In this episode, Coach Yas sits down with Sara Hilton, Senior Lecturer in Football & Coaching Science at Wrexham University, FAW Coach Educator, and UEFA A Licence Coach.

Drawing from her journey as a former international footballer turned coach developer, Sara offers an honest and insightful take on the realities of coach education, the importance of mentoring, and how the profession is evolving in a changing landscape of technology, learning, and human connection.

💡 Key Talking Points

• Sara’s journey from international player to academic and coach educator.
• Why coaching qualifications are more like a driving test than a destination.
• The difference between being a qualified coach and an effective one.
• Why mentoring—not just courses—creates deeper, lasting coach development.
• The need for reflective, critical thinking in coaches at every level.
• Balancing theory and practice: why great reports don’t always mean great coaching.
• The potential (and pitfalls) of technology and AI in the future of coach education.

🧠 “A qualification just shows you can drive on the day — it doesn’t tell you what kind of driver you’ll be.” – Sara Hilton

📣 Whether you’re on your coaching journey, mentoring others, or shaping education programmes, this episode will challenge how you think about learning, reflection, and what truly defines good coaching.

👉 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

💬 Join the conversation — what do you think is the future of coach education?

#CoachDevelopment #CoachEducation #Mentorship #LearningInSport #TheCoachesNetwork