Athletic Development

for School Sports

A curriculum document

Showcasing the benefits and progressive nature of a strength & conditioning

programme and the role it can play within Physical Education provision

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“Vivamus et metus.”

Table of Contents

Introduction

1.1 What is the Athletic Development for School Sports (ADSS) Programme?

1.2 The role of this document

1.3 The rationale behind the programme

1.4 The philosophy of the ADSS

1.5 The objectives of the ADSS

1.6 The overview of the programme

1.7 The practitioners

1.8 Programme delivery

1.9 Working in partnership

The Monitoring and Evaluation of Athletes

2.1 Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

The Athletic Development for School Sports (ADSS) Programme

3.1 The physical development process

3.2 Session structure

3.3 Training blocks

3.4 The warm up

3.5 Postural integrity and injury prevention

3.6 Movement conditioning

3.7 Speed & Agility technique

3.8 Work capacity

Business Plan / Delivery Options

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1.1

What is the Athletic

Development for School Sports (ADSS) programme?

The Athletic Development for School Sports (ADSS) programme is a scheme to be delivered

within schools to develop the physical capabilities of young athletes within a variety of sports.

The programme can be tailor made to suit the requirements of your school with four different

options available. The programme has been designed and developed by experienced Strength

& Conditioning (S&C) coaches, who possess extensive knowledge in the field of youth athletic

development.

The programme is split into six week training blocks (that fit naturally with school terms / half

terms). All sessions can be delivered on-site at the school as either part of normal curriculum

physical education or extra curricular sporting clubs, and requires very little additional kit.

The programme is designed to be utilised by any athlete for any sport. As we know young

people participate in a wide variety of sports & activities and this programme develops a series

of fundamental movement skills and physical capabilities that are transferable across sports.

The sessions compliment and accompany the work which technical coaches are providing for

the respective sports.

Sessions can be broken down into a number of demographics:

By year / age group

By specific sporting clubs

By specific demographics

(i.e. Girls only, Gifted & Talented)

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1.2

The role of this document

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This documents provides a syllabus for the type of Physical Education provision we are

offering in a format that will allow you to make an informed choice as to the benefit, support

and success the school or establishment can gain from participating in the scheme. It can be

used to provide guidance to school personnel, particularly senior management teams and

teaching staff that may well be unfamiliar with the contents and objectives.

1.3

The rationale behind the programme

The development of fundamental movement skills (locomotor, object control & stability) and

physical components (strength, speed, agility, power & endurance) are the building blocks

required to provide the foundations for both an active lifestyle and success within sports for

children, adolescents and adults (See the Performance Pyramid). As a young person grows,

develops and physically matures, a number of factors affect their movement and physical

capabilities. By developing strength and conditioning practices within schools this would

provide an ideal environment to improve these basic movements skills and physical qualities

therefore improving sports performance whilst reducing risk of injury.

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1.4

The philosophy of the ADSS programme

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To develop each individual athlete’s movement aptitude and physical capacity to allow them

the opportunity to progressively train and develop the physical skills required to master

sporting performance. These include the following:

Enhancing movement efficiency and quality

Improvement in the athlete’s long term condition

Developing the knowledge and understanding of the physical components and how

they can be manipulated to achieve greater success

Instilling a culture of support, development and hard work ethic

Heightening the awareness of injury prevention & prehabilitation

1.5

The objectives of the ADSS programme

The main objectives of the ADSS programme are as follows:

To develop each individuals fundamental movement capabilities through progressive,

fun and challenging learning practices

To improve individual postural control and stability through progressive skill and

exercise development

To enhance the appropriate physical components in each individual to allow the

opportunity for them to excel at sport

To foster a training aptitude in athletes through commitment in a structured,

progressive and developmental environment

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1.6

The overview of the ADSS programme

The ADSS programme is initially aimed at young athletes, aged 14 – 18 years who show

potential in any sport. The longer term vision of the ADSS programme is that ALL school

aged children should engage in the programme to develop the movement skills and physical

qualities necessary for long term health benefits.

The programme seeks to address fundamental competencies to ensure each individual can

continue to develop. This includes:

Postural control & stability

Manipulation and control of the limbs

Rotational control

Dynamic actions

Influence over the neuro-muscular system

Influence over the musculo-skeletal system

Develop energy production mechanisms

Hopefully, all these factors will lead to each individual enjoying a lifelong involvement in sport

& exercise.

