Our coaches do more than deliver great sessions. They’re part of a community that’s always learning from each other, sharing ideas and finding new ways to make sport more inclusive.
This summer, a group of our coaches came together at Spencer Cricket Club in South London for a Coaches’ Professional Development Evening, combining practical learning with the chance to catch up over dinner.
The evening included a cricket-focused professional development session led by our Senior Partnerships Officer Daisy Meadowcroft and Head Coach Debbie Parker.
Coaches explored practical, game-based drills and new approaches to building strong team culture, giving them ideas and skills they can take back into their sessions.
For Devalle, who joined Disability Sports Coach as a volunteer in January 2023 with a goal of becoming a qualified basketball coach, the evening was another opportunity to develop his coaching skills.
After completing our Inclusive Activity Leaders programme in partnership with Nike in 2024, Devalle is now a fully qualified sports coach.
Reflecting on the evening, he said:
“I loved learning practical, game-based drills and fresh strategies for building strong team culture.”
Professional development is important, but so is creating opportunities for our coaches to connect.
The evening was a chance to share experiences, catch up with colleagues and strengthen the relationships that help make our wider coaching network such a valuable part of Disability Sports Coach.
As one of our coaches, Hugh Elsegood, reflected, these catch-ups are an important reminder that coaches are part of a broader network and community within DSC.
That sense of connection matters. Our coaches work across different sessions and locations, but opportunities like this bring everyone together, allowing them to learn from one another and feel part of the wider team.
A big thank you to our Workforce Development Officer, Marie Kasambalis, for organising the evening, as well as everyone who helped make it happen.
Our coaches will be putting their new ideas and skills into practice when our Community Clubs return next month.
We’re looking forward to seeing what they bring to their sessions.
