Grampian Coaching has appointed its first Coach Development Manager to drive forward the new strategies for Grampian Coaching.  Jan Stander formerly Grampian Cricket Development Officer of Cricket Scotland joined this week, as Grampian Coaching is ready to launch its Coach and Volunteering Strategy. An official Launch is planned for the beginning of November.

Jan Stander is very familiar with the Grampian region working closely with 17 junior cricket clubs. His role was to introduce new players to the game through a primary introductory programme and link them then to the clubs. These 17 clubs were also part of the NGB accreditation scheme (TopClub) that links in with Clubcap. With clubs being the focus coach education formed a big part of the role and being a qualified tutor and assessor he delivered UKCC Level 1 and UKCC Level2 courses across the country. Jan has a good understanding of the LTPD, being a level 3 and the Scotland National u/15 team coach.  He has experience at various levels that he can transfer into the coach development role.

“It is exciting times to move into a new position that have a number of strategies in place that needs to be driven forward.” He has lots of ideas for the new position but doesn’t want to run too far ahead of himself. There are a few areas on which he will focus his attention first.
The face of the Grampian coaching website, a coaching conference to be held in May 2008 and collating information for the databases that will be used by Active schools, Focus sports and clubs in Grampian are area of work he aim to priorities.

“We are also launching a scholarship scheme to coaches. These coaches can apply for funding to help them further their coaching career by going on courses and share the learning experience with fellow coaches in the Grampian.”

Grampian Coaching offers coaches and interested volunteers across the region the latest information on courses and workshops available through their web site: www.grampiancoaching.org.uk

All these new developments however won’t be possible without our partners that are SportScotland, Grampian Institute of Sport, Volunteer Scotland, Youth Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray Council. Aberdeenshire Sports Council also put £4k towards the post. With all this help the future looks bright for coaches in Grampian, clubs and athletes can only benefit from this in the long run.