Providing education and training opportunities for the sport and physical activity sector may be the focus of my day job as Senior Education Manager at Sport Structures, but education and training have also played an important part in my life ever since I left university with a degree in Earth and Planetary Sciences. It may seem like a strange degree to have when I work in sport, but there are many individuals, particularly among the vast number of volunteers that sport relies on, who undertake their roles in sport in addition to employment in other sectors.
These transferrable skills between sectors and roles within sport are important as many people end up with more than one role in sport, and I have found from personal experience that there doesn’t appear to be a limit to the number of roles you can end up with in sport at any one time! Encouraging and enabling individuals from outside the sector to become involved in sport and to bring their skills with them can only be a positive thing.
However, to maximise this potential and to realise the potential of the athletes, ex-athletes, parents and others, who want to get involved or move into new roles, it is important that they are supported with appropriate education and training opportunities. Options need to be provided for every role, regardless of whether it’s full-time, part-time, paid or voluntary. This will enable these individuals to apply their transferrable skills in the best way and to gain the sport-specific or sector-specific knowledge they need to effectively carry out their roles.
A clear understanding of the skills and knowledge required for each role within an organisation will enable the identification and provision of education and training opportunities and progression pathways to support the development of individuals. This is crucial to enable individuals to understand what is expected of them and develop the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed. Well-trained individuals will feel supported, gain new skills and develop existing skills, and a solid starting point based on training will help them gain greater satisfaction from their role by increasing their confidence and enabling them to feel they can have a greater positive impact. In addition, an organisation will benefit from improved recruitment and retention of the workforce they need and find succession planning easier, as nobody, however dedicated, can stay in their role forever!
At Sport Structures, we work closely with our partners, such as National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of sports, Active Partnerships, universities, colleges and community foundations/trusts, to ensure that the necessary training opportunities are available to meet the needs of their workforce. This includes everything from safeguarding and first aid, to coaching courses, to training up the next generation of Educators who deliver all of these courses.
A key part of supporting our partners is creating flexibility in the delivery format of courses to increase accessibility, particularly for volunteers who need to fit education and training around their other commitments. This can include blended courses, with online learning, virtual classrooms and fewer face-to-face days, or alternatively, we may work with a Delivery Partner who knows their learners will be more engaged if a course is delivered fully face-to-face to support additional learning needs. Education can also help learners feel more connected when participating in online virtual classrooms by creating opportunities for peer learning, such as welfare officers who get to meet others in the same role during a Time to Listen workshop.
Personally, I love to learn and this is where sports education and training have provided me with opportunities since completing my degree. This has been hugely rewarding as it has enabled me to not only develop my skill set but also to give back to the community by teaching children to swim, coaching and judging in artistic swimming, and tutoring coaching courses to support the development of the next generation of coaches. It has also shown me where my transferable skills can be applied and developed, both in volunteer and professional roles.
Supporting more learners to participate in education and training opportunities, will help to ensure high standards are maintained in the sector to give people confidence in sport and sporting organisations. It will also encourage people to get involved or stay involved in the sporting workforce, and they will be better equipped to be successful and enjoy their role. It will also ensure that both the workforce and participants have positive experiences in a safe, encouraging environment that enables everyone to have fun, make friends and achieve their goals. What better way to Shape the Future of sport?
