British Triathlon and the International Triathlon Union (ITU) have signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding' to create a global Coach Education system designed to standardise and improve coaching education around the world, specifically targeting emerging triathlon National Federations (NF).
The new ITU coaching pathway, supported by UK Sport, will be based on the International Council for Coaching Excellence’s (ICCE) International Sport Coaching Framework (ISCF), which is a globally recognised framework for coaching system development. It will also draw on expertise from British Triathlon’s successful UK Coach Education Programmes and the UK Sport’s International Development team.
As part of the relationship, British Triathlon will help ITU develop an online e-learning platform that is based on best practices utilised in the British Triathlon e-learning platform, as well as high quality learning programmes that are delivered by skilled ITU facilitators.
British Triathlon will also recommend its delivery systems to the ITU, sharing best practices wherever possible. The project will include the creation of a robust assessment system to support NFs if they wish to implement their own coach education system, as well as recognising any NF that has a high performance coaching system.
Paul Moss, Coaching Development Manager at British Triathlon, has been appointed Project Development Manager and will work with ITU in directing the development and implementation of the coach education programme. The system will be formally launched at the 2014 ITU World Championships Grand Final in Edmonton, Canada
Moss said: "Our involvement in this project provides a great opportunity to work in partnership with ITU by helping them to create a fit-for-purpose coaching pathway and programmes, as well as supporting the development of triathlon coaches around the world.
"This partnership puts us in a great position to build on our existing relationship with ITU. The invitation to join forces on this project is further recognition that Britain Triathlon is not only a leading triathlon nation, but is also able to make a significant contribution to the sport’s international development."
The project will be overseen by Gergely Markus and Zita Csovelyak from the ITU Development Team and supported by UK Sport.
“We are thrilled to be working in conjunction with the British Triathlon Federation on this ground breaking project,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Nobody knows the sport better nor can do more to impact its grow than our National Federations. The opportunity to share the British Federation’s expertise through an online platform with emerging federations will be an invaluable tool.”