Athletics - Track & Field

International Festival of Athletics Coaching Glasgow 2009 IFAC 

 By MARK LANCASTER'   Images courtesy of ABAL STUDIOS

The prelude words of charismatic Dr Frank Dick were, “A truly outstanding line-up of experts will address the 450 coaches attending from all over the world and lead our widest range yet of workshops”. Boy! was he right.

The festival opened on the Friday with coaches overwhelming the Marriot hotel lobby, tormented with excitement and enthusiastically networking with contemporaries, oblivious to the coaches’ heaven they were to experience over the next 36 hours.

After the announcement that Dr Frank Dick is the new Chair of Scottish Athletics for a two year term from 1st November, Dr Dick’s opening welcome was potent as it was animated while he delivered the message of optimism and the crusaded missionary duty of all present, to embrace their role and responsibility for the exciting possibilities and opportunities now in place or being developed as a coaching movement by the European Athletics Coaches Association EACA.

The message was clear. Athletics is in trouble and now is time to mobilise and work together to reclaim the unequivocal title as “mother to all sports and champions of participation and spectatorship”. Historically athletes have surpassed the human most tested barriers to fastest, highest and longest challenges and continue to do so.  Coaches are the metaphorical “bow” to guiding the athlete like arrows to hit these targets. Time has come for the world to celebrate the greatness of each the athletics coach with resonating endless echoes.

The key players in the new and exciting stimulus formula were introduced. Kevin Tyler, world renowned and respect coach to 400-metre runner Tyler Christopher and 400 hurdler Adam Kunkel, now UKA strategic director of coaching and development outlined the strategy for coach development and future targets. The 45-year-old Tyler works under new head coach Charles (The Volcano) Van Commenee, who was Holland's chef de mission at the Beijing Olympics but was hired in September 2008 by UK Athletics CEO Niels De Vos as part of Britain's track and field overhaul.

The living legend Sergey Bubka was the first key note speaker who riveted the audience with stories as he describes his childhood and his early love for sport. His ferocious competitive spirit was channelled into many sports until, at age 10, he came under the influence of the pole vault coach Vitaliy Petrov  . Bubka describes with affection and passion the special qualities and method’s of a man he acknowledges is the best technical coach in the world and introduces the concept of The Culture of Movement. The influence of Petrov  gymnastics on Bubka's technique he described, as is the importance of communication, feedback, and keeping an open mind to outside influences- such as psychology. Bubka's described the meticulous approach to training and competition orchestrated by Petrov, ensuring that Bubka’s maintained a distance from distractions, especially before major events, which was vital. Bubka took the opportunity to pay homage to his legendary coach which was united in response from the audience as Bubka received rapturous applause in closing.

Workshops on the first day of the festival were delivered by world class experts exposing delegates to innovative ideas and confirming coaching principles to the delight of all present. Along with a host of exceptional presenters, another export coach from Canada Derek Evely now head of a high performance centre based in Loughborough delivered a flawless workshop on sprint speed. Evely made clear his desire and commitment to evolving Loughborough as the world centre of excellence attracting athletes & coaches seeking support in the quest to become world beaters in athletics.

Lord Sebastian Coe elected vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations. showed his respect and support for the IFAC and took time out of his incredibly busy schedule to attend the Gala dinner. This colossal icon of an athletic excellence, whose achievements in 800m and 1500m world records paved the way for a generation of great UK athletes to achieve, was emphatically applauded after sharing his subjective evidence towards the importance of coaches. Lord Coe said had it not been for his late father Peter Coe, his success as a world beating athlete would without doubt be just but a dream and not reality.

On the Saturday the delegate numbers swelled inhabiting the huge auditorium to near capacity.

