Apprenticeship Week - Mitchell Barnett

A former Premier League Kicks participant, Mitchell Barnett is currently studying an apprenticeship at Club Doncaster Foundation and plans to continue to gain as much experience as possible.

Having completed the Foundation’s Coaching Academy setup back in 2017, Mitch started volunteering at local Kicks sessions as a pathway into coaching. Now enrolled on the Foundation’s apprenticeship scheme, the 20-year-old saw this as the best route into coaching.

The Doncaster-born coaching assistant highlighted how his journey has given him the skills and experience to pursue a career in sport. He said: “The Coaching Academy that the Foundation puts on is a great way to get into apprenticeships as it gives you knowledge about coaching and communicating with your participants.

“Having been a Kicks participant myself, I understand the importance of good coaching, and the impact it has on young people.”

Mitch is currently undertaking his level 2 teaching assistant qualification at the Foundation, with the aim to develop his skills further. When asked why an apprenticeship was for him, he did not hesitate to answer.

He said: “It was an easy decision. It has given me employability skills and first-hand experience in delivering sports sessions, which I can then use to develop and better my expertise in sport.”

At the Foundation’s recent celebration event, Mitch was a member of the participant panel, which gave guests the chance to listen to real life stories from the Foundation’s work across all areas.

He has continued to impress since the Coaching Academy, which is all down to his hard work and commitment to wanting to become a sports coach.

Upon completion of his apprenticeship, Mitch has set his sights on becoming a coach for the Foundation. He said: “The Foundation has helped me since I did Kicks, so if I can go onto have the same impact on current Kicks participants that the coaches had on me, then that would be amazing.

“That in mind gives me the motivation to succeed on my apprenticeship and continue to learn.”

With more and more opportunities becoming available, the apprentices at the Foundation can gain valuable experience in coaching and teaching.