Volunteering in sport is often the first step many people take to working in sport, or just getting more involved.
The Council has a range of opportunities in which you can get involved. Ranging from helping with Dragon Sport after school clubs, through to helping with Disability Sport sessions, or just lending a hand down at the local sports club. If you want to take the first steps and want some help and support, contact the Sports Development Unit and we can point you in the right direction and link you up with one of our schemes.
Want to take it further?
By learning how to become a sports coach, you can benefit yourself and others. The development of sport through coaching spreads the positive aspects of an active life throughout the community. Our Sports Development Unit offers a comprehensive range of coaching qualifications, or can link you in with a local course.
Careers in Sports Development
From time to time we recruit casual coaches and mentors to use in programmes run by the team and in our leisure facilities . To view potential vacancies go to: www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/jobs|
The main aim of sports development work is to increase participation in sport and physical activity for all ages and abilities in local communities. This involves working with partnership with a number of agencies e.g. schools, clubs, voluntary groups, National Governing Bodies of sport etc
Sports development work is not the same as sports coaching, and individuals interested in coaching should think twice before following this as a career. Sports development is more of an “enabling” role rather than simply being about “delivering” a sports session to the local community. Sports Development Officers aim to enable clubs, schools, local groups etc to develop and improve the range and quality of opportunities for people to participate in.
What is Typical Sports Development Work?
Sports Development work is varied and there is no standard job description. Different officers have different roles and responsibilities, e.g. a Sports Development Co-ordiantor will vary from that of a Dragon Sport Co-ordinator or Disability Sport Cymru Development Officer.
There are also roles for specific Sports Development Officers eg football, hockey, etc, many of which may be only part time. By looking at the titles of our Sports Development Team, you can see that most officers have a wide programme of work. To view information about the projects each are involved with and a brief overview of their role, click their links in the navigation bar.
However, typical Sports Development work may include:
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Strategic planning of particular projects:
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Writing a development plan
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Setting aims and objectives
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Liasing with appropriate partners
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Monitoring and evaluating the project
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Writing reports
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Assessing the impact of the programme
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Establishing links between schools and sports clubs
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Assisting sports clubs to develop junior sections through writing development plans and providing support and advice on funding
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Organising and delivering training for teachers, clubs or coaches
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Deploying coaches to specific projects/schools
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Working in partnership with local agencies, organisations to provide sustainable sporting opportunities
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Managing and reviewing budgets
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Providing support and advice to schools, clubs, groups on a number of development issues, such as funding, training etc.
Work Conditions
Sports Development working hours typically include unsociable hours. Examples of this might include holding evening meetings with clubs, or weekend work such as tutoring a training course.
Working flexible hours is a requirement of the post, although time off in lieu is given.
What Experience and Qualifications do you Need?
There is no single entry route into Sports Development, but the following may be useful:
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Degree in a relevant subject - Sports Studies, Sports Development, Sports Science or PE or equivalent qualification
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Various Coaching qualifications, e.g. Community Sports Leaders Award (CSLA), National Governing Body (NGB) Award courses
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Some experience of working in a sports development environment, e.g. work experience, specific project work as a volunteer
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Experience of working with local sports clubs and other voluntary agencies, e.g. working on committees, voluntary coaching work etc
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Experience of working as part of a team to motivate and enthuse others, e.g. on a holiday programme
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An insight into current national sporting issues, e.g. knowledge of current policies of Sports Council for Wales, the Welsh Assembly etc
What Skills/Knowledge are Needed?
For a career in Sports Development, it is important that you have knowledge and skills in a number of areas, including:
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Knowledge of the principles and practices of sports development
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Knowledge of local, regional and national sport structures
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Some knowledge of national sports development programmes, e.g. Dragon Sport, Girls First, Disability Sport, PESS
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The ability to prioritise workload within a structured work programme
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Organisation and planning Skills
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Good communication skills and the ability to communicate with a wide variety of partners
Personal qualities are also important, you should be able to demonstrate the following:
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A commitment and a passion for sport
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Enthusiasm
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Ability to use your initiative
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Flexibility and adaptability to a constantly changing environment
Career Development
A typical path into sports development often initially involves volunteer work, and then progression to an Assistant Sports Development Officer. Once you have gained experience within this role and have developed your skills, you should be able to move on. The minimum number of years experience to gain a Sports Development Officer role is usually about two years.
