UK Coaching Annual Review 2018-2019 UK Coaching Annual Review 2018-2019 | Page 5

What A Year In an increasingly digital world, where sedentary lifestyles and loneliness are on the rise, the need to get people — from all walks of life — moving and establishing lifelong physical activity habits has never been greater. Sport and physical activity play a crucial role in establishing good habits, but it is not always as easy as we think to become active. Great Coaching is part of the solution to this modern-day problem and helps focus on what is arguably the most important part of sport and physical activity: human connections, community and supporting others. This was evident during the UK’s first-ever Coaching Week. The breadth and diversity of coaching was truly showcased, with examples ranging from deaf hockey coaching in Brighton, to boxing coaching as a way of preventing knife-crime in Nottingham. The week was underpinned by support from key public figures, such as Dr. Rosemary Leonard, one of Britain’s leading medical professionals, Chair of Sport England Nick Bitel and Lord Sebastian Coe. In any calendar year, three million people coach tens of millions of adults and children. The need to develop coaches — from grass roots to elite levels — in order to use their people skills to play a positive and pivotal role in getting the nation more active is imperative if we are to make a difference, especially to those who are just stepping into sport and physical activity. Over the last 12 months, we have continued our mission to transform coach learning in the UK by growing coaches’ people skills in a way that fits in with their busy lifestyles, their motivations and their digital habits. This annual review gives a flavour of what has been achieved through our coaching policy and investment; our support to partners, and our leadership and governance throughout 2018–2019. However, of course, none of this would have been possible without the hard work and professionalism of our staff. HRH, The Princess Royal “ The most important part of sport and physical activity: human connections, community and supporting others.” 5