Coaches need more support to improve disabled people’s sporting experiences
A report released by the English Federation of Disability Sport (now known as Activity Alliance) shows that taking part in coached sport has a positive impact on disabled people’s experiences of sport. However, worryingly disabled people, especially young disabled people, seem to have a less satisfactory experience than their non-disabled peers.
The national charity’s report is based on the recent sports coach UK report The Impact of Coaching on Participants. EFDS worked on analysing the data that is applicable to disabled people and their coaching experiences. The key findings include:
- Eight in 10 adults, disabled and non-disabled, say taking part in coached sport increased their enjoyment of the sport.
- Young people are less likely to agree that coached sport improved their enjoyment– seven in 10 young non-disabled people agree, and fewer young disabled people- only six in 10.
- Disabled people feel coaches are less likely to be able to deal with any problems that they may have, set goals or monitor progress.
- Young disabled people also feel that coaches are less effective at being able to communicate with them and make sessions fun.
- Coaching can have a positive impact on disabled people’s experiences, but coaches need further education to ensure that disabled people’s experiences are equivalent to their non-disabled peers.
Disability Rights UK is in partnership with Sport England to increase the number of disabled people playing sport by using their personal budgets to access sporting opportunities.