Scottish Boccia Coaching Futures Apprentices – Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June 2022

Background

Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is embarking on an exciting opportunity for boccia players with high performance experience to join the SDS Performance coaching team on a two-year volunteer coaching apprenticeship. This opportunity is available as a part of sportscotland’s Coaching Futures programme which aims to increase the pool of home-grown world class coaches and retain sports-specific knowledge within Scottish sport.

Context

Scotland has a history of producing a high percentage of World Class Programme (WCP) players and we currently have four players and three ramp assistants at this level. Moreover, we have several national players working towards the WCP showing real promise and aptitude for the sport.

This is being addressed with our national coaching team. However, the introduction of Coaching Futures apprentices with exceptional technical knowledge of the sport will provide more targeted coaching opportunities for our talent pathway players. This intervention will help Scottish Boccia address the coaching gap between home country level and that of the Boccia UK full time programme. Furthermore, by developing these coaches now, it will positively shape the future of high performance boccia coaching in Scotland.

We have seen significant changes internationally with the introduction of gender specific competition, rather than the previous mixed gender formats. As a result, the medal opportunities at a Paralympic Games has increased from 7 to 11, providing a golden opportunity to fast track female players with appropriate profiles for the sport.

There will be four coach apprentices.

Peter McGuire is a former Paralympian who competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games finishing in 4th position in the BC4 pairs event.

A former Scottish and British Champion, Peter has also been European Champion and World silver medallist. Since retirement he has focused on coaching and over the past 9 years, he has successfully attained his Level 1 and Level 2 Boccia coaching qualifications, as well as successfully completing the UK Coach Advanced Programme.

Peter currently coaches at Scottish level and works with several emerging talented players and this progamme will be a useful addition to develop going forwards.

“Two words will guide me in this programme – dreams and belief. We have people that are living the dream, those that have lived the dream and those beginning their journey. We are all here to help each other fulfil those dreams whatever they are. The second one was BELIEF. I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t believe in the players. Believe in their talents, believe in their work ethic and most importantly believe that together we can achieve those dreams.”

Scott McCowan is a three-time Paralympian, having represented ParalympicsGB at three consecutive Paralympic Games. He narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 in the BC3 individual competition in what was his best result. He has won medals at European and World level and is four-time British Champion.

Scott has completed his Boccia Level 1 Award and has a degree in Psychology and Sports Studies from the University of Stirling. Scott is currently a member of the Boccia UK World Class Programme and is still competing at the highest level. He aspires to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in what will be his will be his last cycle.

Scott would like to transition to performance coaching when he retires, and this programme will support that process.

“I am delighted to be part of the Coaching Futures programme. It was always my intention to move into coaching at the end of my playing career and this allows me to develop and learn the skills required whilst still competing. This means I can pass on my knowledge to the next generation whilst still trying to achieve success representing Scottish Boccia and Boccia UK. As a result, I should hopefully be a better coach by the time my playing career comes to an end which can only be a good thing for the development of the next athletes coming through. I can’t wait to get started!”

Jamie McCowan is a two-time Paralympian, having competed at both the Rio 2016 and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He is also two-time European Champion having achieved this accolade in both pairs and as an individual, across two classifications (BC4 and BC3). He has been crowned British Champion on two occasions, as a BC4 and then as a BC3.

Jamie has completed his Boccia Level 1 Award and has high performance technical expertise across two very different classifications. Therefore, he will bring huge value to our coaching team. Like his brother Scott, he is a member of the Boccia UK World Class Programme and is still competing at the highest level. He aspires to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in what will be his will be his last cycle. Jamie would like to transition to performance coaching when he retires, and this programme will support that process.

“This role means a lot to me as it will provide me with valuable coaching experience as well as an opportunity to give something back to this sport.”

Stephen McGuire is a three-time Paralympian who has represented ParalympicsGB in the BC4 classification in London 2021, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He was the World individual Champion in 2016 and is the reigning British Champion, a title he has won more than 10 times.

Stephen is a member of the UK Boccia World Class Programme and is keen to pursue a future in coaching, and has already completed the UK Sport ‘Athlete to Coach’ programme. As a Coaching Futures apprentice he will bring a lot of high-performance experience, which he is keen to utilise in his coaching development.

“For almost 20 years my passion has been disability sport. Being a volunteer on the Coaching Futures programme has given me an opportunity to share my passion, help advise and aid the development of athletes with a disability. Boccia has a proud history within Scotland and I’m proud to be able to help keep that legacy going.”