CZ 2015 – Edition 3

Welcome to Coaching Zone – Rodger Harkins

In this edition of Coaching Zone, we include an important statement from UKA about the use of supplements by athletes. Please read it, follow the links, and instruct your athletes to do the same. Every one of us has a responsibility to keep our sport clean. With a great deal of advice now available online, and a phone line provided by UKA for queries, there is no excuse for being uninformed.
We examine coaching the basics of hammer throwing as Mick Jones shares some insights into the event at the scottishathletics 2014 Coaching Conference. World-class coach Steve Fudge discusses the factors he considers when writing a programme, and Olympic coach Kelvin Giles shares his thoughts and his amazing story in the world of elite level sport.
There is information on financial support available to coaches through the British Athletics Supporter Club Bursary Scheme, with up to £250 available per person to help meet the costs of training. We also include information on upcoming coach development opportunities, such as the National Coach Conference in September, and the Foundation course in October. Rodger

Advice on the use of supplements

UKA has recently released a reminder of its official advice on the use of supplements by athletes. We would ask you to read it, and instruct your athletes to do the same. The UKA statement says: “There is no 100% guarantee that any supplement is safe and UKA has set out their position on supplements, providing clear advice to athletes, and those who support athletes, on how to reduce the real risk of inadvertent doping posed by supplement use. You can view The UKA Supplement Position Statement and any queries can be directed to antidoping@uka.org.uk or 0121 713 8466.”
We would also remind you that the Anti-doping page of the scottishathletics website contains further information and links to useful resources on both anti-doping and supplement use. Suitable for: All coaches and athletes.

Physical preparation for sprinting

Steve Fudge has developed from an S&C coach to an apprentice sprints coach and is now a performance sprints coach for British Athletics based at the British Athletics High Performance Centre in Loughborough. In this video, he discusses some of the factors to consider when writing a programme for sprinters. (Video 32m28 – Suitable for: Event group and event specialist coaches working with developing athletes.

Teaching the basics of hammer throwing

Filmed at the 2014 scottishathletics Coaching Weekend, Mick Jones shares some of his insights on the hammer throw. (Video 20m23 – part one of a three-part series) Suitable for: Event group and event specialist coaches working with throwers.

In conversation with Kelvin Giles

Kelvin Giles has been involved in elite sport across a host of sports and across the globe. In this interview Kelvin recounts his route through sport and shares his thoughts and his amazing story in the world of elite level sport. (Video 14m38) Suitable for: All coaches.

BASC bursary scheme

The British Athletics Supporters’ Club (BASC) is looking to assist coaches and officials with bursaries, through the BASC Peter White Bursary Scheme. BASC will award sums of up to £250 to coaches “in their pursuit of higher standards, possibly, but not exclusively, by attendance on a course run by UKA”. In return, the club will expect them to keep BASC members updated on their progress. In the past, bursaries have also been awarded for equipment and important travel expenses. To apply email info@basclub.org.uk explaining why you should receive a bursary. The selection will be at the discretion of BASC directors. Please use the same email address for all queries regarding this scheme.

National Coaching Conference 26 & 27 September, Emirates Arena

Following the success of the National Coaching Conference in 2014, where we saw over 250 delegates attend over the weekend, scottishathletics are pleased to announce details of the 2015 National Coaching Conference. This will include keynote speakers, practical session and workshops, led by international speakers and coaches, including:

* Boo Schexnayder
* Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo
* Vesteinn Hafsteinsson
* Kelvin Giles
* Neil Black (Performance Director, British Athletics)

If you are a club coach, development coach, performance coach, or a coach working with disability athletes, then this conference has something to offer you. Topics covered will include technical development, planning and coordination for coaches, working with club athletes through to our elite.

Places cost £25 for scottishathletics coach members and £50 for non-members.

For further information and updates, follow the title link above.

Foundation course – 26/27 October, Emirates Arena

In partnership with world-renowned coach Kelvin Giles (Movement Dynamics), scottishathletics are pleased to announce the introduction of a new Foundation Course. This coach development opportunity is specifically designed to help newly-qualified coaches (Coach Assistant and/or Athletics Coach Award) to develop their skills in delivering warm-ups and in-session planning in the club environment.

This new programme is integral to the National Coach Development Programme for scottishathletics, which targets the development of the athlete, in addressing their physical and technical competencies. This Foundation Course will take place over two days, and will consist of both theory and practical workshops.

The cost of the course will be £30 for scottishathletics coach members, and £50 for non-members.

To book yourself onto the course, please email darren.ritchie@scottishathletics.org.uk.

Movement Dynamics athletic development video resource

scottishathletics are offering the Movement Dynamics video resource for sale at a special price of £100 for the full video resource for one year, with a renewal price of £25 per year thereafter. These resources have been developed to support the coach in the field to better understand the critical questions surrounding their athletes – ‘Where are they now?’ and ‘What is their individual journey?’

To purchase, contact coaching and training administrator, Joanne Dennis, on joanne.dennis@scottishathletics.org.uk.

National coaching qualifications pathway and programmes 2014-15

scottishathletics offers formal qualifications for coaches delivering athletics in clubs. These qualifications are licensed by UK Athletics, catering for entry-level coaches through to coaches working with performance athletes.

Click here for details of all forthcoming coach education courses, and a selection of useful downloadable documents.

Other resources

Click on the links below for more details on each of these resources:
Book – introduction to athlete development
Written by world-leading movement and conditioning expert Kelvin Giles and adapted for scottishathletics.
Local club coaching sessions
National Event Leads will provide support to coaches working with athletes at the event group and event-specific stages (13+) in local clubs free of charge. National coach mentors will work with a group of coaches and their athletes across any event group or specific event as required.
Inclusive athletics
A 3 hour workshop for coaches and volunteers interested in increasing their knowledge of working with athletes with a disability.