Performance Coach Development Programme
A unique learning opportunity for coaches to be mentored and supported in fulfilling their potential as performance coaches
What is the Performance Coach Development Programme?
The British Rowing Performance Coach Development Programme (PCDP) in partnership with the GB Rowing Team, will bring together up to eight ambitious coaches from around the sculling pathway network. The programme is a unique opportunity for a cohort of coaches to be supported in fulfilling their potential to develop as performance coaches, capable of progressing athletes to perform on the world stage.
The programme has been designed by experienced high performance coaches who have worked in rowing at international level and are committed to supporting coaches to be at their very best. Throughout the programme coaches will have the opportunity to work with others from a range of environments. Coaches will be challenged and supported by coaching mentors to interpret what they learn and apply it in their own coaching environment.
Who is the Performance Coach Development Programme for?
The programme is aimed at coaches who are…
- Motivated to develop performance athletes at any stage of the pathway with a particular focus on sculling.
- Committed and excited to learn, reflect and invest in their own development.
- Championed in their development by their clubs.
What can I expect on the programme?
The programme runs over one year, with the course commencing each September and concluding with a final panel discussion the following September.
The programme consists of four face-to-face days and two field-based visits in their coaching environment from September to April. Access to further development opportunities and resources, with group follow-up will take place in September the following year.
In addition to these days, the programme will provide individual one-to-one support.
The main activity for the programme is over the winter months so it should fit in comfortably with coaches’ daily work.
Key People
Meet the Key People
| Robin Williams MBE | Tom Pattichis |
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| Robin has over 30 years of wide ranging coaching experience including 11 years at Cambridge University, four years with the men’s lightweight squad and six years with the women’s heavyweight squad including lead coach for the Glover/Stanning W2- at the 2012 and 2016 Games. | Olympic Pathway Manager Tom has held a variety of roles at all levels of the performance pathway, working in club, school, university and talent ID settings. He has coached a number of athletes representing GB at U19, U23 and Senior level, alongside six Henley Royal Regatta wins. He joined the GB senior team in 2018, working with the senior women’s programme in the Tokyo Olympiad before moving into his current role. |
| Peter Sheppard | Doug MacDonald |
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| Deputy Director of Olympic Pathway Under Peter’s guidance GB’s young rowers have performed consistently on the international stage and provide a significant contribution to the senior team, with a number of rowers aiming to compete at the Olympic Games having developed through the Junior and U23 pathway. |
Coach Developer – Olympic Pathway Doug has worked widely across the UK High Performance system as a performance coach developer, supporting coaches from grassroots all the way through to current Olympic head coaches. Doug works within the Olympic Pathway team, leading on coach development support to British Rowing’s Olympic Pathway coaches. |
- Robin has over 30 years of wide ranging coaching experience including 11 years at Cambridge University, four years with the men’s lightweight squad and six years with the women’s heavyweight squad including lead coach for the Glover/Stanning W2- at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
- Olympic Pathway Manager
Tom has held a variety of roles at all levels of the performance pathway, working in club, school, university and talent ID settings. He has coached a number of athletes representing GB at U19, U23 and Senior level, alongside six Henley Royal Regatta wins. He joined the GB senior team in 2018, working with the senior women’s programme in the Tokyo Olympiad before moving into his current role.
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- Peter Sheppard
- Doug MacDonald
- Deputy Director of Olympic Pathway
Under Peter’s guidance GB’s young rowers have performed consistently on the international stage and provide a significant contribution to the senior team, with a number of rowers aiming to compete at the Olympic Games having developed through the Junior and U23 pathway. - Coach Developer – Olympic Pathway
Doug has worked widely across the UK High Performance system as a performance coach developer, supporting coaches from grassroots all the way through to current Olympic head coaches. Doug works within the Olympic Pathway team, leading on coach development support to British Rowing’s Olympic Pathway coaches.
Application process and costs
Closing date for applications is 4pm on Thursday, 10th August 2023.
For more information regarding this programme please contact:
Tom Pattichis – Olympic Pathway Manager
tom.pattichis@britishrowing.org
The cost to each coach is £250.00.
More information
Thank you to our Sponsor
This year’s programme is being sponsored by The Scullery. We thank them for supporting coach development in our sport.
The Scullery is an independent organisation dedicated to the support and development of junior sculling at all levels in the United Kingdom.