First professional club coaches appointed

As part of the recently launched Professional Coaching Programme, Scottish Hockey has today announced the appointment of the first three coaches who will work with selected National League clubs on a full-time basis.
As the first phase implementation of the Professional Coaching Programme is rolled out, three coaches have been appointed after successful application and interview rounds; John McKnight (Clydesdale Hockey Club Men), Sandy Keith (Granite City Wanderers Women), Chris Anderson (Grove Menzieshill Men).
The Professional Coaching Programme has been put in place to improve the quality and standard of hockey players in Scotland, leading to stronger National League competitions and ultimately increasing Scotland’s competitiveness at international level.
Supported by Aberdeen Asset Management, the largest ever investor in the development and growth of hockey in Scotland, the programme aims to benefit all levels of the game from the elite to the grassroots. As well as coaching their appointed National League club team, the new professional coaches will also work with smaller, local clubs, to facilitate talent development and to provide a link between the various levels of the game, enabling Aberdeen’s investment to have a trickle-down effect throughout the sport in Scotland.
Lee Cousins, Non-Executive Director of Scottish Hockey, said, “We are delighted to appoint three professional coaches and deploy them to the selected clubs. These individuals have the required coaching qualifications and experience to make a positive impact across the range of activities included in their remit and to bring success to the clubs they are working with.
As part of the coaching programme, each club has also identified local clubs to work with in establishing a clear player pathway. Universities are a huge generator of players and 83% of our members have been to university, therefore it’s important that we bridge the transitional period between university and joining a local hockey club by offering players the opportunity to be coached by experience and qualified individuals. This programme will help to achieve that aim.”
The programme also reflects a number of the aims set out by sportscotland’s ‘Coaching Scotland 2011-15’ strategy; specifically the development of a competent and comprehensive workforce of coaches within the sport, through recruiting and retaining the right coaches and ensuring that they are supported, developed and recognised for their contribution.
Martin Gilbert, CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management, said, “We are delighted to be involved with this progressive, forward-thinking programme which aims to increase the professionalism and standard of hockey coaching in Scotland.
We are partnering with Scottish Hockey in an effort to change the culture of hockey coaching, creating career opportunities and making the distinction between professional coaches and development officers within the sport.
We are also supporting the Women in Coaching scheme which provides mentors to female coaches, advising how to progress as a professional coach and raising awareness of the opportunities available.
We hope that the new professional coaching programme is a success and fulfils the goal of improving the quality of players in our country. We wish the new coaches good luck in their new full-time roles.”

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As part of the recently launched Professional Coaching Programme, Scottish Hockey has today announced the appointment of the first three coaches who will work with selected National League clubs on a full-time basis.

As the first phase implementation of the Professional Coaching Programme is rolled out, three coaches have been appointed after successful application and interview rounds; John McKnight (Clydesdale Hockey Club Men), Sandy Keith (Granite City Wanderers Women), Chris Anderson (Grove Menzieshill Men).

The Professional Coaching Programme has been put in place to improve the quality and standard of hockey players in Scotland, leading to stronger National League competitions and ultimately increasing Scotland’s competitiveness at international level.

John McKnight AAM Coach

Supported by Aberdeen Asset Management, the largest ever investor in the development and growth of hockey in Scotland, the programme aims to benefit all levels of the game from the elite to the grassroots. As well as coaching their appointed National League club team, the new professional coaches will also work with smaller, local clubs, to facilitate talent development and to provide a link between the various levels of the game, enabling Aberdeen’s investment to have a trickle-down effect throughout the sport in Scotland.

Lee Cousins, Non-Executive Director of Scottish Hockey, said, “We are delighted to appoint three professional coaches and deploy them to the selected clubs. These individuals have the required coaching qualifications and experience to make a positive impact across the range of activities included in their remit and to bring success to the clubs they are working with.

As part of the coaching programme, each club has also identified local clubs to work with in establishing a clear player pathway. Universities are a huge generator of players and 83% of our members have been to university, therefore it’s important that we bridge the transitional period between university and joining a local hockey club by offering players the opportunity to be coached by experience and qualified individuals. This programme will help to achieve that aim.”

Chris Anderson AAM Coach

The programme also reflects a number of the aims set out by sportscotland’s ‘Coaching Scotland 2011-15’ strategy; specifically the development of a competent and comprehensive workforce of coaches within the sport, through recruiting and retaining the right coaches and ensuring that they are supported, developed and recognised for their contribution.

Martin Gilbert, CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management, said, “We are delighted to be involved with this progressive, forward-thinking programme which aims to increase the professionalism and standard of hockey coaching in Scotland.

We are partnering with Scottish Hockey in an effort to change the culture of hockey coaching, creating career opportunities and making the distinction between professional coaches and development officers within the sport.

We are also supporting the Women in Coaching scheme which provides mentors to female coaches, advising how to progress as a professional coach and raising awareness of the opportunities available.

We hope that the new professional coaching programme is a success and fulfils the goal of improving the quality of players in our country. We wish the new coaches good luck in their new full-time roles.”

Sandy Keith AAM Coach

 

Aberdeen Asset Management Professional Coaching Programme – Introducing the Head Coaches from Scottish Hockey on Vimeo.

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