Having been acclaimed as the best in Wales by an external verification body earlier this year, the Ospreys Coach Development team are again setting the standard Wales.
1st4sport Qualifications is an awarding body recognised and regulated by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual), and after its annual review of operations at the region's Llandarcy Academy of Sport HQ in April, the Ospreys came through with flying colours to be rated by 1st4sport's external verifier as the best delivery site in Wales, as well as the best administered centre.
Now, 1st4sport Verifier, Byron Pugh has returned to Llandarcy to revisit the Ospreys Coach Development team, this time specifically in relation to course operation.
He attended the recently held UKCC Level 2 Coaching in Rugby Union at Llandarcy Academy of Sport, to witness how the Ospreys Coach Educators work with live candidates on a face to face basis, critically analysing the Ospreys administration procedures for the course, with particular emphasis on completion of candidate paperwork, assessment decisions and internal verification procedures.
The assessor was more than pleased with his findings, noting not a single action point for the Coach Development team, something that the Ospreys once again can boast to being the first in Wales to accomplish.
Dan Owens, the Coach Development Officer who led the UKCC Level 2 course, said:
"It is always encouraging for us to have Byron visit our centre. He is always very thorough with his verification procedures and honest with his feedback. His findings on this visit are a testament to the hard work that our volunteer workforce put into running a course, and with the professional attitude that they display throughout, in all aspect of their work.
"We have a diverse group of educators, in terms of experience, yet we are able to maintain very high standards across the board. This extends from our fledgling Coach Educators to our vastly experienced Senior Trainers. Our support mechanisms for these individuals are such that everybody feels part of the team, and everybody sets very high standards from themselves.
"Byron's final assessment is confirmation of the hard work, effort and pride that we all take in our roles in developing coaches. I'm glad to see that it is paying off, and with the nurturing environment of the Ospreys I am sure that we can continue to push the envelope to make ourselves and our courses better for prospective coaches to want to come and take their first steps on to the coaching pathway."
Andrew Hore, Elite Performance Director at the Ospreys, added:
“It is fantastic news for all active coaches in the region, and those who are maybe looking to take their first steps on the pathway, that once again our coach development programme has been recognised by 1st4sport's external verifier as the standard bearer in terms of Welsh rugby.
“"We have made no secret of the fact that we consider coach development one of the most important parts of the development pathway, as better coaches equals better players. In addition to this, by developing from within, we want to raise both the number and quality of coaches operating in Ospreylia, which is why we have committed so much time and effort into developing a programme of events that offers opportunities to everybody in the region”
1st4sport Qualifications is the official awarding body for some of the UK's most prestigious sporting organisations, including the Football Association, British Cycling, the Welsh Rugby Union, the Rugby Football Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Rugby Football League, the Lawn Tennis Association and England Hockey.