Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching Erasmus Project

Project Title

Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Access for disadvantaged; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context/Background of Project
The Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching (BPETC) project aims to address the lack of educational opportunities relating to tennis coaching. We have chosen to focus this project on tennis due to its huge popularity across Europe, as well as our partners’ previous experience and engagement in training and activities related to this sport. In order to achieve this aim, we will develop a tennis coaching qualification comprised of the best practices, styles and experiences from four European nations, in order to create a truly international qualification whose Learning Outcomes are in line with ECVET principles. The new qualification will be the Level 2 Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching Award and it will be piloted during the course of the project lifetime, to ensure it is tried, tested and improved by the end of the project in August 2022.

OBJECTIVES/RESULTS:
The three principal objectives/results we want to achieve by the end of this project are as follows:
o Level 2 Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching Award
o Positive change in the personal and professional development of both participants and staff
o Renewed attitudes towards tennis coaching in Europe

Number and Profile of Participants
Our project is primarily aimed at non/low-qualified young people, all of whom have an interest in sports or tennis coaching. We will also focus on recruiting women due to disparities between the number of women and men engaged in all levels of tennis and tennis coaching.
The project will encompass a pilot course for 12 students in each of the four partner countries, resulting in a total number of 48 participants.

Description of Activities
Intellectual Outputs: The project will involve the production of three Intellectual Outputs which are as follows: 1. Transnational Level Review and Guide for European Tennis Coaches; 2. Development of Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching Award; 3. Pilot Course
Transnational Project Meetings: The project will also include six Transnational Project Meetings, with each of the project partners hosting one meeting throughout the course of the project and Community Coach and Third Sector International each hosting two
Pilot Course: We will pilot the new qualification on a total of 48 participants and the course will run in each of the partner countries in February 2022.
Multiplier Events: Each of the project partners will host a Multiplier Event in January 2022 which will be an opportunity for the staff involved with BPETC to showcase the activities, results and outcomes of the project to a range of local, regional and national stakeholders who have an interest in tennis or tennis coaching. Each ME will aim to achieve attendance of at least 50 participants; 40 who are from the host country, and 10 attendees who are from abroad.

Methodology:
Our methodology to achieve this ultimate aim is transnational, multi-disciplinary, and essentially European in its aims.

Impact:
The whole structure of the project will be designed to optimise the positive impacts on all those involved. Learners, partner organisations, target groups and stakeholders will benefit from a variety of impacts which will be specific to their type and level of involvement with the project. Key impacts will include:
Learners – development of key skills specific to tennis coaching and an array of soft skills including teamwork, communication and time management. These will improve learners’ sense of confidence and increase their employability.
Partners – Increased awareness of tennis coaching; exchange of knowledge and best practice on an equal and mutually beneficial basis; establishment as a training provider recognised by Europe-wide systems by the adoption of EU tools and ECVET principles; continued professional development of staff including foreign language competencies.
Target groups – increased opportunities for marginalised groups to undertake a VET qualification, thus increasing their professional prospects and easing entry into employment. Remedying the gender disparities within tennis coaching
Stakeholders – tennis coaching networks will take our findings on board and make positive changes to their practices, alleviating barriers that exist within the industry for disadvantaged groups.

Potential longer-term benefits
Sustainability has been built into the ‘Best Practices in European Tennis Coaching’ project proposal in order to ensure the potential for the continuation and development of activities, outcomes and impact after Erasmus+ funding has ended. Community Coach and its partners aim to produce this sustainability primarily through a) the delivery of the resulting qualification b) its development and recognition in the UK and Europe c) ongoing dissemination by the partnership through networking and the project’s EuroCoach Platform, which is itself a product of our 2018 project ‘Best Practices in European Sports Coaching’.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 153010 Eur

Project Coordinator

COMMUNITY COACH LTD & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Third Sector International S. L.
• Synopsis Practice Lda
• DSC Formation et Developpement