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UK Sport announce 12 coaches for third ECAP intake

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Grace Cullen 31 October 2011

UK Sport has today announced the 12 emerging high performance coaches who will make up the 2011-13 Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme (ECAP).

The coaches selected come from nine different Olympic sports, and for the first time, Gymnastics and Badminton will be represented on the programme.

ECAP is a two year initiative which aims to accelerate the development of coaches already within the High Performance System, to enable them to have an enhanced impact in the short term, but also to become the elite coaches of the future.

Speaking on his selection, Nick Ruddock, from British Gymnastics, said: “It's a privilege to be selected for the ECAP programme, particularly as it's the first time Gymnastics has been incorporated. The program will provide a great learning opportunity for me to enhance my skills as a coach, whilst offering the chance to network with other coaches in elite sport.”

British Gymnastics Olympic Performance Director, Tim Jones, said: "We, at British Gymnastics, are very excited about this opportunity which has been offered to both of our National Junior Coaches.  Both Nick and Barry [Collie] did an outstanding job throughout the selection process of stating the value of the ECAP Programme. We believe they will benefit from an excellent learning and development opportunity within a cross-sporting environment. I know they will embrace this with both hands, with long term value not only to them as individuals, but all of the gymnasts and coaches they work with too."

Following a typical apprenticeship model, the ECAP coaches will benefit from ‘on the job’ training by working alongside a ‘Master Coach’ from within their sport while also having access to a Mentor.  This will be complimented by a workshop programme, delivered by experts in coaching, non-technical coaching skills, sport science and sports medicine.

Another of the coaches selected, Melanie Marshall, from British Swimming, said: “I feel very honoured to be given this opportunity. To be recognised by both British Swimming and UK Sport is great. I can’t wait for the programme to begin and I can learn as much as I can. It is a great development opportunity that I’m going to grasp with both hands.”

British Swimming Performance Director, Michael Scott, said: “The World Class Swimming Programme is delighted that Melanie Marshall and Richard Blackshaw have been selected to be participants in the 2011-2013 Elite Coaching Apprenticeship Programme. 

“This opportunity will provide these two talented up and coming coaches with the ideal opportunity to broaden their knowledge from a sports specific and general principles perspective.  The inclusion of two British Swimming coaches in the new intake further highlights the importance to continually develop the next generation of coaches for the sport.”

The first workshop will be held at Burleigh Court in Loughborough on 22-24 November, allowing the cohort to get to know one another and begin to look at coaching styles, learning styles and reflective practice. 

UK Sport’s Director of Performance, Peter Keen, said: “Following the great success of the first two intakes of ECAP, we are delighted to be able to extend this opportunity to the third group of up and coming high performance coaches.

“UK Sport invests in and supports the elite sport system in this country and we recognise that developing world class coaches is absolutely integral to the continued success of that system.

“It is fantastic to see so many different sports represented by this new intake and I would like to wish the new recruits the very best of luck as they embark on their ECAP journeys.”

A full list of Apprentice coaches, along with their respective Master Coach and Mentor, is detailed below.

Apprentice (sport) - Master Coach, Mentor
Peter Jeffrey (Badminton) – Kenneth Jonaseen, TBC
Craig Morris (Canoe Slalom) – Jurg Gotz, Alan Olive
Jon Norfolk (British Cycling) – Iain Dyer, Shane Sutton
Damian Ball (Diving) – Bill Clark, Julian Bellan
Corrine Bracken (Equestrian) – Di Lampard, Yogi Breisner
Barry Collie (Gymnastics) – Eddie Van Hoof, Dennis Edwards
Nick Ruddock (Gymnastics) – Carol-Angela Orchard, Dennis Edwards
Paul Stannard (GB Rowing) – Darren Whiter, TBC
Tom Dyson (GB Rowing) -  Robin Williams, TBC
Melanie Marshall (Swimming) – Dennis Pursley, Mark Perry
Richard Blackshaw (Swimming) – Sean Kelly, Mark Perry
Julie Hollman (UK Athletics) – Dan Pfaff, TBC

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