Further progressions of the programme could include:

Increased delivery time / exposure to the programme

Increasing the age range of participants

Further enhancement of physical qualities using different training modalities, such as

weight training

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1.7

The practitioners involved in

developing and delivering the

ADSS programme

Dr Kevin Till is a UKSCA accredited S & C Coach who has extensive experience of developing youth athletes. Kevin has worked within professional rugby league, football, cricket and tennis. Athletes under his care have ranged from eight years of age to international level.

Kevin completed his PhD in paediatric exercise physiology, talent identification and talent development at Leeds Met University, where he is now a Lecturer in Sports Coaching whilst also running his own consultancy company (ktconditioning.co.uk)

Kevin Shattock is an S&C Coach working with Castleford Tigers RLFC Academy and Harrogate RUFC. He is currently studying his Masters in Strength & Conditioning. Kevin previously worked within the Royal Air Force as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) and was awarded a Queens Commendation for his services to Physical Education and the Royal Air Force (Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List, June 2004). Kevin has eight years experience working within formal education and continues to coach and operate across all levels of sporting performance from grass roots to elite.

Mathew Pears is a UK accredited S&C coach who has worked within amateur and professional sport for 9 years, Including; Swimming, Tennis, Cricket, Rugby League and Football. Matt has spent 6 years working at Leeds United Football club and is now responsible for the Academy Sport Science and Strength & Conditioning Program.

The Coaches involved in the programme due to their background and skill base can assist in identifying potential athletes to progress onto National Governing Body (NGB) high performance / talent identification pathways which can lead to national and international success.

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1.8

Programme delivery

The programme has been designed and will be delivered by experienced, knowledgeable and

qualified coaches. The programme allows progressions (& regressions) to be targeted

specifically to individuals and teams and allow individual development that suits physical

maturation. The school will identify the demographic (specific sports teams, age groups,

populations) that will participate. The Coaches will then deliver the programme on-site. For

respective options, please see the business plan.

1.9

Working in partnership

The programme is designed to enhance a school’s current physical education provision. We

see it complimenting and accompanying technical coaching and the outstanding work your

current physical education department deliver.

We are offering a supportive, developmental and collaborative approach, working extremely

hard to ensure we raise standards for not only each individual undertaking the programme but

also the reputation and standing of the school with regards to physical education provision and

sporting performance.

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Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) are the markers of an athlete’s performance whilst training

and competing. The KPI’s within the programme are used to monitor, evaluate and help direct

individual physical preparation and confirm that the interventions delivered by the Coaches are

eliciting the response required.

Within S&C, KPI’s are used to mark an athlete’s physical performance. We see this as

necessary to ensure each individual continues to make progress and evaluations can be made

at any stage of their development.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will:

Provide baseline measurements

Provide a profile, including strengths and weaknesses for each individual

Monitor progress throughout the year

Provide accurate information on the physical qualities being assessed

Provide possible benchmarks against normative data for comparison and target setting

2.1

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

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Within this programme the practitioners seek to provide the opportunity and necessary best

practices that will allow each individual to make the necessary physical developments that

will allow them to become more proficient at movement, better conditioned and more robust

due to an increase awareness of injury prevention and prehabilitation.

Many of the athletes involved in the programme will continue to participate in sport after their

school lives, some to a high standard of play. Therefore it is critical they receive quality

coaching and develop the key physical attributes required to manage the rigours of high level

performance / physical preparation / training.

The programme initially focuses on educating athletes in the necessity to move more

efficiently and effectively focusing on range of motion, postural control and stability before

progressing onto body weight control, movement and conditioning. This may well progress

on to higher levels of resistance (weight training / lifting) to improve physical function. These

progressions are highlighted in the training block appendices.

For many athletes this will be the first exposure to a structured, progressive and well coached

“Athletic Development” programme. It is imperative that training blocks build and deliver the

key fundamental movement practices from generic to more specific and specialized skills.

The programme initially will be operating at 14 – 18 years. Modifications will be necessary

across the age groups, as athletes will be at different stages of development and will require

different training stimuli.

