NI and Ulster Endurance Development Squad 2018-2019

05 September 2018

NI and Ulster Endurance Development Squad 2018-2019

Following the successful delivery of three squad training days in 2017/2018, Athletics NI are pleased to announce the first date for the 2018/2019 Ulster & NI Endurance Development Squad.

The endurance initiative aims to develop promising young athletes and their coaches. Run in conjunction with the Ulster Athletics Council and Athletics Ireland, the "Ulster & Northern Ireland Endurance Development Squad days will be held three times across the year and provide an opportunity for a select group of developing endurance athletes to train together and learn key skills that will aid them in achieving success in endurance events.

Allister Woods, Athletics NI Running Participation Officer said, Through this series of camps we aim to support the preparation of athletes and the development of coaching in the endurance event group. Our plan is to focus on specific preparation and training that is relevant for each phase in a periodised year. We will time-phase the camps so that appropriate training methods and factors are explored at the start of each new phase through the autumn, winter and spring.

The first single day Squad will take place on Sunday 30th September 2018. The content delivered on this first day will include a morning practical workshop on Physical Preparation including strength and conditioning and running mechanics with an afternoon focus of developing an aerobic base and understanding threshold training. The various sessions will be delivered by a team made up of Athletics NI staff and identified endurance coaches from across Ulster and Northern Ireland. 

We are also delighted that Ciara Mageean has accepted our invite to come along as guest of honour. Ciara will share her thoughts on the importance of careful planning and incorporating strength and conditioning to be able to train optimally.

In order to be invited to the squad sessions athletes must meet specified selection criteria and have the approval of their personal coach to attend. Athletics Northern Ireland have revised the selection criteria for the NI & Ulster Endurance squad and reduced the total number of athletes to 30 with athletes selected as a result of strong performances in the following competitions:

  1. 2018 Celtic International Cross Country
  2. 2018 UK Inter Countries Cross Country
  3. SIAB Cross Country
  4. Welsh U20 International T&F
  5. England U15 & U17 Championships T&F
  6. Home Countries Mountain Running

Invites to athletes, who meet the criteria and are eligible to attend the NI & Ulster Endurance Squad, have been issued. If, having looked carefully through the criteria, you believe you have been accidentally omitted please send an email to allister@athleticsni.org, which includes your name, date of birth and a direct link to the qualifying result.

We are sorry but we cannot accept individuals onto the squad weekend unless they meet the criteria.