Boccia Club Coach/Trainee Coach

Cotswold Crusaders Boccia Club meet at Leisure At Cheltenham on Fridays from 5pm to 7pm. Boccia is an inclusive sport similar to bowls or boules, which is played from a seated position making it ideal for wheelchair users. It is played internationally and at the Paralympics and many of our players are highly competitive. It can also be played socially and just for fun and our club also gives an opportunity for a sociable evening chatting over a game of boccia.

All the club coaches and leaders are volunteers, often supported by Glos Uni sports students on placements. However, the number of players has grown recently and we are looking to expand our coaching and volunteering team accordingly to give more depth and ensure there is always cover available to run the club.

What we need:

In addition to the Boccia Club Activity Volunteer roles we are recruiting for, there is also a specific opening for someone who is extremely keen to develop their coaching skills and train up to take on a regular coaching role with the club; or may even already have coaching skills and experience ready to put into place.

After an induction period we would put together a suitable training and development plan for you to gain coaching and other relevant qualifications in boccia and disability/inclusion and related topics. We would expect a certain level of commitment to the club in return (depending on the financing arrangements for any training courses). DBS checks are likely to be required as the role progresses.

In the first instance, the pattern of activity would be very similar to that for the Boccia Club Activity Volunteer which is set out below:

What you could do:

Help get equipment out at the start and pack up at the end

Pick up balls during play for players who are less mobile

Support individual players who need encouragement or assistance to join in

Support the coaches by setting up and running activities

Learn to play boccia and engage in social games with players who want someone to chat to

Learn to referee boccia games and support the coaches during gameplay

Learn to manage and assemble the assistive ramps used by some players

Support an individual player as a ramp assistant

Help take the register at sessions

In due course take a turn at leading a session to provide cover when other volunteers are unavailable

It could also include:

Representing the club at local community and networking events

Supporting players, coaches or the wider boccia community at competitions at events locally or nationally

Getting involved with the running of the club (see also Boccia Club Admin Volunteer)

What you will get:

New skills, new friends, new sport - a lot of fun!

Satisfaction from seeing players develop and improve

Pride in being part of a successful club and in seeing players win medals

Opportunity to train and qualify as a boccia coach and/or referee

Appreciation from all the players who enjoy the sessions

Sessions run nearly all year round with spring breaks for Gold Cup week and Good Friday, a summer break of around 4 weeks and a short break at Christmas. The commitment does not need to be every week without fail, the aim will be to get a rota of volunteers to ensure that all weeks are adequately supported. More help needed during uni holidays when student helpers are not around.

We are very welcoming and anyone interested can arrange to come and have a chat and meet us without making any commitment. Feel free to ask any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you