The Case for Coaching

www.ukcoaching.org

In the UK in 2016, 3.6 million adults coached sport or physical activity.

Wales 173,000

England 3,018,000

Scotland 304,000

Northern Ireland 99,000

Source: Yougov pilot coach population survey, Sports Coach UK 2016 (unpublished).

The data includes any adult (18+) who coached, instructed, trained, taught or led ANY sport or physical activity, to children or adults in any environment, such as formal sports club settings as well as informal community settings. It includes any sport or physical activity, including recreational or competitive sport, exercise, fitness, gym, dance, etc.

The coaching workforce is bigger than the entire National Health Service (NHS).

NHS (England)1,400,000employees

Tesco 520,000

Compass Group

470,000

Intercontinental Hotels Group

345,000

HSBC 267,000

Unilever 171,000

NHS (Scotland) 160,000

British Army 125,000

Department for Work

and Pensions 111,000

John Lewis Partnership

98,000

BT 71,000

Source: Various, including Office for National Statistics, FTSE 100, Sunday Times “Top Track 100”.

The coaching workforce

3,600,000

Every year, volunteers dedicate over 200 million hours to coaching sport and physical activity.

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

(This figure excludes paid coaches!)

Who are the coaches?

70% Employed11% Unemployed19% Student

69% Men31% Women

86% White14% BME

50% Age 16–3437% Age 35–5414% Age 55+

81% Not Disabled19% Disabled

56% Higher socio-economic groups (NS SEC 1-4) 22% Lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 5-8)22% Economically inactive groups (e.g. students, retirees) (NS SEC 9)

55% No children in household 45% Children in household

70% Employed11% Unemployed19% Student

69% Men31% Women

86% White14% BME

50% Age 16–3437% Age 35–5414% Age 55+

81% Not Disabled19% Disabled

56% Higher socio-economic groups (NS SEC 1-4) 22% Lower socio-economic groups (NS SEC 5-8)22% Economically inactive groups (e.g. students, retirees) (NS SEC 9)

55% No children in household 45% Children in household

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

In the UK in 2016, 7.2 million adults received coaching or instruction in any sport or physical activity.

Wales 350,000

England 6,000,000

Scotland 610,000

Northern Ireland 200,000

Source: Yougov pilot coach population survey, Sports Coach UK 2016 (unpublished).

The data includes any adult (18+) who received coaching, instruction, training or teaching in ANY sport or physical activity in any environment, such as formal sports club settings as well as informal community settings. It includes any sport or physical activity, including recreational or competitive sport, exercise, fitness, gym, dance, etc.

Participation in coached-sport and physical activity has changed over the last decade.

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

Between 2007/08 to 2015/2016, coached-participation rates amoungst adults increased by:

Between 2007/08 to 2015/2016, coached-participation rates amoungst adults decreased by:

Cycling 44%

Basketball -37%

Tennis 33%

Boxing -29%

Swimming 29%

Badminton -25%

Weightlifting 21%

Keep fit and gym -25%

Taekwondo 11%

Football -22%

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Who receives coaching?

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

66% Employed20% Unemployed16% Student

55% Women45% Men

84% White16% BME

40% Age 16–3436% Age 35–5423% Age 55+

79% Not Disabled21% Disabled

64% Higher socio-economic groups (NS SEC 1-4) 20% Lower socio-economic groups16% Economically inactive groups (e.g. students, retirees)

66% No children in household 34% Children in household

66% Employed20% Unemployed16% Student

55% Women45% Men

84% White16% BME

40% Age 16–3436% Age 35–5423% Age 55+

79% Not Disabled21% Disabled

64% Higher socio-economic groups (NS SEC 1-4) 20% Lower socio-economic groups16% Economically inactive groups (e.g. students, retirees)

66% No children in household 34% Children in household

Coached participants are more physically active than participants who do not receive coaching or tuition.

Coached participants are more likely to be involved in sport or physical activity over a four week period, than non-coached participants: 78% compared to 43%.

Coached-participants engage in a greater number of activities, than non-coached participants: an average of 1.97 activities in a four-week period, compared to 1.51 activities.

Coached participants are more likely to engage in sport or physical activity for at least thirty minutes on three or more days a week, compared to non-coached participant: 52% compared to 38%.

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

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Participants who receive coaching in sport and physical activity lead healthier lifestyles than those who do not receive coaching.

Coached participants are more likely to be in the ‘healthy weight’ category in terms of their Body Mass Index, than non-coached participants: 55% compared to 46%.

Those who receive coaching or tuition have a better diet (higher intake of fruit and vegetables): 58% of coached participants ate at least five portions of fruit and vegetables, compared to 53% of non-coached participants.

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

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Coached participants demonstrate more resilient sport and physical activity habits than non-coached participants.

Coached participants are more likely to want to do more sport or physical activity (65%) than non-coached participants (53%).

Coached participants are typically more satisfied with local sports provision, than those who do not receive coaching or tuition (78% compared to 69%).

Coached participants are more likely to have increased their participation levels in the previous twelve months: the net change in participation amongst coached participants is 11%, compared to -7% amongst non-coached participants.

Source: Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching 2017.

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End notes This report is largely based on two data sources: Yougov pilot coach population survey, Sports Coach UK 2016 and Coaching in the Active People Survey: 2006-2016, UK Coaching, 2017.

Both data sources only include adult participants and coaches, and therefore the figures presented grossly underrepresent the true nature and extent of coaching in the UK. It is estimated that children and young people make up the vast majority of coached-participants, accounting for around three-quarters of all coached activity.

Likewise, the Active People Survey only includes volunteer coaches. Those who receive payment for coaching are excluded from this data, thereby underrepresenting the true extent of coaching in the UK.

UK Coaching will be undertaking further research in 2017 to explore coaching and coached participation in greater detail. This will include a follow-up to the Yougov pilot survey, involving a nationally representative survey of coaches (volunteer and paid) and participants, to include children, young people and adults.

UK CoachingChelsea CloseArmleyLeeds LS12 4HP

t: 0113-274 4802 e: information@ukcoaching.org

www.ukcoaching.org© The National Coaching Foundation, 2017.

Cover image © wavebreakmedia 92727