Connect 2026 Timetable
Below is the timetable for the weekend.
Our workshops will be led by experienced workshop leaders and members of the goalball community, creating an engaging and welcoming environment where participants can connect, share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another. We encourage everyone to take part in the discussions and make the most of the opportunity to exchange ideas, build new connections, and develop their knowledge of the sport
Saturday 12th September
Meet and sign in at the welcome desk in the EIS reception area
Welcome to Connect 2026. The welcome will cover key venue and housekeeping information, introduce the support available throughout the weekend, and explain how Connect 26 fits within Goalball UK’s wider plans to develop coach education and strengthen coach support across the sport.
Delivered by: Alex Bunney, Goalball UK, Development & Learning Director
Delivery Style: Presentation
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
An interactive Connect session for all delegates and Goalball UK staff, designed to help everyone put names to voices and faces, build connections, and feel welcomed at the event from the start.
Delivered by: Kathryn Fielding, Goalball UK, Senior Development Office and Faye Dale-Cook, Goalball UK, Talent & Inclusion Director
Delivery Style: Interactive with participant engagement
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
The Vital Role of Coaches in Visually Impaired Sport
A talk designed to inspire coaches and highlight the vital role they play in supporting players within their clubs and across the Goalball UK community. The session will explore how coaches can positively influence people's lives through goalball, both on and off the court.
Delivered by: Dave Clarke OBE, PLY, ParalympicsGB CEO and Goalball UK Patron
Delivery Style: Presentation / Talk
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Dave Clarke OBE, PLY is Chief Executive Officer of ParalympicsGB and a highly respected figure in Paralympic sport. A former elite athlete, Dave represented his country 144 times in blind football, scoring a record 128 goals. He competed for ParalympicsGB at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympic Games, as well as in goalball at Atlanta 1996.
Before joining ParalympicsGB, Dave worked in banking before moving into the charity sector with RNIB, where he held senior leadership roles including Director of Services and Chief Operating Officer. In these roles, he focused on improving access to information, advice and support for visually impaired people, while helping to remove everyday barriers through consumer and commercial services. Now CEO of ParalympicsGB, Dave continues to champion inclusion and accessibility, leading an organisation that has played a significant role in his own sporting journey while advocating for visually impaired people and disabled people more widely. Dave also became a patron for Goalball UK in 2026.
Access to Tea & Coffee in Multi-Purpose Hall 1
This workshop will explore the role of a goalball club coach and the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed to support players effectively. Led by Martin Dighton, delegates and Goalball UK staff will consider how coaches can meet the needs of their players, their club environments, and support player development both now and in the future. The discussions and input from delegates will also help inform key areas of Goalball UK’s upcoming coach development plans.
Delivered by: Martin Dighton, UK Coaching, Senior Coach Developer
Delivery Style: Interactive group discussion and tasks
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Accessed in Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Choice A
Title: Building Pressure in Attack
Description: This workshop will explore how coaches can help their teams build pressure in attack and create more effective goal-scoring opportunities. Led by Alex Jones, delegates will consider how their own team’s attacking strengths can be used to exploit the oppositions weaknesses to create pressure in attack. The session will also look at how coaches can provide clear, purposeful feedback during training drills designed to develop a team’s ability to build and sustain attacking pressure in matches.
Delivered by: Alex Jones, Head Performance Coach, Great Britain Men
Delivery Style: Sharing theory with group discussion using a practical space within the sports hall (MP1)
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Choice B
Title: Supporting Player Performance from the Bench
Description: This workshop will support coaches to understand how they can positively influence player performance from the bench. Delegates will explore how to observe the game, identify key moments, communicate clearly with players, and make effective decisions that support performance during match play.
Delivered by: Alex Bunney, Goalball UK Development and Learning Director and previously Great Britain Men’s Assistant Coach
Delivery Style: Theory with interactive group discussion and activity
Location: Goalball UK Office
Access to Tea & Coffee in Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Choice A
Title: One for All and All for One
Description: How a simplified shared vocabulary and understanding of how defence works enables us to learn, develop and analyse our defence more efficiently and effectively. Led by Gary Lambert, delegates will be introduced to the processes and philosophy being used within the Great Britain Women’s Performance pathway to strengthen defensive structure, both on and off the court. The session will consider the benefits of using a unified defensive language and support coaches to develop practical approaches for analysing and improving their team’s on-court defence.
