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Coaching talent comes together

Thursday 8 February 2007

Over 100 coaches from the East of Scotland will come together this weekend for a regional coaching conference. Entitled ‘Coaching Counts 2007’, the East of Scotland Coaching Conference is being held at Meadowbank Sports Centre and the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh and will offer a quality coach development programme to local and regional coaches from a range of sports.

The conference, now in its fourth year, is a unique and successful partnership between, sportscotland, Edinburgh Leisure, Coaching Edinburgh, Scottish Borders Council, East of Scotland Institute of Sport, Midlothian Council and West Lothian Council. Along with this year Basketball Scotland, Scottish Volleyball Association, Scottish Handball Association, Scottish Swimming and Scottish Disability Sport.

This partnership will provide a practical and innovative programme of opportunities for coaches and this year’s agenda focuses on swimming, basketball, volleyball and handball with coaches taking part in workshops from the integration of disability swimmers to developing young handball players.

The coaches can also listen and learn from an array of experienced professionals who will be speaking on the day. Keynote speakers include: Richard Brickley, Chief Classifier for the International Paralympic Committee and former coach education officer for Scottish Disability Sport; Ollie Dudfield, Director of Coaching for Basketball New Zealand; and Helmut Konig, one of Austria’s top education trainers working on a full-time basis for the European Handball Federation.

Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “Coaches have a key role to play in harnessing natural talent and inspiring athletes at all levels, therefore it is paramount that Scotland continues to provide coaches with the opportunity to extend their knowledge and expertise.

“We are delighted to be involved in this unique partnership that will deliver comprehensive and innovative workshops that will ensure coaches have the necessary skills to help athletes realise their full potential. I wish all the delegates a successful and enjoyable conference.”

  • The conference is being held on Sunday 11 February, 9.30am until 3.30pm at Meadowbank Sports Centre and the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh.
  • The keynote speakers and subjects they are covering are:
    • Richard Brickley, Chief Classifier for the International Paralympic Committee and who has attended six successive Paralympic Games as GB coach and international classifier and as well as previously being Scottish Disability Sport’s officer for coach education. Richard will present a workshop on the integration of disability swimmers which will includes coaching swimmers with a disability, strategies for promoting inclusion and structure for competitions.
    • Gil Stevenson is Chair of the UK Strength & Conditioning Association and national coach for Scottish Women’s Rugby and the workshop he is heading up will cover the classification, strength and conditioning for disability swimmers.
    • Adam Sotheran is current coach to the Olympic silver medallist diver Leon Taylor and will present a workshop on the physical preparation of divers.
    • Ollie Dudfield, Director of Coaching for Basketball New Zealand will present a workshop on the concepts for maximising players long-term individual development.
    • Alexander Liebetseder is a FIVB volleyball instructor from Cologne in Germany and will present a workshop on the key skills for developing junior coaches and developing performance in junior players.
    • Helmut Konig, one of Austria’s top education trainers working on a full time basis for the European Handball Federation will be presenting a workshop on developing young handball players aged 8-11 and 12 16.
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