The course marks the first time a European nation has delivered the course using its own qualified coach educators instead of FIT and Australian presenters, following a three-year project with FIT to strengthen coach education in Scotland.

STA high performance director Simon Ebbett, who delivered last weekend’s course in Edinburgh, said this was an important point in coach education in Scotland.

‘This is a big step forward in coach development and in growing our sport in Scotland. By delivering our own courses, we can build a sustainable programme here rather than relying on people travelling from Australia to qualify our coaches. This gives us flexibility and contributes to the wider development of a “Scottish game”,’ said Mr Ebbett.

Scottish Touch has been working with FIT since 2008 on coach education, with FIT secretary-general Dennis Coffey travelling from Australia to deliver Level One and Two coaching courses across Europe. Over the past three years, Dennis has worked with Mr Ebbett, Iain Craik and Monica Coyle to qualify them as Level One coach accreditors.

‘Right from the start, Dennis has emphasised the need for us to be able to “bake our own bread”, as he put it, and he deserves a big thank you for the work he has put into this project in Scotland,’ said Mr Ebbett.

‘It’s very pleasing to be the first nation in Europe to do this. I have also learned that Singapore is the only other nation in the world outside of the big two of Australia and New Zealand to be delivering ‘home-grown’ courses, so we are leading the world in this regard.’

• The STA will be delivering further Level One courses this year. For more information, contact Simon Ebbett on simon.ebbett@gmail.com