In Other News

In other news outside of competitions and results, below are some notices and events that you may be interested in? Including funded athletes, regional development program, Leading Athletics workshop, club AGM, UK Athletics Officials qualification in Track Judging and Secondary Teacher Education Workshop.

Welsh & British Athletics have announced their funded/supported athletes lists for 2023. This year we have five high performing members who have made the lists. Very many congratulations to Joseph Brier & Joshua Griffiths who are on the Welsh Athletics performance program and to Dewi Griffiths, Hannah Brier & Kristian Jones who are all on the Welsh Athletics Development program.

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th January  10am to 12pm at Swansea University is weekend two of three of the West Wales Athletics Regional Development Programme. This programme is for athletes in school years 9 to 13 = 2nd year U15 to U20 and is also open to all licenced coaches & coaching assistants.
Saturday 14th January at 10am to 12pm will be for the speed sessions plus in the throws Shot, Discus & Javelin (Hammer will be held at Neath). Long Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault & Endurance disciplines are being held the following day on Sunday 15th January also at 10am to 12pm.
The Regional Development Programme structure is underpinned by a complimentary set of athlete and coach competency that reinforce best practice coaching behaviours we wish to develop in the coaches and athletes who take part in this initiative. To book click here. There are additional supplementary sessions available in Pole Vault at 11am 7th January & Mondays 23rd & 30th January & 6th & 13th February for school year 6 and over to book email [email protected] others event group sessions will be added and listed here as details become available.
Regional Development Programme Aims:
To introduce a holistic and process focused approach to long term athlete development.
To develop coaching knowledge, skills and behaviours to support “brilliant basics” in the early stage of event group development.
To develop a collaborative and skilled coaching network across each event group in every region of Wales.
To improve coach retention and encourage developing across the pathway.
To provide a fun and engaging training environments where everyone can enjoy the Sport.

Saturday 21st January 1pm to 4pm at Swansea University Indoor Track is a Leading Athletics Workshop for £25pp. While not a formal qualification the Leading Athletics workshop is ideal for those looking to lead athletic activities for young athletes. This workshop is the perfect stepping stone towards the Coaching Assistant qualification, which is part of the Coaching Development Pathway. This workshop is an introduction into the sport of athletics and will enable Leaders to deliver fun and safe sessions to young athletes. Packed full of useful tips and ideas, this workshop also provides: – Workbook and Support Resource – Set of Game Cards – Interactive App (Available on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store). The resources include information on the roles and responsibilities of a leader, how to lead a fun and inclusive athletics session, and further information on how to develop your leadership skills. Crammed with ‘Top Tips’ for effective delivery, the support resource also explores the key principles of running, jumping and throwing events whilst providing technical information which support these principles. To book click here, minimum age to attend is 14 years old.

Thursday 26th January at 8pm to 9pm is the Swansea Harriers AGM. Those club members wanting to attend should confirm with the club secretary Tony Clements via email at [email protected] no later than Tuesday 17th January, we do hope club members will attend if possible to ensure the AGM is quorate.

Monday 6th February 6pm to 8pm there is a free UK Athletics Officials qualification in Track Judging held virtually. We are always looking for more volunteers to go on officials courses to help us fulfil our officiating obligations for home and away league fixtures. This online course will introduce candidates to the key roles, responsibilities and duties of a Track Official, including recording and reporting infringements, knowledge of track markings and judging lane lines and the finish. For more details and to book onto the Level 1 Track Judge please click here. (Minimum age 14 to attend).

Friday 10th February 9.30am to 4.30pm £60pp at Swansea University Indoor Track is the Secondary Teacher Education Workshop. An exciting workshop for Secondary School Teachers and those wishing to deliver athletics in curricular and extra-curricular time. The Workshop is aimed at qualified and trainee teachers, as well as those supporting the management and delivery of high quality sport and physical education in secondary schools, and is packed full of useful teaching tips and ideas. The workshop covers the topics of:

• Teaching Running Events & Developing Pupils Engagement

• Teaching Jumping Events & How to deliver an Inclusive, Child-Centred Approach

• Teaching Throwing Events & Developing Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans.

Each workshop is accompanied by free access to the Secondary Schools App-based Resource, associated with the workshop topic (i.e. If you attend the running workshop you will get the Running Teaching Resource, but if you attend all three workshops you will get the full secondary schools bundle).

These resources include:

• Examples of Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans

• Technical tips on how to teach sprints, endurance, jumps and throws events

• Activity cards covering a full range of athletics events for pupils aged 11+

• Pupil Tasks Cards for greater independent learning

For more information and to book click here.