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The Top 5 Books of 2020
Here are my personal reading recommendations from this year. If you are stuck for ideas for presents or for something to read yourself then read on. Like many people, I immersed myself in fiction this year and yes, I did read Defoe’s ‘Journal of a Plague Year‘ that held worrying parallels with this year. Because…
Read MoreChoosing the right equipment for your local park
Regular readers will know of the work I have done with Willand Parish Council to improve our village parks. This is an ongoing process that started five years ago. We are gradually upgrading or adding play equipment and facilities in our village. Having a vision Willand is a large village in Devon with a population…
Read MoreHow to keep fit in your fifties.
Are you fit enough at fifty? The Covid-19 pandemic has focused minds acutely on risk factors that either prolong the illness or cause victims to suffer worse symptoms. Obesity, age, underlying health problems and ethnic background are four of these risk factors. We cannot alter two of these, but we can do something about the…
Read MorePost-Covid P.E.: The Health of The Nation
As pupils return to school they will find that the opportunities to play team sports will be reduced. Physical distancing will mean that rugby, football and netball, for example, will be too difficult to administer. Travelling between schools will also be reduced: the risk of transferring the virus will be too great. Teachers can teach,…
Read MoreShould you measure your training load?
The benefits and pitfalls of using technology to monitor training. There are many different ways of measuring the work you do in training. If you are doing a single discipline sport like swimming or running or cycling then you could use a simple metric such as distance covered. But using just one ‘easy to measure’…
Read MoreHow to get stronger in pre-season
Why do I need to start strength training in pre-season?
Well, ideally you won’t be starting from scratch. Hopefully you have been doing your foundation work throughout the off-season.
This means that you are moving efficiently and can control your body through a full range of motion.
Read MoreWilland PE in lock down
A summary of one solution to the school closures On Wednesday March 18th, 2020 the UK’s Prime Minister announced that all schools would be shut from Friday afternoon for at least 3 weeks. Head Teachers around the country frantically scrambled for information, ideas and solutions to help their pupils, staff and families cope. I realised…
Read MoreSummer Reading Recommendations
Books for the holidays Everyone who reads this post will have experienced the Pandemic lock down differently. Some of you may have had more time to read, some of you may have cut back on books due to finances, some of you will not have had time to read as you try to balance home…
Read MoreCoaches’ Coffee Break: Books
Reading ideas for sports coaches and teachers On Friday I had a virtual coffee break chat with several of my GAIN Europe colleagues. We met for 30 mins and talked about what books we are currently reading. The idea was to simulate the informal learning that we miss when we don’t hang out in person,…
Read MoreCreating Frankenstein’s Monster in the Gym
“Man,” I cried, “how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!” ― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein I was asked last week my thoughts on using the barbell hip thrust in the gym. I had no thoughts on the matter, I don’t use it as an exercise tool. Rather than, ‘What do you use to develop hip extension?’…
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