More Than One Sport: The Making of a versatile Coach

For many students, university is a good time to discover new interests and explore career paths, but for second-year Physical Education student, Noah Jones, Cardiff Metropolitan University has become the place where a lifelong passion for sport has evolved into something much bigger, a desire to support and develop others through coaching.

Originally from Lincoln, Noah has always been passionate about sports. Growing up, basketball and touch rugby were his main focus, providing him with valuable experiences that would ultimately shape his future ambitions. Last year, Noah was selected to represent England as part of the touch rugby Under-20s squad in Ireland, an achievement that reinforced his love for sport and opened his eyes to the optionsavailable beyond competing. 

Being surrounded by fellow elite athletes and coaches inspired him to think more seriously about how he could contribute to sport in the future, and that inspiration led him towards coaching and teaching; two ventures he plans to dedicate his life toafter completing his degree.

Today, Noah is heavily involved in coaching basketball across a range of programmes, supporting Additional Learning Needs (ALN) sessions, wheelchair basketball juniors, under 8 and also under 12 groups as an assistant coach. Across all of these settings, one thing remains consistent, his enjoyment of helping enthusiastic juniors improve.

"The most rewarding part is seeing the children progress," Noah explains. "Watching their confidence grow, seeing them learn new skills, and knowing they are enjoying themselves makes coaching worthwhile."

His commitment to coaching extends well beyond a few hours each week. Noah currently coaches five times a week, delivering four basketball sessions alongside a volleyball development session. He mentioned that balancing these responsibilities alongside university studies requires strong organisation and discipline.

While basketball remains his sporting foundation, university has encouraged Noah to broaden his horizons. With no touch rugby programme available at Cardiff Met, he decided to try volleyball, embracing a new challenge and developing his understanding of another sport.

"Time management is everything, being proactive allows me to manage my coaching commitments, continue playing sport, and keep on top of my university work."

His willingness to step outside his comfort zone is something that has become a defining characteristic of his sporting journey so far. Last year, Noah spent three weeks in Thailand, where his father works as a teacher, he volunteered to coach basketball at an academy, gaining valuable experience in a completely different environment.

Working with players from another country helped him understand different approaches to coaching and communication, strengthening his confidence as a coach even further. It also reinforced his belief that sport can bring people together regardless of their background, language, or culture.

Perhaps the most significant learning experience of Noah's coaching development came through wheelchair basketball. Rather than simply coaching from the side lines , he decided to get into a chair himself and experience the game from a player's perspective.

So, he joined the BUCS wheelchair basketball team at university and played his first minutes earlier this month. His motivation was straightforward, to become a better coach by properly understanding the experiences, challenges, and thought processes of the young athletes he works with. Noah described the experience as “truly eye opening” for him.

"It gave me a completely different perspective," he says. "You quickly realise how important chair skills are and how much players have to think about while moving around the court."

The challenges of manoeuvring a wheelchair, controlling movement, maintaining awareness, and executing basketball skills simultaneously gave Noah a new appreciation for the sport and the people who play it.

More importantly, it has influenced how he coaches. By experiencing the game first-hand, he has developed a greater understanding of the mechanics of the sport and the technical/tactical demands placed on his players. 

He believes this insight will help him communicate more effectively, empathise with players’ frustrations, and design sessions that better support their development.Noah’s involvement in wheelchair basketball has also attracted attention on social media, and the reaction has been mixed. While many people have responded positively and supported his willingness to learn and engage with the sport, others have been curious or questioned why he decided to participate in a disability sport.

For Noah, these conversations have only highlighted the importance of raising awareness and removing the stigma around non-disabled individuals getting involved in disability sports. 

"Most people are interested once they understand why I am doing it," he explains. "The experience has helped me learn more about the sport and become a better coach, I really enjoyed the sport as well, and I made some new friends"

Looking ahead, Noah already has a clear vision for his future. After graduating, he hopes to become a secondary school teacher, combining his academic studies with his interest in coaching and youth development. Alongside teaching, he plans to continue coaching both basketball and touch rugby, sports that have played such influential roles in his own journey.

Noah’s story is not just about playing different sport or collecting coaching experience, it is about actively seeking opportunities to learn, challenge himself, and better understand the people he works with. 

From Lincoln to Thailand, from touch rugby internationals to wheelchair basketball matches, every experience has helped shape Noah into a more knowledgeable coach and a more thoughtful educator. As his coaching journey continues, one thing is certain, his dedication to help others develop is just as strong as his fascinationwith the power of sports.