Hadden is confident Scots can nurture the will to win

FRANK HADDEN is confident a new coaching programme will help produce the next generation of Scottish sports stars.

The national rugby coach was speaking at the launch of Coach To Win at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, along with Judy Murray - mother of British tennis No.1 Andy and his double specialist brother Jamie.

Conceived by Andrew Baptie, coaching development officer at Edinburgh Leisure, the programme will include winning mentality workshops, mentoring sessions and overseas training camps.

About £20,000 is being invested in the first year, enabling seven coaches to undertake a year-long personal development plan.

"The Coach To Win project is a superb achievement for the partners involved," said Hadden. "It's great to see so many organisations coming together to raise the standard and quality of coaching in Scotland and I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before this investment pays off in improved athlete performance."

The partners involved in the pilot are Coaching Edinburgh, Edinburgh Leisure, East of Scotland Institute of Sport (ESIS), The Scottish Institute of Sport Foundation and relevant National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

One of the key elements of the programme will be the opportunity to take part in overseas training camps. This follows a study published by The Scottish Institute of Sport Foundation last year, which showed that Scotland's athletes and coaches are seriously disadvantaged by a lack of exposure to international coaching methods.

The first seven coaches in the three-year programme work with ESIS in Edinburgh in tennis, badminton, diving, rugby and cycling. They include Commonwealth Games medallist and national cycling coach James McCallum and Scotland rugby under-20s head coach Greig Oliver.

Murray, one of the UK's top tennis coaches, said: "The importance of good coaching cannot be underestimated - like having the right equipment and a competitive training environment, a great coach can make the difference between success and failure, so the launch of Coach To Win is excellent news for Scottish sport."

Mr Baptie added: "I'm really excited about this project. Coaching Edinburgh has successfully recruited and developed over 600 coaches in the last three years.

"Now, the Coach To Win programme offers a new opportunity to support Edinburgh's high-performance coaches and instil a winning culture in those involved. By providing an incentive structure for coaches, we aim to help them achieve more in their chosen field and provide world-class athletes right here in Edinburgh."

Graham Watson, executive director of The Scottish Institute of Sport Foundation, which is supporting Coach To Win as part of its culture of winning programme, said: "Last year we published research which showed that Scotland lacks a culture of winning.

"Coaching is one of our highest priorities and we are encouraged by the interest shown in the Coach To Win project. Edinburgh is leading the field in this respect. Andrew Baptie should be commended for initiating this winning idea."

Paul Bush, chairman of ESIS, also highlighted the importance of coaching in Scotland's bid for sporting success. He said: "Developing a culture of excellence, in which our coaches are given the best opportunities to become world class, is essential in supporting our athletes as they strive to reach the very top in their sports."