Archive Press Articles

6 Feb 2011

South Staffs Network have laid a strong foundation

The South Staffordshire McCain Athletics Network (SSAN) is one of over fifty athletics networks set up by England Athletics with the support of McCain’s writes Tom McCook. SSAN is a partnership consisting of seven athletic and road running clubs working alongside other partners including three local authorities, four Schools Sports Partnerships and South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to improve athletics at a local level.

The Network was formally launched on 10 November 2009 at the home of Stafford Harriers when John Graves - Chair of England Athletics - presented SSAN with a cheque for the initial funding of the Network. The five clubs which were engaged in the network from the outset were: - Burton AC, Cannock & Stafford AC, Stafford Harriers, Tamworth AC and Washlands Women RRC. Subsequently, Lichfield Running Club and Newcastle AC also came on board.

Across the network there is a spread of coaches at all levels and expertise in specific areas including women’s running and disability.  A collaborative coaching approach is in place with coaches visiting neighbouring clubs, sharing experience and good practice. This has been coupled with accessing the Flying Coach Programme.  The network has firmly established itself and gained a good working relationship with all clubs and external partners.  After consultation with the participating clubs, Coach Development was identified as a high priority. 

A programme of coaching workshops was put together to support the development of coaches in the area – specific to what they were coaching.  International marathon runner Paul Evans visited Stafford in November 2009 to take a training session at the Rowley Park track before moving into the St. Leonard’s Social Club to enthral his audience with a story of his personal development as a runner and provide tips on training for a marathon race.  This was followed soon afterwards by a visit to Burton On Trent by England Throws coach Andy Brittan for an introduction to the discus and how to coach the specific throwing techniques.  A busy and action packed month concluded with a course on Self Defence for Athletes at the award winning Washlands Women Runners.  In the build up approach to the 2010 London Marathon in the spring of last year, two courses on Nutrition and Hydration for Runners and Practical Hydration were staged at Shobnall Leisure Centre, Burton On Trent.

46 runners and coaches from various clubs assembled at Tamworth A.C. track on 8 May 2010 to learn from a practical coaching session conducted by international marathon runner Liz Yelling and her husband Martin the critical elements required to improve performance - particularly for a 10k race, but also applicable to any targeted improvement in athletics performance.

Award winning coach Keith Fradley who has coached several international athletes including Amanda Forrester (who represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and the 2008 World Junior Championship silver medallist Ashleigh Nelson who was the youngest member of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the Olympic Games in Beijing), conducted a Sprints Workshop at Burton On Trent on 24 May 2010.
 

Irrespective of how much talent an individual may possess, their progression in athletics is often significantly influenced by the extent to which they can remain injury free. With this in mind SSAN organised two highly relevant Workshops.  One on this topic - Injury Prevention was held at Tamworth on 26 July 2010 and was supplemented by a Sports Injury Presentation and Running Forum at Burton-on-Trent on 9 September 2010, and was followed by a Mental Toughness workshop, led by Olympic steeplechaser Spencer Duval at Marston's Sports and Social Club at Burton on 29 November 2010, intended for endurance coaches and their athletes attracted 38 coaches and athletes.These highly practical workshops on a variety of subjects were rotated around the clubs providing the opportunity for coaches from different clubs to come together and share their ideas.  The coordination of specific road running workshops and courses will continue through the Run in England programme.

A combination of school-club links and coaching across the network contributed towards the Staffordshire Under 11 Boys' team being crowned Champions for their age group at the Regional Sportshall Athletics Final.  Plans are in place to further enhance the pathway from school to club activity utilising such initiatives as Sportshall and QuadKids programmes in schools.

For the last three years, clubs and their partners in South Staffordshire have been recognised for their innovative projects, coach and club development at the England Athletics West Midlands Regional Awards ceremonies.  SSAN network shares England Athletics' focus on coaching and through this application has demonstrated all partners’ vision for the development and strength of coaching to improve standards of athletic delivery and performance. Through focused support from England Athletics, the existing excellent collaborative approach of all partners enables the South Staffordshire Athletics Network with all round strengths to continue to extend the development of athletics in the local community.

Even though he only became a member of Stafford Harriers five years ago, John Finney the Network Chair is no stranger to running - having impressively completed no less than 40 marathons including every single Potteries Marathon between 1982 and 2004 and accomplishing a personal best time of three hours 2 mins.  John elaborated, “In the 1960s and 1970s, I played mainly football and tennis but after a couple of injuries I decided to pack in football.  I was one of many people who were drawn into athletics by the marathon running boom.  I used to enjoy training with a good group of runners along the Birmingham canal towpaths in my lunch hour.  I eventually joined Stafford Harriers when I retired as a Town and Regional Planner and coach some beginners on Friday evenings.  Our club Chairman, Pete Burns suggested that I went with him to attend an exploratory meeting with four other clubs in July 2009.  Initially there was some uncertainty about the concept of networks but in reality working together has enabled us to break down some barriers of either perception or reality.  I believe that we have managed to create a positive climate where we share good practice and ideas are listened to and in many cases implemented.”

He continues, “We have and continue to work closely to join coaching groups, share facilities and signpost athletes to ensure continued athletics development. This has strengthened development in the area and the opportunity to formalise and develop joint plans would further enhance athletics in South Staffordshire.  Athletes are progressing across the whole athletics development pathway (from school to club and onto representative honours.) School club links continue to grow and the network intends to further strengthen and develop the quality for aspiring young athletes. We also firmly supported by the County Sports Partnership and each area’s School Sport Partnership and Competition Managers who have incorporated athletics into their action plans and funding bids.  In the last 15 months, we organised ten courses and workshops on a variety of topics which have been very well supported.  The challenge now is to maintain this head of steam.  I am confident that we have laid a sound foundation with a strong Partnership Network which is ready to embrace and sustain athletics development for the future.

Nick Robinson, England Athletics' Club & Coach Support Officer for Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire provided an overview of what SSAN had accomplished since its formation 18 months ago;  “The achievements so far made by the Network have been widely acknowledged and the Network continues to develop and market itself to existing and new partners.  The Network is keen to share Clubs best practice and an ethos of Clubs working together wherever possible has really been apparent.  A network website has recently been created to communicate and engage with as many Clubs and Coaches as possible.  The website includes providing information on Network News, Coach Development Workshops, Coach Education, Sub Action Groups etc.  The feedback from users of the website has been very positive and has received recognition from England Athletics as being an informative website.  The Sub Action groups which are co-ordinated and led by Club Volunteers support Key Areas of Network Club and Coach Development and have focussed on Coaching, Junior Development and Endurance.  These groups have been proactive in co-ordinating Events and Competitions together with producing resources for all Network Club Members.”

Nick finshed off by stating, “I would like to thank everyone, the Network Chair, Coordinator and Committee, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, clubs, coaches and volunteers for all their hard work in making the South Staffordshire Athletics Network a real success.”

Credited to: Tom McCook - article written for England Athletics website.

Updated: 25 Feb 2011

England Athletics highlights and promotes South Staffs Athletics Network's website by including a press release on their news page to inform of SSAN's website as a communication tool for network members and other interested parties.

More information about SSAN's aims, projects and achievements in year 1 can also be found on the England Athletics site.

Updated: 7 Feb 2011

South Staffordshire Athletics Network – Improving Coaching in Clubs

Nick Robinson, Club and Coach Support Officer for Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire & Staffordshire explains how a McCain Athletics Network in his area is working to develop the sport through better coaching.

Read more in the document below...

Updated: 27 Oct 2009