of all sports coaches, however, only one percent are qualified. And, Farenet reported that in 2014 that only 19 out of 522 senior coaches in football are BAME. Creating & Developing Coaches therefore hopes to challenge this trend as it aims to highlight coaching opportunities, pathways, courses, funding streams and may also provide clubs with mentors”
 

To book your place and further information, please contact Dr Daniel Kilvington at d.j.kilvington@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.