Coaching campaign asks the nation to ‘Support Your Coach’

UK Coaching has confirmed that UK Coaching Week 2020 will take place from the 14th to 20th September.

The awareness campaign – which empowers athletes, coaches and the public to celebrate great coaching – will centre on the need to ‘Support Your Coach’.

It kicks off with the #GreatCoachingPledge that will call on the nation to give some of their own time, sharing thanks and support for the coaching community.

Sport and physical activity has been, and will continue to be, integral to the nation’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic by having a positive impact on people’s mental and physical well-being.

The coaching workforce has been instrumental in supporting communities across the UK to stay active over the last four months of lockdown restrictions.

Coaches are now also critical conduits in reuniting people as restrictions are lifted, and following the Government’s announcement of a new ‘obesity strategy’, which is calling on people to ‘take control of their own future by losing weight, getting active and adopting a healthier lifestyle’, will be lent on further to keep the nation moving.

UK Coaching’s Director of Coaching Emma Atkins, said: “Coaches have been absolute heroes keeping us active, connected and motivated both before the pandemic and during the period of isolation and disruption caused by the lockdown.

“However, we know some grass roots coaches – and elite too for that matter – are struggling with the perceived lack of support right now, so we want to ask the public and anyone who benefits from sport and physical activity to say thank you and pledge their time to support their coach or coaches.

“As restrictions are eased and more of us return to play, we will turn to coaches and expect them to integrate new controls to keep us all safe, so let’s ensure that we recognise and support our coaches across the UK for the vital work that they do.”

Everyone can get involved in the #GreatCoachingPledge – from parents to charities to businesses.

Great coaching is particularly important for health and well-being in these times of Coronavirus, but also vital for the future well-being of our kids, and because it helps deliver many of those major sporting moments which unite the nation.

So, whether it’s a thank you, or offering your time to help, every little moment you can give will help our coaches to feel recognised and appreciated, and therefore, help our nation to stay active and stay healthy.

To find out more about how to pledge, click here.