Coaches’ Corner
Supporting the people who shape our sport
Welcome to Coaches’ Corner, the home of learning, reflection, and shared practice within our club and the wider Showdown community. This space exists for the coaches, volunteers, and leaders and aspiring coaches who shape our sport every day. You are the people who make Showdown welcoming, empowering, and accessible for every athlete who walks through our doors.
Here you’ll find practical tools, session ideas, and evidence informed resources designed with real coaching in mind. Everything reflects our club values: inclusion, athlete‑centred development and a commitment to helping every individual thrive. Whether you’re planning your first session, refining your technical knowledge, or looking for ways to support wellbeing and confidence, this space is here to support you.
Coaching is a craft, one that grows stronger when we learn from one another. Coaches’ Corner is a place to explore, reflect, and keep developing, so our athletes can keep growing too. It’s also a space to celebrate the people behind the scenes: The coaches who give their time, the volunteers who make sessions possible and the leaders who shape the future of VI sport.
Coach’s Corner is designed to grow with our community. As our club develops, so will this space, shaped by your ideas, your experiences, and the needs of our athletes. Together, we can build a coaching environment that sets the standard for VI sport nationally and supports every person, coach and athlete alike, to reach their potential.
Meet the Bury Aces Coaching Team
Get to know the people behind the programme their coaching journeys, qualifications, values, and what drives them. Our coaches bring a blend of lived experience, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to athlete wellbeing.
Louise Goldfinch – Head Coach & Club Lead
Louise Goldfinch is an experienced multi‑sport coach whose career spans early‑years physical activity through to high‑performance environments. Her coaching journey has taken her from preschool movement sessions to supporting professional athletes, giving her a rare, end‑to‑end understanding of how people learn, develop, and thrive through sport.
Louise holds a First Class Honours degree in Sport Development and Coaching, with academic interests that continued to grow as she prepared for doctoral research in coaching practice. Her coaching philosophy rooted in inclusivity, athlete‑centred learning, and evidence‑informed practice shapes much of the thinking behind our club’s coaching approach and the resources shared within Coaches’ Corner.
Alongside her coaching experience, Louise works in organisational development, specialising in development pathways and talent management. This systems‑level perspective influences her coaching in powerful ways: she understands how environments shape performance, how people progress over time, and how inclusive structures can unlock potential at every stage of the athlete pathway.
Her passion lies in creating accessible, meaningful sporting experiences for all athletes. Whether working with beginners taking their first steps in sport or supporting athletes preparing for competition, Louise is committed to delivering safe, engaging, and empowering sessions. Her leadership ensures that Bury Aces remains a values‑driven, athlete‑centred club where everyone has the opportunity to grow.
Bury Aces Coaching Philosophy
Every Athlete. Every Session. Every Interaction
At Bury Aces, coaching is more than delivering drills, it’s shaping an environment where every athlete, especially those who are visually impaired, can belong, grow, and thrive. Our philosophy reflects who we are, what we value, and how we work together to create a safe, inclusive, athlete‑centred club.
People First
We believe that people come before performance. Our coaches prioritise the physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing of every athlete. Sessions are calm, predictable, and welcoming, with particular care for the sensory needs of VI athletes. We aim to build confidence, autonomy, and joy in sport.
Inclusion at the Core
Inclusion is not an add‑on, it’s the foundation of our coaching. We use clear communication, verbal descriptions, and consent‑based guiding techniques to ensure every athlete can participate fully. We make reasonable adjustments for all disabilities, learning needs, and personal circumstances. Our goal is equitable access to coaching, development, and playing opportunities for everyone.
Integrity, Respect & Professionalism
We model the behaviours we want our athletes to learn. Coaches act with honesty, fairness, and responsibility, maintaining professional boundaries and treating every member with dignity. We never use fear, shame, or pressure as coaching tools. We challenge unsafe or discriminatory behaviour and represent Bury Aces with pride on and off the track.
Psychological Safety
Learning happens best in an environment where athletes feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and express concerns. We use calm, predictable communication and respond with patience and support. Confidentiality is respected, and sensitive information is handled with care.
Athlete-Centred Coaching
We coach the person, not just the sport. Our approach is relational, supportive, and empowering. We design sessions that match the age, ability, experience, and wellbeing of each athlete. We celebrate effort, progress, and personal excellence,helping athletes value their performance, not just results.
Community & Culture
Bury Aces is a community, not just a club. Coaches support one another, welcome new members, and contribute to a positive, inclusive culture. We champion the values of Bury Aces within the wider VI sport community.
Our Promise
As Bury Aces coaches and volunteers, we commit to:
- Putting athletes first
- Upholding this philosophy and the Bury Aces Charter
- Living our values in every session
- Protecting our culture
- Creating a club where everyone can belong, grow, and thrive
Downloadable Coaching Tools
A collection of practical, accessible templates designed to support planning, reflection, athlete development, and competition preparation.
Session Plan
Plan structured, inclusive sessions with clear objectives and coaching points.
Weekly Load Tracker
Monitor athlete training load, fatigue, and wellbeing across the week.
Drill Design Template
Create purposeful drills with progressions and adaptations for VI athletes.
Skills and Drills Library
A growing catalogue of drills designed to support technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development in Showdown. Each drill is built with accessibility, clarity, and athlete‑centred learning in mind.
Foundational Skills
Skills and drills to develop the basics of the sport
Technical Skills
Skills and Drills focusing on developing technical execution.
Tactical Skills
Developing decision making and match strategy