EIBA Ltd - BDA Coaching & EBCS

9th January 2014

Coaching - Working with the EBCS

In March 2013 the BDA's new independent directors approached the English Bowls Coaches Society to discuss how the two organisations could work together to develop coaching.

The EBCS has a long tradition of providing coaching to players of all abilities, and over the past two years the BDA has developed a nationally recognised coaching scheme for Bowls England, the EIBA and Sport England. Coach Bowls offers a membership package and a suite of qualifications comprising an Introduction Module, Level 1 and Level 2 that correspond to other sports and are independently assessed.

We were sure (and remain convinced) that bowls would be best served if we could combine the efforts and knowledge of the EBCS and the BDA. We suggested ways that this might be done, and invited the Society to add their own thoughts.

In July the EBCS asked their members whether they should engage in this dialogue. Following a positive response from their members, the EBCS accepted our invitation to discuss what we might do. Andy Humphreys (BDA Independent Director) met with Ian Paddy and Vic Waite and developed a framework agenda. We then met and proposed that:

-	we combine registration and insurance schemes at once to avoid 'double payments', and establish a single coaches database, with access available to both organisations. A financial arrangement would be arrived at to ensure that the EBCS would continue to represent the interests of coaches.
-	EBCS representatives join a Strategic Group to guide future coaching developments, such as how to give credit for previous training and experience when applying for the new qualifications.
-	EBCS representatives view the new Coach Bowls courses. We believe these would be practical first steps and would serve bowls and its coaches well. The meeting was held in a positive spirit and ended with the EBCS representatives agreeing to look further at the propositions with their committee members.

We have now heard that the EBCS do not wish to participate in drawing together bowls coaching and have explained that they want to maintain their own source of income and remain separate from the BDA, Bowls England and the EIBA.
We are disappointed with this response and do not believe it is in the best interests of bowls or its coaches. To re-iterate our position, we are keen to work more closely with the EBCS and

-	move to a single registration/insurance for all coaches
-	work with EBCS representatives on a strategic development group for coaching

We would like to stress that no demands have been made during this process and the BDA, BE and EIBA are still keen to discuss ideas to work as partners. Despite the EBCS response we have extended an invitation to join the strategic group.

For our own part, we will continue to seek ways to improve the quality of coaching in bowls, and to serve clubs and players.

Oliver Johnson
Independent Chair, BDA

For further information please contact: Susan Cooper on: 07884 358202
Email: susan@playbowls.org

Registered Office: Bowls Development Alliance, David Cornwell House, Bowling Green, Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 0FA Tel: 01664 484926
Registered in England 07205402 www.bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com

| | | | | | |

Home

Back

Coaching - Working with the EBCS