HOST OF COACHING STARS WELCOME NEW FACE OF THE NATIONAL COACHING FOUNDATION

The National Coaching Foundation - which aims to develop the profession of coaching in the UK, by enabling the education and continuing professional
development of coaches at all levels -has been re-launched as sports coach UK, with the backing of Leeds United coach, David O'Leary. Established since 1983, the organisation works with all sports from the grass roots level up to and including some of the world's best coaches.

Top national coaches Clive Woodward, Arsene Wenger, Malcolm Arnold, Kelly
Holmes and Gerry Armstrong have joined together in welcoming the re-launch
and emphasise the value that coaches play in sport.

John Stevens, Chief Executive of sports coach UK stated: "We will continue
building on the work achieved during the past 18 years as The National
Coaching Foundation. The launch of sports coach UK re-emphasises our
commitment to raising the profile of coaching, developing coaching as a
profession and supporting individual coaches to enhance their skills within
the UK."

David O'Leary, manager of Premiership side Leeds United was present to help
Melanie Crowley, Head of Marketing and Promotion at sports coach UK
celebrate.

"I am delighted to help launch sports coach UK," said David. "Coaching is so important at every level of sport. In the UK we really need to promote more extensively the work that coaches do. It is good that the Football Association recognises managers by awarding a Manager of the Month, but this should be repeated across all sports.

"Most athletes and teams would not reach their full potential without the support and guidance of their coach. One of my biggest challenges as a coach is bringing together the natural skills of individual players to make a united team. And so far it is working pretty well!"

Matthew Pinsent, triple Olympic Gold Medallist also provided his support for the organisation, commenting: "Accolades are poured on athletes, but every stroke we do on the water, the coach does on the towpath. I'm happy that sports coach UK is going some way to redress the balance by honouring the coaches."

sports coach UK recognises the role that coaches play in sport by supporting
the development and implementation of National Standards for Coaching, and
assisting in the development of accreditation systems for coach education and professional development programmes.

Kate Hoey, Minister for Sport comments, "We need to consider ways in which
we can create paid coaching whilst continuing to support an reward unpaid
coaches. We must improve the understanding, status and recognition of the
coaching role in both the community and the media and we must continue to
develop and provide quality, accessible and affordable coach education and
development opportunities." Last year, sports coach UK delivered 2,504
development opportunities to 30,059 coaches in the UK.


* Coachwise Ltd, the wholly owned trading arm of sports coach UK
offers a range of services to sport in the UK and covenants all of its
profits back to sports coach UK for investment in our activities. Coachwise
1st4sport provides a catalogue of over 400 hand-picked books, videos and
training tools; Coachwise Solutions tailors bespoke services for sports
governing bodies; and 1st4sport Qualifications awards education programmes,
including two developed by sports coach UK.


* For more details about Coachwise and 1st4sport call 0113 231 1310
Visit the sports coach UK web-site at www.sportscoachuk.org