Celebrating our coaches this UK Coaching Week

This week is #UKCoachingWeek. It’s a week to celebrate the critical work coaches do to get people more active, more often. It’s a week that celebrates what we see, every day in our hubs. Fantastic people who choose to coach. To mentor, to motivate, to guide and teach as well as to learn and develop themselves. The impact coaches have in supporting people to transform from inactive to regularly exercising, from transforming “I can’t” to “I can” and turning people from good to great, is totally inspiring to be part of. Both volunteer and professional coaches are boosting community health, happiness and wellbeing in our diverse society.

Coaches encourage inclusive football

Leisure United provide top class facilities for people to enjoy fitness and football in their community. Our hubs are learning centres where FA accredited coaching to Level 5, specific courses for referees and goalkeepers and ongoing development programmes, give people the skills and understanding needed to grow in football coaching, as a volunteer or even a career. At every one of our weekly coaching sessions, across our ten hubs we see tots taking their first steps into football, kids – girls and boys – growing in confidence, teens building tactical, technical and teamwork skills, all in an encouraging environment. We thank each and every one of our coaching team members for the part they play in encouraging inclusive football.

#BornToCoach

The hubs are also home to training sessions, by FA accredited teams, where we witness the dedication of their coaches, often volunteers, and the impact they have from grassroots to professional players. Those of us who do coach, find it incredibly rewarding. To pass on experience and guide others to improve – regardless of ability – provides a unique kind of satisfaction. This week, we are joining the entire sports sector to encourage everyone to coach, it’s a great experience.

Do what you love, every day

There are many examples of great coaches in our hubs, including those who we’ve been on a journey from casual player to coach right before our eyes! People like Tom and Chris at LU Sheffield Graves. They were both pay and play users when the hub first opened, then enrolled on our BTEC course. Now they work for Leisure United coaching girls football “Wildcats”, football development sessions and hosting kids parties. A perfect example of how Leisure United provides a catalyst for people like Tom and Chris to develop into dedicated and brilliant coaches, who’ve grown their love for the beautiful game, into a career in football. Teaching and inspiring youngsters – who love them.

Dedication, that’s what you need!

James, Duty Manager at LU Liverpool Simpson is a grassroots coach for u16 team Brugge. Even though he has 6 children of his own, he manages to find time for the team, who play on Saturdays and Sundays, and he often stays late after finishing a shift to take training sessions and drills. That’s what we call dedication – Thank you!

Thanks for all you do.

Rain or shine we see our coaches and visiting coaches motivate and influence those around them daily. Their dedication shows passion and love of the game, and we are thankful to each and everyone of them for helping our Leisure United community to prosper.

Find out more about our coaching and development sessions online at www.leisureunited.com