Endicott Students Participate in Youth Sport Trust’s National Young Coaches Academy
Endicott Students and Faculty with Baroness Sue Campbell (Center), Chair of Youth Sport Trust
Endicott College Physical Education students and faculty volunteered at the Youth Sport Trust’s National Young Coaches Academy (NYCA) from January 4-6 at Loughborough University in England, working with National Faculty and National Governing Bodies of Sport to deliver sessions related to the development of coaching skills. Endicott participants included students Nicholas Campagna, Caitlin Peters, Lance Pepper and Stacie Teevens, who were accompanied by Deb Swanton, Dean of Sport Science, J.P. Barfield, Assistant Dean of Sport Science, and Professor Rich Nastasi.
More than 200 promising young sports coaches ages 13-18 attended. Ten National Governing Bodies of Sport were represented at the academy including athletics, badminton, basketball, boccia, football, hockey, rugby union, swimming, table tennis, and volleyball.
The young people at NYCA attended workshops on communication and organization, adaptability and ethics, and they also participated in practical sessions focusing on observation, instruction, and analysis.
The learning program is deeply rooted in developing the interpersonal and coaching skills of the young coaches. Throughout the weekend, the young coaches were inspired, motivated, and challenged by top-level deliverers and coaches to really understand what it will take for them to develop and achieve their personal best both in sport and in life.
Endicott students and staff also had the opportunity to observe the National Talent Orientation Camp, a training camp for young athletes aspiring to become Olympic and Paralympic champions. The young coaches joined the 100 athletes on the talent camp for a joint opening and closing address, which provided an opportunity for them to collaborate and share information with young talented sports stars that they may well go on to support and coach in the future. Keynote speakers included John Steele, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, Bonita Norris*, the youngest British woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest at age 22, and Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of UK Sport and the Youth Sport Trust.
Endicott students also spent two weeks at the King Edward VII School (KES) and taught physical education classes with the King Edward VII faculty. KES is a successful 11-18 Voluntary Controlled comprehensive school situated in King's Lynn, West Norfolk. The school was opened by King Edward VII in 1906 and has continued to grow and strive. A former Grammar School with very traditional links with the Royal family and Cambridge, KES has adapted to the changing society of the local community, whilst maintaining loyalty to its heritage and traditions. KES has been a Specialist Sports College since September 2000 where physical education and sport are used to enhance learning in all subjects and serve to drive the whole school curriculum.
The King Edward VII staff and students will be visiting Endicott this spring, where they will attend the MAHPERD Conference (Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) hosted on the Endicott campus on March 7 and 8.
*Bonita Norris’ record was broken in May 2012 by Leanna Shuttleworth, aged 19.