SRAC’S New Coaching Reinforcements!

The new two day UKCC coaching course for athletics was held locally in September and October with a healthy intake of eleven new SRAC coaches attending with club assistance! Further volunteers are set to work with North Uist AAC, Daliburgh’s new developing club and also Active School’s coordinators Alison Campbell (Harris) and Jenna Stewart (Stornoway). All three Isles clubs’ will benefit greatly from having more coaches available and the link with active schools will surely be very beneficial to the clubs too! A total of 17 received the UKCC level 1 training and now they are busy assisting and observing at Tuesday and Saturday sessions. Oh and then there’s the small matter of some paper work also to be taken care of before their practical assessments!

Club sessions have been pushing the existing coaches to the limit as somewhere between 50 and 70 juniors have been regularly attending! So to have eleven volunteers really is a “here come the cavalry”, to the present foot soldier coaches! The new coaches come from all different backgrounds and all will add to one or other of the club’s diverse functions. Half of SRAC’s eleven new coaches are parents of SRAC junior’s, I guess six if you include Tam Joyce? Aye that’s right! Da of Stornoway Half winner Andy and first to do so in the local colours! Tam was also joined by another old Rovers man, Alasdair “Al Crae” MacRae …. which one will be first to write up their four sessions for assessment review? The other parents’ running to help us out through the coaching qualification were; Helen MacDonald, Pam MacSween, Joan Budge and Stuart Baird. Road runners Jonny Pritchard, Ruairi MacIver and Sandy MacLean and sprinter and silver medallist at the NatWest Island Games Donnie MacLeod also completed the two days.

The course covered all the basics and more form the very able tutors Davi Murri, who travelled from Wales for day one and Dublin for day two and Bernie Campbell coach at the well-know Giffnock North Athletic Club. (Bernie is also coach to Doleen Galbraith.)

Motor Skills on Legs!	Go Ahead and JUMP

Till the present time the club have excelled in the junior ranks in cross country running and on track in the sprints and distance events. It is hoped that athletic development will continue in these disciplines with the help of the new coaches. But more specifically with the past experience of Pam MacSween and the interest of Al in throws SRAC will hope to attract new members and develop sizeable jumps and throws squads.

Tom Sandy & Jenna in discussion with Bernie	Jonny holds court!

Following the two day course and the recommencement of club sessions, the contribution is all ready bringing welcomed respite to Anne, Adrienne, Agnes, John Murdo, Magnus and Ross. The arrangements for club sessions at least until the track is painted (or made available) are; Tuesdays starting at 6pm at the astro pitch and Saturdays sessions 10.30 meeting at Porters Lodge. (Saturday sessions will be cancelled for the three dates of the Alex Murray Construction Cross Country Series – check dates section on home page.)

Helen presents Davi (left) and Joan presents Bernie (right) with SRAC top’s

SRAC are grateful to The Lewis and Harris Sports Council Sports Council, for funding assistance in this vital coaching development.