Issue 100 - Centenary July 1997

Canadian Coach for Conference

Al Morrow, Head Coach Canada, will be the principal speaker at this year's ARA Coaches Conference at Lilleshall National Sports Centre on October 11-12, writes Brian Armstrong, ARA coaching co-ordinator. There will be only one conference this year, encompassing the formerly separate senior and junior conferences.

Al Morrow is the extremely successful chief coach to the Canadian women's national team. His crews won four gold, three silver and two bronzes at the last two Olympic Games.

The theme for the conference will be centred around developing technical skills and the creation of training programmes for seniors and juniors. The latter will examine the elements that make up a successful training programme, including technical work sessions (skill development and reinforcement of good technique), conditioning, physiology of training and testing, cross training, biomechanics and rigging.

The relationship between training programmes and conditioning regimes for senior and junior athletes will also be examined. The format for the conference will be based on plenary sessions with a presentation from a lead speaker followed by workshops consisting of smaller groups where the nuts and bolts of the topic/subject will be examined in greater depth. A mix of overseas and British speakers will introduce and lead the sessions. The conference provides an excellent opportunity for coaches at all levels to take part in this bread and butter subject matter of our sport and mix and discuss the current issues of development with leading coaches.

Irrespective of the level of your involvement you will gain from attendance. Contact Brian Smyth at the ARA on 0181 748 3632 and book your place. Accommodation at Lilleshall is limited.

© Copyright B. Armstrong, 1997.