Steve McNamara urges coaches to take advantage of the scheme.
ENGLAND rugby league head coach Steve McNamara has given his backing to a programme designed to help budding coaches get a start in their career.
McNamara is urging existing or new coaches to take advantage of the Gillette Great Start programme, which is offering grants to those wishing to train sports teams and people.
McNamara believes it is a great way to get started – and he wants those with an interest in coaching to sign up.
“I always wanted to get into coaching,” he explained. “My father was a coach of coaches so I was brought up through that route.
“My first professional coach was a man called Brian Smith who was fantastic, and quite often your first impressions last. Because my first impressions were very good I felt that was the way things should be done all the time and it gave me a huge passion for that.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to coach at the highest level you can get in rugby league with our national team.
“The support mechanisms for coaches in general need to be good for us to be the best that we can be – to give our athletes and sports people the best chance possible to be successful, as individuals and as a team, so the Gillette Great Start programme is another really good concept.
“For people who are already involved in sport and want to better themselves they can apply for a grant, for those who aren’t yet involved in sport but who would like to get a foot into coaching and have a passion for coaching you can apply as well.
“For me the more the merrier – get in there and try and get some assistance from Gillette.”
Gillette’s Great Start programme celebrates the role of coaching and encourages people to get into coaching by offering grants. to apply for a coaching grant visit www.facebook.co.uk/GilletteUK
Photo courtesy of ukrugbyleague via YouTube, with thanks.
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