How do I find out about Sports Development Jobs?
Various Councils advertise in different locations. Rhondda Cynon Taf advertise on the Council’s main website http://www.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk/jobs| with links to Vacancies.
Other websites that advertise sports development jobs include:
Careers in Sports Coaching
Sports Coaching helps the development of individuals by improving their performance. Coaching can be influential on a number of different levels. From helping a six year old to learn the basics of how to throw a ball, to guiding experienced performers through an international competition. Coaches are needed at every level, and whatever the reason you want to become involved in coaching, the most important attribute to have is enthusiasm!
Helping your performers to realise their full potential is a key factor in quality coaching. You need to adapt your approach to suit the circumstances of the group you are leading. There are a number of skills/qualities a coach must have in order to get the very best out of their performers, including:
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Good communication and the use of clear, simple language
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Flexible, coaching hours are usually not 9-5!
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Organised and clear at giving instructions
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Confident and have a positive attitude to those they coach
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A good role model, gaining respect of the people they work with
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Patient! Not all performers will grasp every technique that is showed to them!
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Tactful, be able to balance criticism with positive points
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Safety conscious and aware of the current child protection issues
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Inspirational!
Workload / Working conditions for coaches
There are a limited number of full time paid coaching positions available, and many coaches work at local sports clubs on a voluntary basis in addition to having a full time job!
The work places of coaches will vary from sport to sport. It may be a local school sport hall or out on a playing field in adverse weather conditions.
Coaches may also need to travel considerable distances depending on what the demand is for coaches in that particular sport.
What Qualifications do I need to become a Sports Coach?
To become a qualified coach in a particular sport you will need to take the appropriate National Governing Body (NGB) course for your sport. NGB’s run courses for anyone aged over 16 (some have junior qualifications for 14+), and a variety of levels are offered, e.g. leaders, assistants, levels 1,2, 3 and 4 which correspond to the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s).
Some higher education sports related courses offer the opportunity to gain NGB courses as part of the degree programme.
You cannot progress as a coach without having gained an NGB qualification in the sport you are interested in coaching in, even if you have a sports related degree. For further details of NGB courses, click onto the sports search facility and type in the sport you are interested in, then choose “information” from the refine search option. Details of coaching qualifications for that sport will then be shown. To find out more about the different type of awards, click on the direct link to the NGB website from the sports search page.
In addition to gaining an NGB qualification in a particular sport, there are a number of generic courses which coaches should, and in most instances, have to attend before gaining employment. These include:
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An emergency First Aid (2 hour) course
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A Child Protection Course (e.g. sportscoach UK)
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A Disability Awareness course / Coaching Disabled Performers (sportscoach UK) course
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An Equity in your Coaching (sportscoach UK) course
What Opportunities are there to Become Employed?
The Sports Development Service are always on the look out for flexible, qualified Sports Coaches, no matter what the sport. We are unable to guarantee regular hours, but once accepted, you will be added to a database which can be accessed by all Sports Development staff, as well as by Leisure Facility Managers who may be looking for coaches to run new classes
To apply for a Casual Coaching position you need to conatct Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Human Resources Department on 01443 484476 / 484480 and quote Job reference number PLA 199. After completeing and returning the form you may be invited for an interview, and, if taken on will have to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Opportunities will arise for Sports Coaches in various Sports Development programmes, such as: Delivery of holiday programmes, centre based sessions, support to schools etc.
Further Information
In addition to becoming employed as a sports coach with Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, there are many other ways of becoming involved in sports coaching. Most Governing Bodies advertise for coaches in the Leisure Management magazine. The following website links may also be helpful:
Contact Us
For more information on forthcoming sports coaching courses, please contact the Sports Development Unit.
Telephone: 01443 400563
Fax: 01443 405184
Email: sportsdevelopment@rctcbc.gov.uk|