Goalie in front of a football net saving a goal

Sport England

Sport England are an "arms-length" body of government responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport and getting more people active across England.

We're here to invest in sport and physical activity to make it a normal part of life for everyone in England, regardless of who you are.

Because it’s not always a level playing field. Right now, the opportunities to get involved in sport and activity – and reap the rewards of being active – depend too much on your background, your gender, your bank balance and your postcode.

We’re determined to tackle this and unlock the advantages of sport and physical activity for everyone.

Why are you involved with Play Their Way?

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be active, to benefit from being active in a safe, positive, and trusted environment, and to have an equal chance to achieve their potential. Positive experiences at an early age help build the foundations for an active life. If children and young people have experiences that feel fun, positive and give them a sense of confidence, they’re more likely to want to be active in the future. 

Two girls in the pool learning to swim by using a float with coach on the edge of the pool

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Our ‘Active Lives’ survey has shown that less than half of children who are active say that they really enjoy it and we know that coaches play a really important part in providing a positive (or less positive) experience. 

Coaches have told us that it is increasingly challenging to be a coach and they need more support. We hope that through the work of the CCC, we will be able to support coaches by build a supportive community of grass roots coaches that are committed to being the best they can be and place the rights of children at the heart of their coaching practice.

A happy football coach clapping hands looks on as a young girl focuses on controlling the ball with her foot in the playground

When I first came to Sport England, my goal was to recognise the contribution that coaches can make to the experience and the lives of people, particularly young people. It is more than the sport or the activity…coaches change lives. Coaching children is a really challenging job that requires a lot of skill to do it well. Most coaches in England are volunteers…they receive little thanks, little support and they are often underappreciated and under recognised. Many coaches tell us that they feel trapped in an unhealthy culture that see children and parents coerced into damaging hours of training , win at all costs competition structures and exclusive environments.

By connecting like minded people  to take collective action, it is hoped that more coaches will be able to identify with, and offer an alternative – one that is more inclusive and places the fundamental rights of children at the heart of physical activity for children and ensures that they have a voice and more choice over their developmental journey."

Stuart Armstrong, Strategic Lead - Workforce Transformation
 
Sport England

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