The coach's eye at the Age Group championships

At the recent England Athletics Age Group Championships in Sheffield, we caught up with three coaches who were supporting their athletes. Here's what they had to say!

Rebekah Hopper, coach to Yasmin Baker (Wigan)

Rebekah Hopper was there coaching Yasmin Baker in the under 20 women's shot put. Yasmin and her coach have been working together on moving to the rotational technique, from the glide. Yasmin has thrown the discus, so she knows the idea of a rotation, but much of it is gaining confidence;

"She was confident in the glide. She could just throw it. Whereas there's a lot more technique in the rotation. Today she threw a rotational PB of 12.03m to come third. So she was very happy."

Yasmin competed with the 3kg shot in the Växjö Throws International in Sweden last weekend, but this is the first major competition with the 4kg. It's her first season as an under 20 so she's got three seasons to perfect the technique.

"So we decided to swap to the rotation now. Absolutely no pressure, but looking towards that 13m to see if she can break that barrier. I think that's a big mental challenge. It's further than she's thrown with either technique. So I think that's our aim for the season."

Derek Darnell, coach to Tom Waterworth (Hunts AC)

Derek Darnell was at the championships to watch Tom Waterworth (pictured top) in the 800m. He coaches the under 20 athletes 800m at Hunts AC in Cambridgeshire.

"Tom came third today, which I think he's going to be a little bit disappointed in. He was simply a little slow early on and left it to do on the last lap. But, it's a learning experience, and we'll move on."

Tom got an entry for the UK Championships in Birmingham. The aim was to try to get a PB indoors - which he did, clocking 1.50.64 and coming third in his heat. So he learned from the England championships!

"Over the summer, if he can get the time for qualifying, there’s the European Under 20 Championships to aim for and his final year of English Schools’ as well. He won as an inter boy so it would be nice to win it as a senior as well."

TJ Ossai, coach at Be Fit Today Track Academy

We spoke to TJ Ossai on day two of the England Indoor Championships. He had lots of different athletes in the 200m across different age groups. On day one he had eight athletes and won a few medals - and he's was hoping for the same on Sunday.

"Right now I have four athletes competing, Honor Oteng, Elyah Bassong, Zico Jones and Charlie Williamson. So that’s four people with all different personalities."

He says that luckily, he knows them really well, so knows what to say, when to say it, what not to say and when not to say it.

"I just manage that depending on what they give you and build off that and really try to create a positive experience of this competition for them."

TJ summarised:

"It’s a big stepping stone to the outdoor season. These are young people, it’s not the Olympics, so the aim is to build experience and go to the outdoor season and hopefully be better."

Photo of Tom Waterworth by Pat Isaacs