Progress on the Athletics NI Team Coach Manager Development Programme
02 September 2025
At the start of 2025, following an application period, Athletics NI identified athletics coaches / team managers with an interest in travelling with and supporting Northern Ireland teams at international events. We wanted to give opportunities for suitably qualified and experienced individuals to collaborate with Athletics NI performance staff in supporting our teams at road, cross country and track and field events, including future Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games.
To date 16 coaches are on this programme which supports formal and informal development including the following:
- Participation in the Commonwealth Games NI development programme (for prospective 2026 or 2030 coach / team managers) including a full day event on 4th January 2025.
- Participation in the Sport NI Coaching Collective events which took place in March and has another planned for October 2025
- UKA Roadshow Event in February 2025. As part of the UKA Roadshow, Paula Dunn who has been Head Coach of Team GB for both Olympic Games and Paralympic Games delivered a session on Team Coaching at Major Championships for coaches and prospective team managers.
As well as this more formal development, several of the coaches on the programme fulfilled domestic team management duties for NI & Ulster teams including:
Celtic XC U20 International February 2025 – Catherine Diver
Intercounties XC March 2025 – Alison Stocks & Luke Dinsmore
U20 England T&F Championships July 2025 – Emmy McCay
Scottish Senior T&F Championships 2025 – Paddy McGrattan
Home Countries 5K August 2025 – Alison Stocks
Manchester International Para – Lyn Fisher