Wilson Kipketer the Danish former middle distance athlete who holds the current world records at both indoor and outdoor 800 and the indoor 1000 metre distances and had dominated the 800 m distance for a decade, was a refreshing guest speaker who underpinned further the importance and greatness of the  athletics coach theme. Kipketer went further and forced home the necessity for coaches to embrace, know and own the sport in the same way you would know your family.  An embarrassingly silence was evident as no one at all could answer his question. “Budapest, at the (1998) European Championships. Who came 8^th in that race”?  His message was clear. Coaches must understand the progression and form at all levels to really value the profundity of the sport.

His message was proved apparent when conversations between coaches were heard and it was clear knowledge of the sport was absent in as much that awareness that some delegates had no indication to knowing some of the best talent the UK had produced. Olympians Tony Jarrett, Clarence Callender and Mike Mcfarlene, all now respected coaches were present and are the types of former athletes that Wilson encouraged the delegates to remember and chronicle for their achievements and know the history, present and future of the sport.

Not to be immune from this flaw, I qualified myself when on Friday after the closing session I made my way to my room thoroughly content with my experiences. I entered the lift and positioned myself in preparation to exit on the 9^th floor. Whilst occupying my mind with speculation as to the features of the female voice announcing the every action the lift was about to take, a sudden darkening of the light occurred as a colossus shape of man entered the lift almost blocking the whole entrance such was his size.  Judging by his amiable expressive face I struck up conversation without the usually fearful concerns when a man of this dimension is in close proximity. Having established he was a yank and was also thrilled with the conference thus far, I asked “so what is your discipline” to which he replied “I am a shot putter”. At this point we both exit the lift and wished each other a good evening.

The Saturday afternoon session began with the inspirational anecdotal narrative by Frank Dick. After 5 minutes he cleverly merged his narrative to build the introduction to the following key note speaker. After reeling off a catalogue of impressive statistics about the next speaker, Frank Dick introduced Adam Nelson to the applauding audience. I had no idea who Adam Nelson was until his stood up and made his way to the podium to deliver his presentation. I can only say I am humbly ashamed but delightfully honoured I was in the company of such a commendable athlete.  This only reinforces the message and the invaluable worth of the IFAC to present the opportunity for coaches to come together and grow from each other’s experiences.

Adam Nelson delivered exciting news about the restructuring of Athletics to attract audiences and support athletes. He campaigns fervently towards doping in our sport and proved an ideal speaker who was received exceptionally well.

The final day came and there was obvious disappointment in the atmosphere. Not because of dissatisfaction but the mere notion that the overture to the coach’s heaven that the festival had provided was moments away seemed to breed a sense of loss amongst the delegates.

Santiago Antugez one of the world finest hurdles coach was programmed to present on the final day. It was understood that the Cuban had issues with his visa and was unable to attend. However his replacement lived up to what seemed to be an impassable standard thus far.  Henk (Henkra as know to his friends) Kraaijenhof (arguably the finest sprint coach on the planet) presentation has a reputation to guarantee curiosity on the subject matter and to provoke thought and discussion.  At first sight of the self confessed introverted information junky Henk Kraaijenhof, you may be forgiven for believing he could well play the part of the mad professor in a Sci-fi Kate O'Mara classic, modern version of Dr Frankenstein. Henks graphic presentation conjures up a mental image of unsuspecting athletes being experimented on with scientific methods only falling short of donor implantation combining 2 or 3 great athletes to make one super athlete. Known for his wit and desire to involve the audience with his controversial statements, Henk Kraaijenhof riveted the audience with his intellect and curiosity of mind.

His opening statement poised a challenge which will stretch coaches around the globe to the infinite level of their ability. “The Jamaican’s will dominate and win the sprinting events in every coming major event and it is our job to stop them”.  Work in progress was the general attitude and sentiment to the challenge.

On the whole, the festival exceeded expectations and speaking to most coaches that were present you will get a feeling that the only astonishment was the reprehensible absence of many respected UK and International coaches.

Like Beijing 2008, The IFAC Glasgow 2009 has set an immense standard. Coaches around the planet will now pay close attention to delivering the quality and assurance of require standard to produce athletes, pushing the boundaries of knowledge to compete on a level playing field.

WELL DONE IFAC and partners