Context/Background of ProjectThe 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 Awardo Positive change in the personal and professional development of both participants and staffo Renewed attitudes towards tennis coaching in EuropeNumber and Profile of ParticipantsOur 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 ActivitiesIntellectual 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 CourseTransnational 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 twoPilot 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 coachingStakeholders – 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 benefitsSustainability 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’.

Context/Background of ProjectThe BPESC project aimed to adapt the existing 1st4Sport Level 1 Award in the Principles of Coaching Sport by proposing a new qualification which incorporated an emphasis on sports coaching on a European level. This was through the creation of a unit called ‘Best Practices in European Sports Coaching.’ The new unit has learning outcomes and criteria in line with ECVET methodology. Results of the Project The three principal objectives/results we have achieved: - Best Practices in European Sports coaching ECVET-based unit - Positive change in the personal and professional development of both participants and staff - Renewed attitudes towards sports coaching in Europe Number and Profile of ParticipantsOur project was primarily aimed at non/low-qualified young people with an interest in sports or sports coaching. Our focus was on recruitment of women due to disparities between the number of women and men engaged in all levels of sports and sports coaching.The project involved a series of five pilot courses (10 students per course) in each of the five partner countries, resulting in a total number of fifty learners. Description of ActivitiesIntellectual Outputs: The project produced three Intellectual Outputs:1. Transnational Reports and Guide for European Sports Coaches2. Development of Best Practices in European Sports Coaching unit3. EuroCoach Platform Transnational Project Meetings: The project included five transnational project meetings, involving representatives from each partner organisation in Dublin, Ireland; Marseille, France; Brighton, UK; Seville, Spain; Amsterdam, Netherlands.Pilot Course: We piloted the new Best Practices in European Sports Coaching unit integrated into a sports coaching course or in the form of a workshop for 50 participants. Multiplier Events: Each of the project partners hosted a Multiplier Event to showcase the project activities, results and outcomes of the project to our key target groups and stakeholders with an interest in sports or sports coaching. Each ME achieved attendance of at least 50 participants. Methodology: Our methodology was transnational, multi-disciplinary, and European in its approach. For the course development as part of Intellectual Output 2, we employed an ECVET-based approach to ensure potential for transferability and clarity of learning aims – not only across different coaching qualifications but European countries too. Methodology for project management areas was also planned in advance of the project to facilitate financial management, risk prevention, evaluation, monitoring, etc. Key impacts included: Learners – development of key skills specific to sports coaching and an array of soft skills including teamwork, communication and time management. These will improve learners’ sense of confidence and increase their employability holistically. Partners – Increased awareness of sports 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 vocational training, thus increasing their professional prospects and easing entry into employment. Redressing the gender balance within sports coachingStakeholders – through sharing our results, we anticipate efforts to integrate either the unit or its materials/themes (gender equality; accessibility; social inclusion; community role) further in sports coaching qualifications, particularly entry level. Longer-term benefits The partnership aims to continue the development of activities, outcomes and impact after Erasmus+ funding has ended. This will be in the form of continued engagement through the EuroCoach Platform, hosting materials generated by the project and wider dissemination through partner networks. We expect that the promotion of results and, in particular, the unit will lead to recognition and accreditation as an innovative addition to existing coaching qualifications. The methodology and wider goals of the project could continue as part of a follow-up Erasmus+ application in the area of tennis coaching, should it prove successful.