Academics Put Young Athletes On The Right Track
7 December 2010
Attending the workshops in Sheffield: from left to right Tosin Oke, Adam Baker, Campbell Menzies, Mark Cheetham, Daniel Caines.
University academics joined a starting line-up of sports stars including Phillips Idowu, Dwain Chambers and Daniel Caines at a training day for 150 of Derbyshire's top young athletes at the weekend.
Through an award-winning partnership between the University of Derby Buxton and Derbyshire McCain Athletics Network, the sport academics delivered workshops for coaches and athletes on psychology, strength and stability, and nutrition at the event held at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield on Sunday 5 December.
They joined 100m sprinter Dwain Chambers, triple jumpers Phillips Idowu (reigning world champion) and Tosin Oke (who won Gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi earlier this year), and 110m hurdler Will Sharman (Commonwealth Silver Medallist). Each gave masterclasses in their winning techniques to the athletes and coaches from athletics clubs including Derby, Amber Valley, Chesterfield and District, and Buxton.
Former 400m World Champion Daniel Caines, consultant for the Network, said: "The training day went really well and the coaches and athletes were all incredibly excited to see the demonstrations from Dwaine and Phillips. They all got a lot out of the day, especially the sessions led by University experts."
This was echoed by Imogen Cresswell aged 15, a long jumper from Amber Valley Athletics Club. She said: "Learning these techniques has been amazing and I'm definitely going to take them back to my training."
Campbell Menzies, aged 14, an 800-metre runner from Derby Athletics Club, added: "I really enjoyed the session on sport psychology and I'm going to start using imagery techniques to help me try to win my races."
University of Derby Buxton academics Dr John Pates, Mark Cheetham and Adam Baker all led sessions with help from University students. Lecturer in Sport Psychology, Dr Pates, said: "We were delighted to come along today and share some useful techniques. This event was part of our ongoing work with the Network which we believe is going to be incredibly valuable for both Derbyshire's young athletes and our future sports professionals."
Through the partnership, they are also providing physiotherapy support for athletes at events and club sessions and in return, students on the University's BSc Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Development degree programmes have been spending time with clubs within the Network, gaining vital work experience.
The partnership was formed in January 2010 and was recently recognised by England Athletics with its 'Club Partnership of the Year' award.
For more information please contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07775 036988, or email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
