A group of budding angling coaches went through a Level 1 Angling Coaching course this weekend held at Barford Lakes – the first of its kind to be conducted in Norfolk. 

The course was run by Robbie Williams (Senior Eastern Region Coach/Education Officer for the National Federation of Anglers) and Jo Hyde (National Federation of Sea Anglers and a member of the England Ladies Sea Anglers) both of whom are Coach Educators working for the Angling Development Board. The Level 1 Coaching in Angling award  enables candidates to assist Level 2 coaches in teaching angling and conducting open days.  The course catered for Sea, Game and Coarse angling coaches.

A Level 1 coaching qualification, which is a pre-requisite towards the Level 2 course, gives an excellent grounding on the do’s and don’ts of coaching covering child protection, risk assessment, admin and lesson planning.

Sarah Thomson, Fisheries Manager at Barford Lakes said “we were proud to hold the course at our lakes, it was great for the candidates to have lakes on site to conduct the practical side of the course and it’s brilliant to be part of what we feel is a very positive qualification.”

Robbie Williams commented “We need more coaches in all disciplines of angling and it was good to have a few younger students on the course and also a few ladies as the NFA continue to promote women in sport.  Special thanks to Sarah and her family for providing the venue and some fantastic hospitality”.

For further details on becoming an angling coach you can contact Sally Pizii of the Angling Development Board by emailing pizii@btinternet.com or speak to Angela from the ADB on 0115 9813535.