Boccia UK unveil change to win well

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Boccia UK is introducing a major change that could transform how its Great Britain squad compete on the world stage.

Up to now, Britain’s BC3 athletes, who compete with a ramp, have relied on one person to do two very different jobs: helping them with everyday care and serving on court as their ramp assistant.

Ramp assistants – who receive medals alongside the athletes - are expected to perform in high‑pressure competition – yet, until now they’ve had to balance that responsibility with round‑the‑clock caring duties.

Now, for the first time, Boccia UK will fund two separate roles:

  • A carer at competitions and training camps, who looks after the athlete’s day‑to‑day needs

  • A ramp assistant, who focuses purely on performance

Connor places ball on boccia ramp and Sally Kidson uses a hand pointer to reach it

The changes from Boccia UK are simple, but a huge shift. Performance Director Greg Baker says:

“Only a few other countries currently do this, and those that do have seen big improvements in performance and wellbeing. By giving ramp assistants the chance to rest, prepare, and focus on performance, we believe our athletes will be better supported and better equipped to deliver extraordinary moments and to win well on the world stage.

“We have already been trialling this change this year and it has really contributed to some top performances. Sally Kidson, for example, became European Champion and Patrick Wilson, after time away from the sport due to illness, made an incredible comeback by winning the individual title at the Coimbra World Cup and winning silver, with Sally, in the Pairs.

“None of this would be possible of course without the Government and National Lottery funding from UK Sport which means that our athletes receive world-class coaching and support to maximise their potential.”

Patrick Wilson added:

“At the highest levels, competing as a BC3 athlete requires immense attention to detail and, increasingly, it requires more from ramp assistants as we continually push the boundaries of what we can do. Personal care is completely different but nonetheless difficult. Having two people will allow our ramp assistants to focus on performance and get the rest they need to deliver on court.”

Sally Kidson is also welcoming the changes:

“It’s absolutely brilliant that we are now able to travel with an additional assistant for care support. This has been necessary for a while. It has already been game-changing, allowing ramp assistants to focus on their own performance, rest and recovery.”