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National Youth Development Conference – book now!

England Athletics is delighted to confirm full details of its second annual National Youth Development Conference – with online booking now open.

If you’re a coach or leader working with young athletes (U18s), and you want to enhance their athletics experience and help them maximise their potential, then this conference is for you!

Our two-day National Youth Development Conference will take place at the University of Birmingham on the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March. The event features a fantastic line-up of speakers who will deliver engaging presentations and practical sessions across the weekend.

Click below to book your place now – with both one-day and two-day passes available:

More information

Over the weekend, attendees will benefit from a range of presentations, discussions, practical sessions and networking opportunities that will help them:

  • Understand the importance of Long-Term Athlete Development;
  • Develop training programmes to provide greater structure to their training;
  • Learn the underpinning principles of Speed, Endurance, Jumps and Throws;
  • Learn practical drills to help improve their athletes' Speed, Endurance, Jumps and Throws;
  • Share good practice with like-minded coaches.

Conference programme

DAY 1 will focus on the key considerations for an athlete's Long-Term Development; what makes a good training programme and how to develop this; how to develop your athletes Speed and Jumping skills and abilities.

  • 09:30 - Arrival & Registration
  • 10:00 - Long Term Athlete Development (What you need to know). Presenter: Scott Grace.
  • 11.00 - Developing a Training Programme for Young Athletes - Part 1 (Theory). Presenter: Scott Grace,
  • 12.45 - Lunch
  • 13.30 - Speed Development for Young Athletes (Practical Session). Presenter: Harry King.
  • 15.30 - Jumps Development for Young Athletes (Practical Session). Presenter: Femi Akinsanya.
  • 17.30 - Day 1 Closes

DAY 2 will focus on how to create an effective learning environment for your athletes; how to develop their endurance and throwing skills and abilities. The day will finish with a session designed to help coaches develop their own training programme or reflect on an existing programme.

  • 09:30 - Arrival & Registration
  • 10:00 - Creating an Effective Coaching Environment (Classroom). Presenter: Scott Grace.
  • 11.00 - Endurance Development for Young Athletes (Classroom / Practical. Presenter: Matt Long.
  • 12.45 - Lunch
  • 13.30 - Throws Development for Young Athletes (Practical Session). Presenter: Nick Ridgeon.
  • 15.30 - Putting the Plan into Action
  • 17.00 - Day 2 Closes

Conference presenters:

Scott Grace - England Athletics National Technical Lead for Youth Development and author of several coaching and teaching resources.

Harry King - one of the UK’s leading sprint coaches and Team Coach at multiple international games.

Femi Akinsanya - Former England Athletics Event Group Lead for Jumps and Combined Events and one of the UK’s leading Jumps coaches.

Nick Ridgeon - England Athletics Event Group Lead for Throws and a regular international Team Coach for GB age group teams.

Matt Long - highly respected author, coach and educator in the world of endurance, and in particular youth endurance.

A taste of the action from last year...

Coaching