Treliske Prep School, Truro - 20th
November 2004
It
all started at a County Development Evening, held in the middle of August this
year by the Cornwall Sports Partnership.
The 30 assembled people were asked what they needed or wanted in
Athletics within the County.
Coaching became a common theme. Coaching licences would soon need renewing,
not all coaches wanted to progress and were content with their level, some
coaches qualified under the old system, some the new. Viv Matthews, a senior tutor with UK Athletics based within
Cornwall was asked: ‘can we do something here in Cornwall, to help our coaches,
but without the need to travel? What can
coaches do to increase their knowledge, without undertaking higher-level
awards? Can we cater for the needs of
all the Counties coaches?’ The answers unfolded at the weekend at Treliske Prep
School in Truro.
Viv devised a course and Jacky Brett, the Athletics
Development officer with Cornwall Sports Partnership set about advertising and
promoting it. UK Athletics agreed that
4 credits would be given, sufficient for level 1 & 2 coaches to renew their
licences for a further 2 years. Sixteen
coaches met on a very damp Saturday and started the day with a classroom
session revisiting the five fitness factors and how to train them, followed by
a practical session with 5 groups of coaches delivering a fairly short session
related to the factors for the whole group, followed up with an
evaluation. The afternoon started in
the classroom with a general discussion about the effects of over training,
before returning to the sportshall to look at more specific points regarding
speed, endurance, throws and jumps. This
time the coaches were split into 4 groups and each group contained one person
who specialised in each of these disciplines and again a session was delivered
to the whole group, again with an evaluation.
The coaches attending were from different
clubs, some qualified under the old system and wanted to learn about modern
coaching techniques and new ideas. Some qualified through the new system, but
wanted a refresher. Some were about to
embark upon level 2, this course acted as an insight and a confidence
booster. One gentleman was a wheelchair
user; he took part in every activity and showed how it is possible for athletes
with disabilities to be integrated with all other athletes and to have fun.
Feedback
was excellent, all rating the delivery and relevance of the sessions as good or
excellent. Comments included:
‘Very informative.’
‘Tutor yet again was brilliant.’
‘Having a local based workshop is much
appreciated as many are too far to travel’, ‘It was excellent to mix with other
coaches and exchange ideas.’
‘A totally enjoyable course.’
‘I didn’t realise that it was possible to
have such fun on a coaching course and yet learn so much.’
‘This course allowed me to mix with other
coaches which made me realise what I do is in line with other clubs. The course was well run and organised with
good facilities. I would recommend to
other coaches in Devon.’
The course was requested by the athletics
body in Cornwall, it was devised in Cornwall, but we would like to share it
with others and if you are interested in running a similar course in your area
then please contact Jacky Brett on 07966 892283 or e-mail her on jbrett@cornwall.gov.uk, or you can
write to her at the Cornwall Sports Partnership, Unit 6, Threemilestone
Industrial Estate, Truro. TR4 9LD