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Raise Your Game: Specialist subject?

Julia Longville: Well there's netball obviously. I also do a lot of work on the coaching process and coaching science modules. I'm a senior lecturer for our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

RYG: What is Coaching Science?

JL: Coaching science encompasses all the subjects and issues that coaches need to have knowledge, skills and understanding of. It gives young coaches an overview of all the sports science support and all the sports science elements of coaching.

It looks at the 'nuts and bolts' of coaching: how to plan effectively, how to relate to and liase with athletes and young performers. Basically its a subject that educates students in all elements of coaching.

RYG: How can it be used to improve coaching?

JL: Coaches are becoming increasingly aware that they need a broad overview of coaching science in order to perform effectively. We've entered an era of professional coaches and I can see that growing in the future.

Its quite an exciting time for young people to be involved in coaching. I can see coaching being recognised much more as a profession, in the same way that teaching is. So its really important that they have core skills, knowledge and understanding.

As a result of that there are numerous initiatives that have been put in place. For example we have an undergraduate programme here where students can actually learn to become coaches of the future.

We deliver a masters postgraduate programme to students that are already coaching but want to extend their knowledge and understanding both academically and in terms of being able to apply that in practice.

Also, there's now a National Coaching certificate that stretches accross levels 1 to 5. We're on the way to establishing what will be a very exciting profession in the future.

RYG: What are your top tips for sporting success?

JL: Its important that young athletes, young performers and young players are really committed to what they're doing. Its important that they're willing and able, often with the help of parents, to be at training and matches.

This can be at all levels: school, clubs or even county and national levels. These all take a lot of time and commitment.

They have to enjoy what they're doing. In order to keep young athletes on board, in order to keep them involved and participating in sport they have to have access to quality coaching.

They need to develop good core skills: good balance and coordination, good hand-eye coordination. They need to be able to kick and throw a ball...all sorts of basic skills. I believe there's a big opening here for young and inspiring coaches. You're never too young to get involved.

RYG: What makes a good coach?

JL: They need to have good communication skills. They need to be confident. Not everyone is born with natural confidence. Confidence can be developed through training and experience. For example, as a level 1 coach, you work alongside somebody that's more experienced. That way they're able to learn what constitutes effective coaching.

Effective coaching is about being well organised - getting to the venue on time, making sure you have all the kit you'll need. They need to present themselves in a professional fashion and have a professional attitude.

In most sports there are health and safety issues with regard to wearing appropriate clothing. In gymnastics you don't want clothes that are very loose and might get caught on equipment. Its important that any coach sets a good example to the people they're coaching.

Good planning is essential - not just in terms of what you want to do in one training session. You need to think about what you want to achieve over a period of time with a performer or a team.

You need to be able to plan for a whole range of abilities. As a young coach, unless your working at a regional or national level, you'll always get mixed ability. Its important that you're able to tailor your methods to that mixture.

If you get involved with coaching then its really important to have an understanding of all the issues involved with child protection. Also you need to understand how children learn - what inspires and motivates them.

Most importantly you need to make what you're doing enjoyable. You want children to go away from your session buzzing, so they get in the car with their parents and say 'that was absolutely brilliant, I really want to go again next week'.

RYG: What role do you think coaching and sport have to play in the future of society?

JL: We want youngsters to be physically active to improve the health of the nation. There's been a lot of academic research into the impact of physical activity and active lifestyles on children's concentration.

A few years ago I visited a school in Australia and every day each child was required to take part in physical activity. The day was broken down into 5 periods and 1 period a day was set aside for physical activity. The school saw the benefit of that physical activity in terms of the children's academic performance.

In this country there are examples of Head Teachers having turned a school around using physical activity. I think young coaches have a huge role to play in getting children active, healthy and wanting to participate in sport.

Coaching's great in terms of developing personal skills in children. Its amazing to see how quickly youngsters gel and start looking out for each other when they're part of a team. They learn about respecting one another and fair play. These are personal skills that are really important for society as a whole.