09.Dec.09 Coaches boosted by National Coaching Conferences
Coaches from across England have been reaping the benefits of input from world class coaches at England Athletics National Coaching Conferences More than 400 coaches attended the three conferences in Sheffield, Lee Valley and Birmingham with the focus of ‘Physical Preparation’.
The events were highly successful with talks and presentations combined with practical workshops with discussion and demonstrations held at every venue. Coaches to Olympic and World Champions were on hand to share their expertise through presentations, workshops and practical demonstrations. These covered central principles affecting all event groups as well as more specific sessions looking more closely at event groups and individual events.
Noel Stoddart, an endurance coach from St Mary’s Richmond Athletic Club, said "It was inspiring to hear coaches of renown like Dan Pfaff and Derek Evely speaking at the conference. Their knowledge levels with regards coaching athletics are both an inspiration and a target to reach for. The afternoon's practical endurance session provided time to reflect on the best way to deliver conditioning sessions to developing athletes in a limited amount of contact time.
“I was back at Lee Valley on Sunday with some junior athletes for a steeplechase squad day. Along with the coach mentor programme there are a lot of positive developments at the moment and I'm enjoying rising to the challenge of turning talented athletes in to robust, fast seniors who are achieving their full potential.”
England Athletics Head of Coaching Richard Wheater said: “It is essential for us as a sport to support our coaches and we at England Athletics take this responsibility very seriously. Working with UKA we were able to have Dan and Derek delivering keynote presentations as well as international speakers of the calibre of Wolfgang Ritzdorf and Gary Winckler. Our own national coach mentors were also involved throughout as part of their work of sharing their own expertise and encouraging other coaches to do the same.
“It is fantastic that hundreds of coaches were at the conferences with the desire to develop their skills. Wolfgang in his presentation to one group of development coaches commented on how impressed he was to see so many of them with this desire to learn, to give up their time, and spend their own money on improving their coaching for the benefit of their athletes. It should be heartening to all of us when someone who has coached Olympic champions pays this kind of recognition to the dedication of our coaches.
“That is why it was important to us that we should repeat the event in three places on three dates. We want to provide coaches with every possible opportunity to get to attend the conference.”
Dan Pfaff and Derek Evely delivered key note presentations at all three conferences. Dan is UKA Centre Director for Lee Valley. He has coached more than 30 Olympians to seven Olympic medals and athletes to 10 World Championship medals. He coached Olympic and World 100m champion and world record holder Donovan Bailey. Derek is UKA Centre Director for Loughborough. He has had international coaching success in disciplines including throws, sprints and endurance. Among the athletes he has coached are former World Junior hammer silver medallist Dylan Armstrong, former World Junior 400m bronze medallist Shane Niemi and World Championship 800m silver medallist Gary Reed.
Wolfgang Ritzdorf is Senior Lecturer at German Sport University Cologne, former national coach of Olympic gold medal winning German female high jumpers Ulrike Meyfarth and Heike Henkel, and an expert in young athlete development. Gary Winckler is the pre-eminent hurdles coach in the USA. Since 1992 athletes under his direction have competed in every World Championships and Olympic Games winning medals of every colour.
For more information on the England Athletics Coach Development Programme please see www.englandathletics.org/cdp.
Photos by Gwen Harris
