Join the European Coaches' Club in Birmingham this summer
Four years on from the hugely successful 2022 Commonwealth Games, athletics once again returns to the city of Birmingham when the 2026 European Athletics Championships take place in August.
These championships will bring the best athletes from all over Europe to compete for their country in what is sure to be a great event. Beyond the obvious buzz of the competition itself, this major event will also bring some of the world’s greatest coaches to the UK.
To celebrate these championships, support coaches in the UK and create a lasting legacy, England Athletics - in partnership with the European Athletics Coaches' Association and the University of Birmingham - will be hosting a European Coaches' Club from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 August. Open to UK and international coaches, it’s a great opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate the sport.
Masterclasses
Masterclasses have been scheduled to take place between the morning and evening sessions of the championships to ensure we can access the best coaches in the world as our guest speakers. They will take place at the Teaching and Learning Building at the University of Birmingham.
Schedule
- 9am to 2pm
Open lecture room for coaches to view the European Athletics Championships morning session on a large screen and have informal discussions. Refreshments will be provided. - 2pm to 3pm
Arrivals and reception. - 3pm to 5pm
Masterclass session with some of the world’s leading speakers.
Speakers
The three days will be jointly hosted by world-renowned coach Frank Dick and England Athletics staff, and will welcome some of the biggest names in coaching. You can find out more about each speaker below.
- Tuesday 11 August 2026
Greg Duplantis - coach to Mondo Duplantis.
Tetiana Stepanova - coach to Yaroslava Mahuchikh. - Wednesday 12 August 2026
Laurent Meuwly - coach to Femke Bol.
Another speaker tbc. - Thursday 13 August 2026
Mattias Jons - holder of seven national hammer titles, and team coach at the Paris Olympics.
Paul Solberg - coach to Olympic hammer silver medallist Eivind Henriksen.
Costs
- UK Affiliated athletics coaches and University of Birmingham students:
Early bird price: £25 per workshop or £30 for the whole day
Full price: £40 per workshop or £60 for the whole day
Live streaming: £10 - Non-affiliated coaches / interested parties:
Early bird price: £40 per workshop or £45 for the whole day
Full price: £60 per workshop or £65 for the whole day
Live streaming: £15
Those with European Athletics Championships accreditation can access these events for free. Further information on how to book onto these sessions will follow shortly on the England Athletics website and Athletics Hub.
More about our speakers
Frank Dick (facilitator for the sessions)
President of the European Athletics Coaches Association and Chair of the World Athletics Coaches' Commission. From 1979 to 1994, he served as the British Athletics Federation’s Director of Coaching and is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading sports coaches and coach mentors. During his tenure, he helped lead British Athletics into a golden era, working with Olympic champions including Daley Thompson, Steve Ovett, and Sebastian Coe.
Tetiana Stepanova
Tetiana is the long-time coach of Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Olympic champion and current women’s world record holder for the high jump) and supported her to Olympic gold and bronze medals, eight World Championships medals (indoor and outdoor, including three golds), three Diamond League Final victories, and five European titles.
Greg Duplantis
A former elite pole vaulter and one half of the parent-coach team behind Mondo Duplantis, the men’s pole vault world record holder. Mondo has become a global star, breaking his own world record multiple times and establishing himself as one of the biggest names in the sport.
Laurent Meuwly
Head coach for sprinting, hurdles and relays in the Netherlands and is best known for coaching multiple world and European champion Femke Bol, the Olympic mixed 4x400m relay champion and two-time Olympic bronze medallist and European record-holder in the 400m hurdles.
Mattias Jons
Mattias has made a significant impact as both a hammer thrower and coach. As an athlete, he represented Sweden at two World Championships and won seven national hammer titles. As a coach, he has worked with athletes such as Tracey Andersson and Ragnar Carlsson, and served as a team coach at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With a strong focus on developing young talent, Mattias is regarded as one of Europe’s fastest-rising coaching stars.
Paul Solberg
Paul is a former Norwegian javelin thrower and coach to Olympic hammer silver medallist Eivind Henriksen. Since 2017, he has worked at Olympiatoppen in Oslo, where he researches training methods and protocols, mental health, strength, resilience, speed, and recovery. Alongside coaching Henriksen, he also works with hammer thrower Thomas Mardal and shot putter Marcus Thomsen.
Additional Speakers will include Sarah Benson, Talent and Performance Director for England Athletics, and Scott Grace, Athletics Team Leader for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.