Rt Hon Gerry Sutcliffe

Minister for Sport

 

 

Dear Minister

 

I attach a letter that I have sent to Martin Crick, sports coach UK, in response to the publication of the long awaited, over due, BJA document, “UKCC access for non-NGB members”.

Your predecessor, Mr Caborn MP, acknowledged that we had raised issues of concern regarding the development and implementation of the judo UKCC.

Sports coach UK acknowledges there are “difficulties” within the system – they candidly say so.

They also say they are 'genuinely anxious to resolve the judo situation.'

To date these have been just words Minister, with no indication that any action is being taken to seek resolve.

In fact just the opposite. The situation is being exasperated by the BJA’s continuing hostile and offensive behaviour and the introduction of rules that are unacceptable and inapplicable to non-members of the NGB. All in all this amounts to nothing less than an infringement of rights of those who choose to remain outside an NGB.

Sports/activities derived from the martial arts bear a relationship between the particular “brand” of the activity, and the coaching infrastructure of the NGB for that brand. In the case of judo the NGB brand is “Olympic judo”.

If you look at what the UKCC is supposed to be, and then look at how martial arts NGBs have always run their coaching, it is clear the two are not readily compatible.

The UKCC may be working well and benefiting other sports/activities. As the judo UKCC has been designed, and implemented, it a system fundamentally flawed. (This will prove to be the same in other martial arts if their NGB’s are allowed to follow suit of the judo NGB).

As it stands the judo UKCC is a BJA UKCC, which, may well be acceptable and workable within the restrictive confines of the BJA.

I hope you will reply confirming that positive steps are being taken to “resolve the judo situation”, confirming what measures are being put in place to deal with the issues we raise.

Yours sincerely,

John Goldman

Campaign leader
 

(webmaster see attached letter to Martin Crick, Sports Coach UK)

SAVE INDEPENDENT JUDO

A campaign to maintain the rights of independent judo groups

Campaign office:

41, Willow Walk

Crediton

Devon EX17 1DD

e-mail saveindependentjudo@tiscali.co.uk

Tel: 01395 265532

Martin Crick

Education and Training Manager (Coach Education)

sports coach UK

July 28 2008

Dear Martin

An overview of what has happened, where we are now - and a look ahead.

On May 18^th 2007 Robert Burles, Policy Official DCMS, wrote to me:

 “I would like to reassure you that our and sports coach UK’s position is clear. We expect all UKCC courses to be accessible including, in this case, to non-BJA members. The Chief Executive of the BJA has assured SCUK that they are working on arrangements to establish an appropriate system to achieve this, which will be reflected in their final agreed submission.”

Below is a reply, from Martin Crick, to my email of June 24. Although Martin's approach signals that he, as an individual, is wanting to see resolve, he refers to being bound within these ever mysterious "constraints".

SCUK know they have blundered - the originators of the generic foundations of the UKCC never considered the diversity of the martial arts. Had they done their homework they would have quickly discovered that a generic coaching qualification for a named activity such as judo does not fit in with the way that these sports/arts with their differing styles, systems and even language, have always been run.

Having said the above, I know of no teacher/instructor/coach of the martial arts who does not continually look to improve standards and ensure that best practice and measures are in place for the well-being and safety of participants. I know of no organisation that, if not already doing so, would not wish to meet National Occupational Standards (NOS). The NOS are generic and are the units which the UKCC use. Coaching qualifications within the NOS are about coaching practises, management and development. They are not about techniques. Perhaps had the authorities said everyone should have a “Sport and Recreation UKCC” we would not be facing the problems we are today.

SCUK say, “we are taking active steps to begin to try and resolve the judo situation.” With no sign of a genuine willingness by the authorities to put right the mistakes they have made, these words fall hollow..

The best SCUK chief executive Pat Duffy can offer is, “It is impossible to undo what has already happened.”