Les Ford
Published on: 16th October 2012
Coaching Development Manager.
Area of work:
Les’ current role is leading West Yorkshire Sport’s coaching development activity. This includes understanding the needs of coaches, National Governing Bodies and coaching providers to ensure we can support the recruitment, qualification, development, management, deployment and retention of coaches. Central to this is managing and developing the Coaching West Yorkshire website and database.
He is also a tutor for a number of sports coach UK workshops.
Previous Experience:
Les has 23 years experience in the leisure and tourism industry. He joined West Yorkshire Sport in 2009 after spending 5 years managing an internationally recognised and award wining coast to coast walking and cycling route.
Les’ previous roles include working in tourism development and marketing, events management, developing outdoor activities for a national youth organisation, and as a full time coach at an outdoor activity centre.
Education:
B.A. (Hons) in Leisure and Recreation with Sports Studies, and an MSc in Marketing. He also as C&G Teaching Certificate.
Personal Sporting Interests:
He has been an active coach for 21 years, holding the BCU Level 3 Kayak and Level 2 Slalom Coach awards, coaching young people and adults at all levels in a range of canoeing disciplines at a local canoe club where he is also a committee member.
Les races canoe slalom in national division 1 and organises several race events each year.
He also holds leader qualifications in mountaineering and climbing.
