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News

Inaugural group of ‘world leading’ coaches graduate from prestigious UK Sport programme

Published 29 November 2016

The first group of participants on UK Sport’s Elite Programme, which aims to take high performance coaching the in the UK from world class to world leading, have graduated at UK Sport’s World Class Performance Conference, presented by SPORTSCOVER.

The graduates are: Anna Stembridge (Netball), Christian Felkel (Rowing), David McNulty (Swimming), Eddie Van Hoof (Gymnastics), Mark Delaney (Canoeing), Michel Assouline (Para Equestrian Dressage), Paul Thompson (Rowing), Peter Moores (Cricket), Rob McCracken (Boxing).             

The nine coaches, who work in a variety of Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic sports, have taken part in a rigorous three year programme of personal and professional development, both as a group and individually, with unparalleled access to expertise, technology and experiences from both within and outside the sports industry.

Between them the graduating coaches played a part in supporting athletes that delivered 28 of Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s medals this summer.

British Gymnastics’ Men’s Technical Director, Eddie Van Hoof, led the squad to top the men’s gymnastics medal table in Rio and Michael Assouline, Team GBR Para-Equestrian Dressage Performance Coach, supported the GB Para Equestrian team to deliver their most successful Games to date.

Graham Taylor, Head of Performance People Development at UK Sport, said: “Congratulations to this fantastic group of coaches, who I know have both supported and challenged each other through this fantastic learning opportunity.

“Coaches are the crucial backbone of our high performance system, and I know this group will continue to provide world class support and direction for their athletes, as well as now using the wisdom they have gained on the programme to help us take British coaching from world class to world leading.” 

Two of the group, Eddie van Hoof and Paul Thompson, have subsequently been invited to join UK Sport’s prestigious Coaching Fellowship, which aims to champion the coaching profession and support the development of world class coaches in the UK. The two coaches were invited to join in recognition of both their success on the Elite Programme and as a coach, as well as their willingness to represent the development of coaching within our system and society. 

Eddie van Hoof said: “I’m privileged and honoured to join the Fellowship and feel it recognises the progress made by the whole sport of gymnastics. The Elite Programme provided an incredible opportunity to challenge our thinking and understanding of high performance coaching and I found it to be hugely beneficial to me and so also to the development of our sport.”

Paul Thompson, the GB Rowing Team’s Head Coach for Women and Lightweights, said: “I feel privileged and honoured to have been invited into UK Sport’s prestigious Coaching Fellowship and to join such a select and eminent group of coaches. I look forward to championing coaching and the development of coaching in the UK through the Fellowship.

“Coaching is both challenging and rewarding. Without outstanding athletes there aren’t outstanding coaches and I would like to recognise and thank the rowers I have coached and who have been part of the GB Women and Lightweights squad.

It has also been a privilege to work with some exceptional coaches at the Great Britain Rowing Team and to have been supported by superb support staff who back us up.”

Malcolm Brown, long term coach to double Olympic medallists Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, was also invited to join the Coaching Fellowship this year.


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