Coaches

Main Duties
Coaches will:
• plan and deliver structured goalball sessions, designed to support player development and with current team tactics in mind;
• modify and adapt activities to be more appropriate for the range in player age and experience;
• provide clear instruction and individual feedback to help players progress;
• promote safe and fair play on court and ensure equipment and playing areas are set up and checked before use;
• work with the Welfare Officer and Committee to apply safeguarding and inclusion in all sessions;
• select players and arrange teams for competitions or other events, and work with the Secretary to submit competition registration;
• attend competitions and events to support the game from the bench (including communicating with players and officials, managing strategy, etc);
• supervise and guide Activity Assistants during sessions, and;
• keep an active eye on trends in goalball technique and strategy to help inform the club and its members of how to remain competitive.

As a volunteer at SGC, they will also:
• uphold and promote the 5 Key Values held by the club (i.e. Sustainability, Equality/Diversity/Inclusion, Wellbeing, Community, Collaboration);
• abide by club and Goalball UK policy, particularly both Codes of Conduct;
• communicate clearly and respectfully with all other volunteers, players, and other members, including providing advance notice (where possible) if they are unable to fulfil their duties;
• always offer a helping hand where needed around the club (such as providing sighted guidance if able, helping out at events, etc);
• participate in appropriate training and development opportunities (e.g. Safeguarding, First Aid, goalball-specific training, etc), and;
• take responsibility for personal conflicts of interest and declare, record and manage these appropriately.

Essential
A Coach will be someone who:
• can assist (or ideally lead) the delivery of safe, structured sessions that are engaging for a range of ages and abilities;
• can assist with the planning of sessions and events;
• communicates clearly and calmly, giving instructions visually impaired players can understand and follow;
• gives constructive, supportive feedback that helps players progress;
• can adapt activities, with guidance, to suit different needs, experience levels, and confidence levels;
• is reliable, giving as much advance notice as possible if they can no longer do something or be somewhere they said they could;
• works well with others;
• takes safeguarding, inclusion, and fair play seriously, and follows SGC procedures and guidance;
• is open to relevant training and development (e.g. safeguarding, first aid, goalball-specific training), and;
• is able to pass an Enhanced DBS check.

Desirable
The ideal person for the role of Coach is someone who:
• has knowledge or experience of goalball or another parasport;
• has experience coaching mixed-ability groups, including people who are new to sport or disability sport;
• is first aid trained, or has other relevant training;
• has experience working with children and young people, and can adapt their coaching style appropriately;
• has knowledge of health and safety and/or safeguarding best practice, and;
• has lived or professional experience of vision impairments or other disabilities, and can use this to support inclusive coaching.