Athletics NI in conjunction with British Athletics provide a range of off the shelf workshops that help to provide coaches and leaders with a fundamental understanding of key topics. Details of each of the webinars/workshops so far which can be found below:
Athletics NI is delighted to present a series of coaching and performance webinars and workshops throughout March.
These sessions are designed for coaches, athletes, and teachers who want to develop their knowledge, improve performance, and apply proven training principles in real-world settings.
Delivered by experienced, high-performance coaches, each session provides practical insights that can be immediately applied in your own training or coaching environment.
Date: 4 March
Time: 8:00–10:00pm
Format: Online webinar
Cost: £5
Join Emmett Dunleavy for a practical, science-based session designed to help athletes and coaches improve 10K performance.
Recently appointed Senior Endurance Coach for Athletics Ireland, Emmett brings more than 35 years of experience in endurance running, both as an athlete and as a coach. He works with athletes across all distances from 1500m to marathon, including Northern Ireland marathon record holder and former Irish Marathon Champion Ann Marie McGlynn.
Using evidence-based physiology and modern coaching methods, this webinar will provide clear guidance on how to train smarter and achieve stronger 10K performances.
Who it’s for:
Club and performance coaches
Endurance athletes
Runners targeting a 10K personal best
Date: Sunday 8 March
Start Time: 2:00pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Venue: Melvin Sports Complex
Cost: Free
Join Stuart Kennedy at Melvin Sports Complex for a free, informative workshop designed especially for recreational runners preparing for their first half marathon.
This practical 45-minute session will focus on the key principles of half marathon preparation, helping you train smarter, avoid common mistakes, and approach race day with confidence. Whether you’re just starting your training or already building towards your goal race, this workshop will provide clear, easy-to-apply guidance.
The session will cover:
Building a simple and effective half marathon training plan
Key endurance and pacing principles
Common training mistakes to avoid
Race-day preparation tips
Practical advice for first-time half marathon runners
Who it’s for:
Recreational runners
First-time half marathon participants
Anyone looking to build confidence ahead of race day
Booking:
This workshop is free, but advance registration is recommended to secure your place.
Date: 12 March
Time: 8:00–10:00pm
Format: Online webinar
Cost: £5
Are you a coach or athlete looking to better understand what truly drives elite 800m performance?
Join leading middle-distance coach Joe Ryan for an in-depth webinar exploring the key physiological and tactical elements required to run a faster 800m.
Joe has more than 30 years of experience in athletics. A former international race walker, he is now Athletics Director at Dublin City University and a coach with the Irish Endurance Squad. He is best known as the coach of Irish 800m record holder Cian McPhillips, who finished fourth at the World 800m Championships.
Over the past decade, Joe has coached numerous athletes to national and international success.
The session will cover:
Physiological demands of elite 800m racing
Key principles of speed endurance training
Structuring a season for peak performance
Tactical awareness and race execution
Practical insights from high-performance environments
Who it’s for:
Middle-distance coaches
Developing and performance athletes
Club and school coaches
Date: Sunday 29 March
Time: 12:00–14:00
Venue: Mary Peters Track
Cost: £20 per coach
Are you a club coach or school teacher looking to develop your knowledge and practical delivery of the 4x100m relay?
This specialist two-hour workshop with Karen Kirk, an Athletics NI Level 3 Sprints Coach and key member of the Athletics Ireland Relay Programme, will provide both theory and practical track-based learning.
Karen has played an integral role in the development of Ireland’s sprint relay athletes, contributing to a structured national approach that has supported relay teams at major international championships.
This workshop will help you:
Understand the technical and tactical demands of the 4x100m relay
Develop effective changeover techniques and acceleration patterns
Learn proven drills from high-performance relay programmes
Improve athlete positioning and baton efficiency
Apply session design principles in school and club settings
The session includes:
Classroom-based theory
Practical track delivery
Demonstrations and coached drills
Q&A and real coaching scenarios
By the end of the workshop, you will leave with practical tools and structured progressions you can immediately implement.
Spaces are limited to ensure quality delivery.
UKA has revised its policy on First Aid provision for Coaches and Leaders so that it is aligned with the HSE requirements under Civil Law and Duty of Care. We are aware that a number of Coaches have already undertaken first aid training as good practice which is great but given recent incidents there will now be a requirement for all UKA Licensed Coaches and Leaders to have a suitable level First Aid Training certificate, renewable every three years in line with the re-licensing process. Details on what sort of First Aid Training Coaches & Leaders will need is available on the below flowchart:
