When IOC President Jacque Rogge opened the envelope, paused and than said those magic words, 'and the winner is....the city of....London!' around the globe, the hearts of every British supporter leapt....and some of us did physically! I feel proud to have played a small part in that victory. Much hard work and attention to detail helped us to win. We had a technically brilliant bid and a magnificent presentation team effort - but what really added to our uniqueness was our focus on the youth of tomorrow, having athletes at the Heart of our Games. During his presentation Seb Coe stated that our Games would to be an inspiration to our young people and those of the rest of the world.
My belief is that if we wind up at the end of 2012 with a few excellent new facilities in London and have done well at the Games, yet failed to grasp this time, with the nationwide enthusiasm to make a significant difference to sports opportunities and participation throughout the UK, then we have truly failed.
I have a dream and intent that we harness this energy and goodwill, from winning the Games, to really make this time count.
Sport can be a catalyst for so many positive outcomes. If we can engage sustained participation in sport, the benefits are huge. Statistical evidence is growing that physical activity has a beneficial effect on educational results. Active sports can have a hugely positive effect on reducing obesity and promoting health. Social inclusion is positively addressed and petty crime is reduced. Added to this is the feel good factor. People can improve their self-image and self-belief if coaches are focused on personal development as well as performance improvement.
For me coaching is the most crucial element; across the spectrum of sports, all coaches, whether voluntary or professional, should be well qualified, enthusiastic and performer centred.
Why am I so keen on the development of coaches?
Peter Drucker points out that humanity makes a major shift every few hundred years. We are in another of those periods where change is occurring very rapidly. What sort of future will evolve? I believe that we can go a long way in creating the future that we desire, and coaching has been coming into the consciousness and best practice of several major organisations.
The shift is in philosophy and focus. Past focus has been on imposing technical proficiency through demonstration and sharing best practice Ð nothing wrong with that, you say, and I agree. However what coaches need to recognise is the downside of getting stuck only instructing; the performer becomes dependent on the instructor and in the heat of competition our performers need to be self and situation aware and self-responsible. The answer is to add to our sharing of best practice, the skill of asking questions that generate awareness and responsibility in the performer.
The benefits to the performers, of coaches asking effective questioning and listening attentively and empathically, are huge. Any one of these is worth having. The performers' feel involved, valued and heard. They grow and learn for themselves - as well as taking our input. Their self-belief and self-confidence are increased as they recognise their own learning and development, and the quality of relationship is enhanced between the coach and performer.
Communication where we start with the performer's interest and awareness before we add our own, i.e. questioning and inputting, I call the coaching dance. It is the 'how to' of empowerment - and who does not want that for the next generation?
My vision is that we harness the 2012 factor to enable the following:
- Many more people of every age participate in sport
- Every school has a vibrant wide selection of non academic activities. Over the next few years, young people at every school would have an experience of a very wide variety of sports and activities - including and going beyond traditional and Olympic sports
- Adjacent to every school with a reasonable population area there would be a large multi-sport/multi-activity community centre, where after school clubs are run. These could be inexpensive clad structures, such as those used by some football clubs.
- At each centre there are well qualified enthusiastic, performer centred coaches - some professional.
- The government, local authorities and corporate sector are committed to and supportive of coach development and sustainability.
- Coaching becomes an accepted and respected profession.
- Interested ex-internationals will be trained in the skill of mentoring.
- A good number of major companies 'adopt a sport'.
- Corporations sponsor coach education as well as contributing expertise in business management.
- Businesses release individuals one or two afternoons/week to act as coaches, officials and event organisers.
- Technology is used to support the development of skills and sharing best practice.
How would companies help and how would they fund their assistance?
Link assistance with 'Corporate Social Responsibility' budget
Companies might wish to simply link their assistance with their 'Corporate Social Responsibility' budget, knowing that they will be enabling an enhanced level of participation, motivation, health and performance. These companies may wish to engage in some internal publicity, making their employees aware that they are supporting a sporting legacy for the UK.
Link with existing TOP sponsors
Some companies may be able to link with existing TOP sponsors, if cash contributions are intended. This will require a direct link with Phil Beard at LOCOG - 2012
Engage in volunteer work as coaches, officials or event organisers
Corp Coach is being employed in New Zealand where some employees are released, on a couple of afternoons each week, to engage in volunteer work as coaches, officials or event organisers.
Support from the training department budgets
Another possibility is employees benefiting through support from the training department budgets. A number of companies have expressed interest in sponsoring courses that enhance coaching/mentoring and leadership skills. These courses help to develop performance from the non technical perspective Ð such as goal clarity, brainstorming, focussed attention etc. All of these are necessary skills to be developed in business and sport. One proposal is to have a mix of participants, some from business, some sport coaches or ex-performers who wish to become mentors, and possibly some from the volunteer sector.
What special gift or skill can you bring to the legacy?