A team of entrepreneurs – including double Olympic medalist Roger Black – has launched a new online service which will help connect members of public with sports coaches.
Described as the "Uber for sports coaches", the new Coach Cycle service will offer a web-based database of coaches in more than 30 sports.
People will be able to search for coaches and coaching businesses via a map directory, while coaches can upload their certificates and experience onto a public profile, advertising their services in their area.
Coaches will also be able to post video sessions and written tips on any sport discipline they coach in.
The online service will be made available as a web service, as well as on the iOS and Android platforms, and will cover the entire UK.
The service is the brainchild of coach and entrepreneur Ryan McCarthy.
"Up until now, people haven't had a way to book a sports coach easily – like they would a taxi on Uber or a takeaway on Deliveroo," McCarthy said.
"Our vision is to create a thriving sports coaching community online for coaches to showcase their coaching and increase their chances of securing more hours in coaching to deliver to the public.
"The service is called Coach Cycle because coaches help each other within a cycle process, helping each other with ideas/experience/tips and finding more work.
"One coach helps a coach that coach then helps another coach, the cycle continues."
Coach Cycle has already secured the backing of the County Sports Partnerships and will aim to work with all the UK sports governing bodies, being a voice for their coaches to find more work by signing up and showcasing their talent across the UK, via the platform.
According to Roger Black, the service will fill a much-needed gap in the sports market.
"There currently isn't any obvious place to go to find a sports coach, other than contacting local sports clubs," Black said.
"Coach Cycle really puts coaching in your hands. The coaches will come to you, to fit in with your life, rather than you having to go somewhere at a certain time – and I think that is really important.
"It will be particularly useful for those who want to try a sport, but might be intimidated by facing a club environment for the first time."
The business model is based on Coach Cycle taking a 10 per cent share of all transactions and coaching appointments made using the platform.
Coaches can create and maintain their profiles for free and members of public will not face any upfront costs.
As well as McCarthy and Black, the Coach Cycle team includes tech investor and former The Apprentice star Raj Dhonota; Hermione Way, founder of internet video production company Newspepper; and former Labour MP and founder of Sports Think Tank, Andy Reed.
To find out more about the service, click here for the Coach Cycle website.
