News

Posted: 17 June 2025

Last month, UK Sport launched two new coach development programmes, supporting coaches in the high-performance environment. We are pleased to share that Perri McCluskey (Scottish Rowing) and Dale Flockhart (Edinburgh University BC) were selected for the ‘Athlete to Coach’ programme following nominations from British Rowing & Scottish Rowing.

       
Perri McCluskey, Scottish Rowing Assistant Performance Pathway Coach                                   Dale Flockhart, Performance Rowing Coach, EUBC                                  Photo Credit: British Rowing

Athlete to Coach, aims to support and prepare ex-athletes for the shift in identity when moving from competing into coaching; harnessing their prior background and experiences and supporting them at the start of their coaching career.

This 18-month coach development programme will engage the coaches in immersive workshops, in-situ coach developer and peer support, and exposure to different coaching environments and perspectives. Fifteen former athletes, will be taking part with backgrounds across a diverse range of Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Talking about his excitement for the programme, Dale Flockhart said: "I’m thrilled to be part of the UKsportA2C programme. The programme will provide me with an opportunity to collaborate with coaches from other sports, and help better myself as a coach."

The cohort took part in their first workshop earlier this month, in Pembrokeshire, which focussed on ‘transitions’ and ‘beginnings’, exploring how their athlete experiences shape what they bring to their role, and allowing the coaches to build their connections and relationships.

2025 Athlete 2 Coach Cohort:

The inaugural Athlete to Coach cohort

Photo credit: Top of the Woods & Green Office Retreats

• Sam Glover, Paddle UK

• Yona Knight-Wisdom, Diving/AquaticsGB

• Dale Flockhart, Rowing

• Amy Ellis, British Sailing

• Naomi Folkard, Archery GB

• Ali Young, British Sailing

• Perri McCluskey, Scottish Rowing

• Stuart McWatt, Judo

• Shona McCallin, England Hockey

• Chantelle Handy, GB Basketball

• Joe Bestwick, British Wheelchair Basketball

• Joe Hart, GB Basketball

• Calum Jarvis, Swimming/AquaticsGB

• Sean McGoldrick, Welsh Boxing & GB Boxing

We look forward to hearing more about their journey over the next 18 months!

If you are interested in taking your first steps in Coach Education, head to the British Rowing website and begin your journey on the new Assistant Coach Training. The training consists of three online modules and one face-to-face practical session and replaces the Level 2 Sessional Coach Qualification. Find more information on the coach education pathway here.