Delivered by: Gary Lambert, Head Performance Coach, Great Britain Women
Delivery Style: Sharing theory with group discussion using a practical space within the sports hall
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Choice B
Title: Analysing a Goalball Match
Description: This workshop will support coaches to better understand how to analyse their own team and the opposition during goalball match play. Delegates will look at how to identify attacking and defensive strengths and weaknesses, recognise key patterns, and use this insight to create practical game plans that can be adapted and implemented in competitive situations.
Delivered by: Faye Dale-Cook, Goalball UK, Talent & Inclusion Director, and previously Great Britain Men’s, Head Coach and Krista van Alten, Netherlands Men’s, Head Coach
Delivery Style: Theory with interactive group discussion and activity
Location: Goalball UK Office
Access to Tea & Coffee in Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Understanding the effectiveness of clear penalty processes to gain a significant advantage in competitive matchplay.Understanding the effectiveness of clear penalty processes to gain a significant advantage in competitive matchplay. Delegates will develop an understanding of the impact of having a clear penalty process for both attacking and defensive situations, and why penalty effectiveness is vital for gaining an advantage in competitive matchplay. The session will provide coaches with the tools to consider their approach using the GBR Women’s model as a tool to develop the discussion and initiate their learning.
Delivered by: Ella Strachan, Assistant Performance Coach, Great Britain Women
Delivery Style: Sharing theory with group discussion using a practical space within the sports hall
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Depart venue to Leonardo Hotel
Served in the Main Restaurant at the Leonardo Hotel. Connect delegates will have the opportunity to connect with the Goalball UK Centre of Excellence training camp athletes and staff.
A general knowledge quiz designed to help you Connect with people from across the Goalball community. It’s the perfect opportunity to share experiences, build networks, and celebrate our sport together.
The quiz brings an end to day 1.
Sunday 13th September
Sign in at the welcome desk in the EIS reception area.
Delegates will explore why warm-ups are important in both court and non-court scenarios, what an effective warm-up should include, and how coaches can deliver purposeful warm-ups that prepare players for a goalball session. The workshop will also include a practical run-through of a Goalball UK High-Performance warm-up used before training camp sessions, giving delegates a range of exercises and ideas to consider when planning warm-ups within their own club environments.
Delivered by: Kieran Burke, Goalball UK, High-Performance Strength & Conditioning Coach
Delivery Style: Sharing theory using a practical space within the sports hall (MP1) with the opportunity to participate in some of the exercises for those who wish to.
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Access to Tea & Coffee in Multi-Purpose Hall 1
To make the best use of the programme time, delegates can collect their lunch now and eat it whenever suits them.
Choice A
Title: Connected coaching, the importance of the coach-athlete relationship
Description: Great coaching starts with genuine connection and shared dedication. The Coach-Athlete relationship is built on mutual trust, clear cooperation, and making sure you and your players understand each other on and off the court. In this workshop, we will explore practical ways to strengthen your coaching relationships to bring out the best in you and those you work with, whether you are just starting out or coaching at the top level.
Delivered by: Dan Martin, Performance Psychologist, Goalball UK Performance Pathway
Delivery Style: Interactive group discussion and activity
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Choice B
Title: Preparing your club to host a Friendly Competition
Description: Find out what’s involved in hosting a friendly goalball competition and the key things your club will need to consider. This session will also outline the support and funding available from Goalball UK to help clubs plan, organise and deliver a successful event.
Delivered by: Dan Webster, Goalball UK, Competition & Events Officer
Delivery Style: Interactive group discussion and activity
Location: Goalball UK Office
Access to Tea & Coffee in Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Delegates will explore practical ways to adapt goalball sessions to meet the different needs of participants, while maintaining skill development and enjoyment. The session will provide examples of how best to use the space, time and equipment you have available to create effective, engaging and energetic sessions that develop communication, problem solving and teamwork skills. There will be an opportunity for delegates to share ideas and discuss challenges from their own coaching environment and experience.
Delivered by: Kathryn Fielding, Goalball UK, Senior Development Office and Club Coach
Delivery Style: Theory and practical with the opportunity to participate in some of the drills and activities for those who wish to
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
Closing remarks and summary to wrap up the event and departure.
Location: Multi-Purpose Hall 1
