Event Group Development Sessions in Sprints Jumps Hurdles & Throws Now Open for Application

To ensure progression of talented young athletes and their coaches in our sport, Athletics NI aim to provide opportunities for teenage athletes to learn and train together on a regular basis. Ultimately, we aim to have technically and physically well-prepared and robust young athletes who can progress to represent Northern Ireland at future Commonwealth Games and to create a Community of Practice for event specialist coaches.  Details are as follows and application forms are available below.

Throws (Javelin & Shot)

Athletics Northern Ireland will provide weekly throws development sessions delivered by Laura Kerr, GB & NI and Irish Team Coach. Laura previously worked with European U20 Heptathlon Silver Medalist Kate O’Connor and Irish Universities Javelin record holder-Jack Magee.

Beginning in October, sessions for athletes aged 14-20 years old will take place on a Saturday afternoon at Ulster University, Jordanstown. Closer to the competitive season these sessions are likely to move outdoors to Mary Peters Track.

The training emphasis will develop through the year and with a later peaking age in throws, long term athlete development will be kept in mind.  Sessions for throwers will therefore include: a movement skill based warm up, plyometrics, medicine ball throwing, technical drills, approach work and sprints.  There will also be a supervised strength development session immediately after the throws session. 

Sprints & Horizontal Jumps (Long and Triple Jump)

Athletics Northern Ireland will provide twice weekly sprints and horizontal jumps development sessions delivered by Commonwealth Games Athlete, Jumps Specialist and International Sprints Coach- Adam McMullen. Beginning in October, sessions for athletes aged 14-20 years will take place on a Saturday afternoon (Ulster University Indoor Track, Jordanstown.)

The training emphasis will develop through the year and sessions for jumpers will include a functional movement based warm up, some form of sprinting either acceleration or max velocity, bounding, short approach jumps and full approach jumps. Sprinters will work on starting positions, resisted acceleration and they will build towards maximum velocity running.

Hurdles

Weekly technical hurdles and speed development sessions will be delivered by Tom Reynolds, GB & NI Team Coach and former hurdles coach to GB & NI World Indoor Championship athlete Megan Marrs and World Championship and double Commonwealth 110m Hurdler Ben Reynolds.

Sessions for hurdlers will include: landing mechanics / plyometrics, acceleration and maximum velocity sessions, hurdle specific drills and competitive hurdle blocks sessions.  There will also be an option to complete a strength development session immediately after the hurdles session at Ulster University and will take place on Saturdays between 14.00 and 17.00 indoors at Ulster University, Jordanstown.

Applications

Athletes are invited to apply to the relevant session/squad using one of the links below. After review of the applications there will be a selection process and successful applicants will be contacted with further information so that they can pay the registration fee online and provide emergency contact details etc.  

Spaces for each squad will be limited to allow us to meet ideal coach to athlete ratios for technical events and capacity limits in the facilities due to Covid 19. Applications will be assessed based on performance, potential and availability to engage. Multi events athletes are eligible to apply for any of the above squads and for the purposes of performance comparison against other athletes applying their multi events scores will be taken into consideration.

Coach-athlete pairs who would like to attend together to follow the training plan, upskill and benefit from working together in a group are welcome to apply and make note of this when completing the form above. Coaches who wish to attend and upskill through observation and mentoring will not be charged but should contact us in advance.

Download the appropriate application document here:

Throws

Jumps & Sprints

Hurdles

Applications must be returned by 5pm 12th October 2020 to the email address listed at the bottom of the relevant application form.