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Coaching counts for East of Scotland

Thursday 14 February 2008

It’s all about coaching this weekend as over 100 coaches from the East of Scotland come together for a regional coaching conference at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena.

The conference, entitled ‘Coaching Counts’ will focus on Talent Identification and Development (TI&D) and offer a high quality coach development programme for local and regional coaches across a broad range of sports.

Talent Identification and Development which is important to all standards of coaches will provide the central theme of this weekend’s conference.  The coaches will hear from a range of experts in the field of TI&D and will also be given the opportunity to share experiences and learn more through a series of interactive workshops. 

This is the fifth year that the conference has run.  It is a unique and successful partnership between, sportscotland, Edinburgh Leisure, Coaching Edinburgh, Scottish Borders Council, East of Scotland Institute of Sport, Midlothian Council, East Lothian Council and West Lothian Council. 
Keynote speakers include: Russell Martindale from Napier University, Natalie Dunman Talent Identification Coordinator at the English Institute of Sport, Gary Coltman, Performance Manager for the Olympic Talent Programme with British Cycling.  Michael Cavanagh, Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland Chairman and East of Scotland Institute of Sport Area Manager will be the facilitator for the day.

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “Identifying talent is of paramount importance for performance sport and never more so than now as we look forward to two major sporting events in the UK with the 2012 Olympic Games in London and of course the 2014 Commonwealth Games here in Scotland.

 “We are delighted with our continued involvement in this innovative partnership providing Scottish coaches with the opportunity to learn the latest techniques and share experiences that will be of real benefit, not only to the coaches themselves but ultimately for our athletes.  I wish all the delegates a successful and enjoyable conference.”

  • The conference is being held on Sunday 17 February, 9.30am until 4.00pm at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, Ratho, near Edinburgh.
  • The keynote speakers and subjects they are covering are:
    • Russell Martindale, Napier University, consultant to sportscotland will give a talk on Understanding Talent Development and deliver a workshop Building a Talent Development Environment.
    • Neil Donald, Tayside & Fife Institute of Sport will lead a workshop entitled “Developing Physical Conditioning: The sportscotland Academy Programme”.
    • Ian Gummery, SEEVIC College, will lead the participating coaches in a workshop to consider “The importance of considering socio-pyschological aspects in Talent ID with regard to teenage athletes”.
    • Natalie Dunman, Talent Identification Coordinator at the English Institute of Sport will provide coaches with real-life case studies from Talent Identification for the GB World Class Women’s Canoeing Programme and Team Sports.  She will also speak on “Expanding Further on Talent ID, Selection & Development”
    • Gary Coltman, Performance Manager for the Olympic Talent Programme with British Cycling will provide an overview of the importance of being able to identify and develop physical attributes in young potentially talented athletes