Judo Coaches Celebrate MSc Degree Success
Three Judo coaches have been celebrating recently after passing their Masters degrees at Sheffield Hallam University.
They have achieved a Masters in Science (MSc) in Advanced Sports Coaching Practice, which is nationally recognised with the British Judo Association as a Level 5 certification in the coaching spectrum.
The successful students are:
- Vince Skillcorn – Camberley Judo Club (also Head Coach at Fighting Fitness Judo Club),
- Jim Feenan – Carnegie Judo Club (Honorary Vice-President at JudoScotland),
- Joyce Heron – Carnegie Judo Club (also BJA Technical Manager)
“As the former Chair of JudoScotland, BJA Director and now Honorary VP of JudoScotland I was delighted to be offered a place on the first cohort of BJA coaches to join the Post Grad and MSc in Advanced Sports Coaching Practice course at Sheffield Hallam University” Jim Feenan explained.
“My MSc research project was on ‘the effectiveness of Judo on young people who have behavioural or additional support needs’ and although it just scratching the surface it provides empirical evidence of how judo can make a difference in their academic, peer-peer and teacher relationships and in their overall health & wellbeing.”
“As the Director of the Fighting Chance Project (Scotland) these outcomes are proving invaluable when we take the Yellow Belt Challenge into Scottish schools”
Vince Skillcorn said “The MSc course is a credit to the coach education team within British Judo. It is without doubt the hardest thing I have done within my coaching and one of my proudest achievements.
The course gives an insight into many aspects of coaching such as psychology, biomechanics, performance analyses, strength and conditioning, nutrition, coaching development and then gives you the opportunity to specialise in an area of particular interest to you – I focussed on talent identification, talent development and long term athlete development within my final year. At 29 it is still early days within my coaching career and I have a lot to learn and achieve, but I believe this course has given me a great platform to continue this learning process.”
The Association has also seen a cohort of coaches upskilled to the Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Advanced Sport Coaching Practice, which is recognised as a UKCC Level 4 and BJA Level 4. They include:
- Chris Doherty – Oxford University Judo Club (also BJA Delivery Officer)
- Kerry Tansey – SKK Judo Club (also BJA Delivery Officer)
- Keith Merrick – Wolverhampton Judo Club (also BJA Delivery Officer)
- Darren Warner – Welsh Judo CEO (Coach to Natalie Powell)
- Jonathon Purssey – Pinewood Judo Club (also coach at Core Judo Club)
- Yoko Tanabe – Kodokan, Tokyo (former Olympic Silver Medallist)
- John Hope – Bredakwai Judo Academy
- Christian Pountain – Beach Judokwai
- Luke Brown – Leigh Judo Club
