Great coaches deliver exceptional environments to meet their players' needs. Collectively we want to ensure coaches feel supported, and developed, to help them create these environments.
Employers/deployers play a big role in this. Through making their coaches/volunteers feel valued and rewarded, this will help with keeping coaches/volunteers in our sport, and lead to more, better and happier players.
What does great coaching look like?
Great coaches will be working on these qualities
Key Questions
- What do you do to currently develop your coaches?
- Are you aware of the GB Coaching Offer and do you signpost your coaches to relevant learning and support?
- Do you have an annual coach development plan to support all coaches, linked back to the wider objectives of the club?
- Do you have the function of a coach developer who discusses with the coaches their ongoing coach development needs, that informs the annual coach development plan, and drives a community of coaches within the club?
What development opportunities are available to develop great coaches?
Great Britain Hockey have a number of resources available to support both individual coaches and whole clubs with coach development. There are many ways for how you can support your coaches, below are some examples and resources.
Develop your coaches with new coaching course this summer!
We’re running eight blended Level 2 coaching courses between 7 July and 31 August, designed to sharpen your coaching team’s skills and deliver lasting impact at your club.
Led by Ian Sloan (former England & GB player) and Pip Konerth (England U16 Girls Assistant Coach), each course combines on-pitch sessions with reflective online learning, making it practical, flexible, and immediately applicable.
Find out more information on the coaching course below
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Great Britain Hockey is able to offer coaches a “Menu of Learning". From workshops to courses, to community of practice, there are options available to suit every coach's diet!
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Coaches can also access a guiding and interactive digital document that forms part of an annual programme of coach development opportunities. The Offer has been designed to provide support to coaches in identifying the best opportunities for them and their respective pathway, brought to life through videos and animations.
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This summer, we're delivering eight blended coaching courses designed to help you—and your club’s coaching team—sharpen hockey knowledge and elevate practical coaching skills.
Led by former England and GB Hockey player Ian Sloan and England U16 Girls Assistant Coach Pip Konerth, each course blends on-pitch learning with reflective online sessions, ensuring what you learn is directly applicable to your coaching environment.
There are eight courses, including one near your area. Coaches are from 7 July until 31 August.
Why Your Club Should Get Involved
- Recognise and support your coaches by helping them gain formal coaching qualifications
- Enhance the player experience to improve retention and attract new members
- Safeguard your club by ensuring coaches are qualified and meet best practice standards to lead sessions independently
Spots are limited—give your club the coaching edge this summer.
Locations and Registration
- 7 July 2025 - Old Bristolians HC - West - Book Now
- 11 July 2025 - Reading HC - South Central - Book Now
- 18 July 2025 - Lichfield HC - Midlands - Book Now
- 20 July 2025 - Barnard Castle School - YNE - Book Now
- 20 July 2025 - Waltham Forest HC - London - Book Now
- 21 July 2025 - Bury St Edmunds HC - East - Book Now
- 22 July 2025 - Timperley Sports Club - North West - Book Now
- 31 August 2025 - Maidstone HC - South East - Book Now
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The Hockey Hub is a FREE one-stop shop, packed full of useful hockey resources including video resources, ideas for your coaching sessions and insights from top coaches.
Whether you coach beginners, work with young, talented players or coach at a one team senior club, there is relevant content available to suit your needs.
The Hockey Hub also has sections for teachers and umpires too! All you need to do is create a free login to access the resources.
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England Hockey’s Coaches' Membership provides coaches with the essential tools and resources to support coaching delivery and inspire more, better and happier players.
Coaches are hugely important in our great game and this product will ensure our coaches feel valued and empowered. This outstanding all round package includes coaches' insurance in addition to a number of exciting discounts and resources to support and assist coaches in their development.
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Great Britain Hockey are able to offer partners (clubs/schools/counties/regions) the opportunity to access a bespoke coach development programme which aims to do the following:
- Help partners develop and retain the workforce they already have
- Help partners build and recruit a new delivery workforce
- Support all deliverers involved in hockey, from lead coaches to parent helpers
- Takes the training and support of coaches to them within their club/school/region
- Access a combination of workshops and observations linked to their individual needs
- All guided by a dedicated GB Coach Developer.
