Tag Archive: athletic development

1. Motor skills development- spatial awareness and catching.

   23rd September 2010 9:44 am 1 Comment

   I am using a block of Autumn training as a motor skill development with endurance training period.

   I am using tennis ball drills: catching, dribbling, turning, evasion and throwing for one set of development.

   The other set is using the 4 limbs to perform different tasks whilst standing and then moving in different directions.

   Most of the athletes can do 2 different things simultaneously, but not many 3.

   Throwing 2 tennis balls up, turning 360 degrees and catching both is quite a challenge.

   Standing on one leg, with one arm punching, one arm circling and the other foot drawing an imaginary triangle is also tricky.

   This combination seems to work as both a warm up and preparation for new skill acquisition.  It is also fun (not to be underestimated).

   This type of work is what I am doing now with the  Excelsior Athletic Development Club

2. Training Future Champions

   10th March 2010 9:50 am 1 Comment

   I recently did a staff training session at Young Ones Nursery in Cullompton,showing them how to use equipment that I gave them for their toddlers and pre school kids.

   
   

    

   
   

   I needn’t have worried too much as the staff have a great understanding of letting kids learn and discover through play. In fact, aspiring S&C coaches would do well to work in this area to gain a knowledge of incremental learning and adaptation rather than “Death by Olympic Lifting”.

   
   

    

   
   

   http://www.youngonesdaynursery.co.uk/ 

   
   

   I always ask young coaches what their ambition is and often it is “to work with elite athletes” which I think is funny. Their ambition is not to become a great coach, or to help others, it is to bask in the reflected glory of other people’s achievements.

   
   

   Working with these highly motivated and professional nursery staff, and seeing the joy on the childrens’ faces was much more rewarding than dealing with overpaid footballers or rugby players who have forgotten about fun and athleticism.