A Revised Programme Offering - Why?

"The course definitely helps you to look inward at many points and reflect on your own performance as a coach"

Rory Fitzpatrick, Sailing, 2011 Programme Participant

The 2012 Pursuit of Excellence programme offering takes a new approach and acts on the latest research on high performance coach education. The following is an overview of the key programme changes made in 2012:

1. The High Performance Coach Development Pathway

As a result of evidence generated through participant feedback, the 2012 programme will involve a streaming mechanism whereby coaches will receive a focused professional development support in accordance with the nature of their coaching role and their level of international experience. The objective of this change is to ensure that each coach's learning needs are catered for in a more tailored and individualised format. This change will result in the establishment of 2 new programme offerings:

a. The Podium Programme - A focused performance support programme for senior level coaches who have experience and a track record performing at a senior international level.

b. The Horizon Programme. - A long term coach development programme designed for coaches who are performing at a junior international level with the aspiration to graduate towards senior level coaching.

2. Priority Coach Performance Support

In line with the Institute of Sport mission, the priority objective for the 2012 Pursuit of Excellence programme will be to provide a high end coach performance support programme to those high performance coaches supporting athletes who will perform at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This priority support will be reflected in the establishment of a new bespoke coach performance support programme entitled 'The Podium Programmme'.

3. Long Term Coach Development

The post Olympic and Paralympic Games period is a critical succession management window that remains a key priority for the Institute of Sport. As a result we have created a new high performance coach development programme entitled 'The Horizon Programme'. This programme will be focusing on the development of long term coaching potential leading into the 2016 quadrennial cycle.

4. Best Practice Recognition

The Sport Ireland Institute has identified the need to recognize high performance coaches who demonstrate best practice coaching performance leading to podium performances at senior and junior level. As a result the Sport Ireland Institute will be establishing an inaugural best practice high performance coaching awards programme. 2012 programme participants will be given the opportunity to vote and select a member of their coaching peer community to become 'coach of the year'.

"We have been challenged personally and as a group which is exactly what I feel has been necessary. It has made me much more self reflective and confident, to deal with the challenges of coaching at a high performance level"

Fran Ronan, Swimming, 2011 Programme Participant