ICSSPE Joins New Erasmus+ Project on Quality Coaching in Traditional Martial Arts
ICSSPE is pleased to join TMA-CSF – Standardising Evidence-Based Inclusion, Safeguarding, Dual Careers and Quality Coaching to Improve Participant Experiences and Retention in Traditional Martial Arts, a new 36-month Erasmus+ Sport Cooperation Partnership.
Coordinated by INSIDE EU, the project has been awarded Erasmus+ funding and brings together six organisations from Germany, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal.
TMA-CSF aims to develop the first evidence-based, style-agnostic framework for coaching quality in Traditional Martial Arts (TMA). The project will also establish a common coach-education pathway and a cross-style quality-assurance model.
Strengthening Coaching Quality in Traditional Martial Arts
Traditional Martial Arts can provide much more than opportunities for physical activity. At their best, they can support confidence, resilience, compassion, social connection and personal development.
However, the quality of these experiences depends greatly on the coaching environment. Areas such as safeguarding, inclusion, injury management and value-based coaching are therefore essential to creating safe, positive and participant-centred experiences.
TMA-CSF has been developed to address these challenges while encouraging greater cooperation across different martial arts traditions.
A style-agnostic approach will allow knowledge, evidence and good practice to be shared across different disciplines and national contexts. This is particularly important for martial arts organisations that may have less access to established coaching standards, education structures and quality-assurance systems.
From Research to Practical Coaching Resources
Over the next three years, the partnership will combine research, coach education, practical resources, quality assurance and digital learning.
Planned project outputs include:
- an eight-module online coach education course
- practical tools and resources for coaches
- a self-review framework for coaching quality
- an External Quality Assurance/Ambassador pathway
- an AI-supported e-learning platform
- a series of international Coach Quality Conferences
Together, these resources will help translate research and coaching standards into practical support that can be applied across different Traditional Martial Arts settings.
ICSSPE to Lead Key Areas of the Project
ICSSPE will play a major role in TMA-CSF, drawing on its longstanding expertise in sport science, coach education, coaching policy, safeguarding, inclusion and sport governance.
ICSSPE will lead the work package dedicated to coach education and training resources. This will include the development of practical tools designed to help coaches apply the new TMA-CSF framework in their everyday coaching practice.
ICSSPE will also lead the development of the External Quality Assurance/Ambassador pathway, which will support consistent standards and encourage the long-term application of the project’s approach across organisations and martial arts traditions.
In addition, ICSSPE will contribute to the project’s research and quality-assurance activities and will host the first international Coach Quality Conference.
These responsibilities place ICSSPE at the centre of translating the project’s research and framework into practical learning opportunities and quality-assurance mechanisms for coaches and organisations.
Building on ICSSPE’s Experience in Coaching and European Cooperation
TMA-CSF builds on ICSSPE’s extensive experience in European projects and initiatives related to coaching quality, evidence-based sport policy and inclusive sport.
This includes previous involvement in projects such as PEAK, ASPIRE, WHISTLE and iCoachKids, which have contributed to the development of knowledge, tools and policy approaches across sport and coaching.
Through TMA-CSF, ICSSPE will continue to connect research, policy and practice, helping to ensure that evidence-based approaches are transformed into practical resources that coaches and sport organisations can use.
Supporting Safer and More Inclusive Coaching
European collaboration is central to the project. Developing a genuinely style-agnostic framework requires expertise and experience from different countries, martial arts traditions and organisations.
By bringing these perspectives together, TMA-CSF aims to strengthen cooperation across the sector and ensure that high-quality coaching practices can reach organisations with different levels of existing infrastructure.
Through its contribution to the project, ICSSPE will continue to promote safe, inclusive, evidence-based and participant-centred coaching, while supporting greater knowledge exchange across Traditional Martial Arts and the wider sport sector.
Photo: Courtesy of INSIDE EU
