Active Watford Community Sports Network

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Welcome

Welcome to the official website of Active Watford, your local Community Sport & Physical Activity Network. This site will help you find information on all aspects of sport and physical activity in the borough. But should you not find what you're looking for, or would like to receive our regular e-news, then please contact us.

If you are a local resident wanting to find out more information on local groups and clubs you can join, then please search our ‘online directory’ or search the ‘what’s on’ section of the website to find something to suits your needs. There is something for everyone!

Latest News

Have you heard about CoachMark?

CoachMark is a scheme supported by both Herts Sports Partnership andHertfordshire County Council that establishes standards for the coaching of sport and physical activity in schools and helps to safeguard young people who participate in school. A coach accredited by CoachMark meets the minimum standards set out by sports coach UK, the governing body for sports coaching.

A CoachMark coach meets the required criteria in the following areas:Age, Coaching qualifications, Insurance, Welfare safety, Child protection training, Code of conduct, References.

The Hertfordshire County Council has recently recommended that schools should appoint only sports coaches who meet the standards of the CoachMark scheme administered by Herts Sports Partnership. The new CoachMark scheme will:

allow coaches to operate in schools across the county with just one CRB clearance from Hertfordshire County Council
ensure that coaches working in schools have attained a minimum operating standard - known nationally as Minimum Standards for Deployment
overcome potential problems caused by differences in interpretation of procedure between schools
safeguard young people who take part in sport

CoachMark will apply to coaches who wish to work in schools, whether on a paid or voluntary basis. The Herts Sports Partnership will co-ordinate CoachMark, using the Coaching Herts database and carrying out the relevant checks. Hertfordshire County Council will administer CRB clearances. Now that the county council has recommended the scheme, coaches may find they are unable to work in schools if they do not have CoachMark. Hertfordshire FA therefore strongly recommends that individual coaches and organisations start the CoachMark process as soon as possible.

For CoachMark clearance, coaches must individually register on the Coaching Herts database and then provide evidence that they meet the minimum standards for deployment. These standards, agreed with Hertfordshire County Council, are in line with national guidance from sports coach UK and the national governing bodies for sport. The standards are:

appropriate coaching qualifications
CRB registration
appropriate liability insurance
attendance of Safeguarding & Protecting Children Course
suitable references
commitment to a code of conduct

The FA requires all coaches working in football to have an FA CRB check in addition to the above requirements. Once registered on the Coaching Herts database, coaches will need to have the relevant documentation verified to complete the process. Herts Sports Partnership staff will arrange to meet coaches to carry out the necessary checks.

For further information, contact Rob Hardwick, Coaching Development Manager with the Herts Sports Partnership, on 01707 281204 or via email at r.d.hardwick@herts.ac.uk.

Please visit:http://www.coachingherts.org.uk

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