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Two of Britain’s leading Olympic sports met last week to share ideas and best practice.

As part of the Annual Development Plan for Performance Coaches – devised by the UK Sports Institute (UKSI) in partnership with the Royal Yachting Association – Peter Keen, Performance Director for British Cycling, visited the RYA’s headquarters in Eastleigh to meet with some of the country’s top sailing coaches.

"Cross-sport working is important in that it gives an opportunity to listen to how another sport with the same goals – ultimately medals – approaches the fulfilment of that goal," explained Tristan Collins, Coaching Co-ordinator at the UKSI.

"Success is all about having enough time but in sport it is a commodity in short supply, so you have to create more time for yourselves by learning from others. In hearing about others’ processes, it allows you to reflect on your own – reinforcing what you do well, challenging you to act on things that you could do better or to do some things which you may not have considered at all."

A number of issues within world-class sport were covered at the meeting, including motivating team coaches; the difference between a sport-centred programme and an athlete-centred one; strategies for youth training and elite level athletes; and creating elite athletes with elite attitudes.

Alan Olive, the RYA’s Coach Development Manager, said that the meeting with Keen had proved invaluable.

"It certainly proved insightful, not only on Peter’s approach and philosophy, but also the practicalities of coaching at world class level," Olive explained. "It was nice to meet with a world class team that are challenging the barriers and problems in such a practical manner."

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