On Friday 15th April, International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) and Leeds Beckett University (LBU) colleagues met for a networking lunch to celebrate five years of both organisations working together.*
During the event, core staff from the ICCE and Sport Coaching teaching staff from LBU presented their thoughts on the ‘Power of the Partnership’ to date.
John Bales, President of the ICCE summarised key milestones of the working relationship, and outlined aims of the organisation, as a global co-operative. John said “The ICCE brings members from like-minded organisations together to improve the quality of coaching, and works with some of the best sports organisations in the world – e.g. the Australian Sports Commission, INSEP (France), UK Sport and the US Olympic Committee, among others. Leeds Beckett University are recognised among ICCE networks as a key player in the global sports coaching world”. He acknowledged all of the support provided to date by LBU in establishing the Global Coaching Office at the university, and how this has professionalised the organisation and help it grow during the past five years.
Andy Abraham, Principal Lecturer in Sport Coaching at LBU, acknowledged the correlation between work both organisations are doing, and the university vision as ‘an excellent, accessible, globally-engaged university’. He made specific reference to the ICCE Global Coach Conference, which LBU staff have been able to attend over the years, engaging in a conversation with other leading researchers in the field of sport coaching. Andy concluded that the benefits of ICCE and LBU working together are clear. Specifically he feels that the ICCE can really assist in defining the role of the ‘graduate coach’.
Sergio Lara-Bercial’s presentation focused on the ‘live’ workings of the ICCE. Sergio, Senior Research Fellow for LBU, and Manager for Strategy and Development at ICCE, also made reference to the internal and external projects ICCE and LBU have worked on together, specifically the ‘International Sports Coaching Framework’ – a publication produced by both organisations and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF). Sergio added that “this is an important and well-regarded tool, and is on the desks of all International Federations worldwide, the impact of which is not to be underestimated”. He also named the many LBU staff who have worked with the ICCE to date, and the contribution they have made.
Louise Assioun, Coach Education Manager at LBU talked about her involvement as a Coach Mentor in Strengthening Coaching with the Objective to Raise Equality (SCORE) project, an opportunity which presented itself through her relationship with the ICCE.
Julian North, Senior Research Fellow, and Dave Piggott, Principal Lecturer in Sport Coaching (both LBU), presented their experience of bidding and winning some work with UEFA, and the impact the research has made in football. Julian “feels sure that the connections LBU has with ICCE Research Committee members has helped to make this work possible”.
Overall, the event was a success leaving those involved enthused and inspired about future opportunities that the LBU/ICCE partnership brings, including research and improving the student experience at LBU, and supporting the development of sport coaching globally.
*The International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) is a not-for-profit, international organisation with the mission of leading and supporting the development of sport coaching globally. The ICCE has established a central Global Coaching Office at Leeds Beckett University in 2011 which is now the hub of its global and European activities.
