Coaching & Development Opportunities

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COACHING UPDATE (December 2009) from Paul Chadwick

• See above for list of courses coming up– congratulations to Ian Carpenter & John Reynolds who have recently been on the Leadership in Running course. We particularly need some more members to consider doing the Level 1 coaching course if we are to further strengthen and broaden the coaching we can offer by next Spring & Summer.
• The Coaching session for juniors last Monday included a very good talk by one of our Club seniors Adrian Marriott about his career in athletics from age 12 through to his Team GB standing. Coach Graham Goldsmid then ran a session for the 20 or so endurance juniors modelled on his normal training session but catering for the larger numbers. Thanks to both Adrian & Graham. We intend to follow that up with another session in the new year with Ben Tickner.
• Our Monday evening and Tuesday evening coaching sessions continue to attract good numbers despite the weather getting wetter or colder. We could always do with further volunteers to help with such sessions.
• Adrian will also run a Marathon Masterclass workshop for us on Friday January 15^th so please promote amongst those you know who are interested in marathon running. Contact me if interested in attending by Jan 2^nd so I have an idea of numbers.
• I met with Bruce Pointer & Stuart Richards of Yeovil Olympiads last Wed eve to discuss further links between the clubs and we are keen to arrange for some coach mentoring from their more experienced track & field coaches on a monthly basis. We are particularly looking for mentoring in sprints (to assist Isaac Whitcombe as he takes his Level 2 qualification), and jumps.
• There is also a ‘Flying coaches’ programme through which we have requested some guided sessions from a high level coach in throws or jumps. Despite my request being submitted some 3 or 4 months ago we are still waiting for arrangements on this.
• I have recently been on the interview panel (last Thursday) to recruit for a 2 day a week Athletics Network coach for the Mendip area. This postholder when appointed, depending on experience, will be able to work with us to further develop our links into schools and our coaching and volunteer resources

Further details of courses can be found on:

www.englandathletics.org/coaching-courses

Paul