Female Team Coach Pilot Programme Gets Underway

British Athletics has launched its Female Team Coach Pilot Programme, bringing together a cohort of seven female coaches from a range of athletics disciplines.

The Female Team Coach Pilot Programme has been developed in response to UK Athletics’ ambition to improve diversity within the championship coaching pathway and strengthen succession planning for future Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship cycles through to Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

Designed as a targeted development opportunity for a group of elite female coaches, the programme aims to equip them with the skills, confidence and experience required for future championship team roles.

Running from September 2026 to August 2027, the programme will include face-to-face and online workshops. The opening workshop that took place last weekend marks the beginning the development journey, combining learning opportunities, networking, mentoring and practical experiences.

The 2026-27 Female Team Coach Pilot Programme cohort:

• Yasmine Regis (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow Athletics Club)
• Anita Richardson (Trafford Athletics Club)
• Lynsey Sharp (Edinburgh Athletics Club)
• Julie Pratt-Benterman (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies Athletics Club)
• Shani Palmer (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Athletics Club)
• Jacqui Agyepong (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers Athletics Club)
• Katie Lambert (Kidderminster & Stourport Athletics Club)

British Athletics Performance Director, Paula Dunn said: “I am delighted to welcome all seven coaches onto the programme and look forward to supporting their continued development throughout the coming year as they build the knowledge, leadership capabilities and high-performance coaching experience needed to play a role in future championship teams.”

As a pilot initiative, participants were selected against three key criteria agreed by the Performance Director, UK Athletics’ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, and the Pathways and Programme Lead.

The selection process focused on coaches who met one or more of the following areas:

• Former international athletes who have represented a senior Great Britain and Northern Ireland team.
• Coaches currently coaching, or who have recently coached, athletes competing internationally within the last two years.
• Coaches who have been selected as GB & NI or Home Countries team staff during the past two years.