The Athletic Development for

School Sports (ADSS)

Programme

3.1

The Physical Development Process

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The Warm Up protocol we prescribe uses the following acronym:

R = Raise: The heart rate, blood flow, core & muscle temperature

A = Activate: The neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal systems as well as energy

production mechanisms

M = Mobilise: The joints and movement patterns

P = Potentiate: The effectiveness of subsequent performance

Each session will last 1 hour and can fit alongside technical coaching or be a stand-alone

session. Each session will consist of:

Postural control / prehabilitation

Dynamic Warm Up

Fundamental movement

Muscular / Metabolic conditioning

It is the focus and quality of coaching during this hour that sets this programme apart, allowing

long term success through strong fundamental reasoning and raising the levels of every

individuals potential.

The focus of the training blocks is to ensure foundations are laid in terms of postural stability,

movement efficiency and motor control. Once these foundations have been laid to the required

standard progression can be made, with previous focuses reinforced through home practice or

within technical sessions. Each block has a number of “take home messages” allowing the

Coaches to challenge athlete’s, building upon their knowledge and personal development. One

of the best environments for young athletes includes a sense of success, organization of

systematic skill and physical development and passionate, skilled coaches.

3.2

Session Structure

3.4

The Warm Up

3.3

Training Blocks

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The foundation for efficient movement is posture. This programme looks to identify a realistic

aim of creating an “ideal” posture for individuals’ body, competencies and movement patterns.

Posture is a dynamic experience and by developing the body’s ability to control movement it

will establish a central axis for balanced, controlled and efficient movement.

Postural integrity is dealt with on a continual basis within the programme no matter what

phase or focus of the sessions. Educating athletes on posture and fundamental movement

will allow them to utilize new skills and abilities more freely and have a greater impact on

performance.

Movement conditioning is a progression from postural integrity and stability. With gradual

accumulation of control, limb manipulation, balance, co-ordination and spatial awareness, an

increase in performance will be elicited. This component is a key concept to the ADSS

programme and underpins all that we do, whether it is flexibility, speed or lifting weights.

Efficient movement = greater performance.

The key objective of the speed & agility technique sessions is not simply volume & intensity

but COACHING. All athletes that participate in the programme will be educated in the basic

mechanics of movement allowing the potential of all athletes to be heightened.

Within this phase / focus we will seek to address:

Minimize energy wastage

Improve basic mechanics

Improve proprioception

Increase work capacity

3.6

Movement Conditioning

3.5

Postural Integrity & Injury Prevention

3.7

Speed & Agility Technique

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At younger ages, volume and general preparation work are the primary stimulus for

adaptation. As individuals grow, mature and progress, intensity is the stimulus that aids

development. MORE is not always better. This programme shifts the emphasis to intensity of

work, quality of effort and technical refinement. Due to the programmes structured and

progressive delivery model no physical component is delivered in isolation.

The cumulative effect will allow greater physical development and potential in each individual.

As mentioned previously the focus is on quality, not simply running another lap. By focusing

on quality the athlete can remain at a higher intensity and can complete a greater work load,

therefore increasing their capacity resulting in a performance gain.

The programme uses a wide variety of methods in which to achieve these increases in

capacity, intensity and quality.

3.8

Work Capacity

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Option 1

A designated Coach delivers sessions on site either as an accompaniment to the technical sports

coaching individual and teams receive or as a stand alone session.

30 Sessions = £1000 (1hr per week x 30 weeks)

60 Sessions = £1750 (2 x 1hr per week x 30 weeks)

90 Sessions = £2500 (3 x 1hr per week x 30 weeks)

The above is merely a suggestion and flexibility in the programme is key. Your school may well decide

to buy 30 sessions but run those sessions for the Spring term only resulting in more sessions per week.

Option 2

The Coaches come in to your establishment and deliver a one-day workshop for up to 10 members of

staff. The day will include breakdowns of the sessions and training blocks, active participation in drills

and exercises, as well as a full resource pack to keep.

This session would cost £750

Option 3

Three times per year, the Coaches of the programme will attend your establishment and conduct

assessments (anthropometry, maturation, functional and fitness), with set populations (specific sports

team, age groups etc)

Following these assessments, individual programmes will be developed and sent to the school to pass

to the individuals to undertake prescribed exercises / drills that will seek to develop both the strengths

and areas to develop highlighted from the assessments.

Cost for these three assessments and subsequent reports would be £500 per 20 students

Option 4

A full resource pack detailing session plans, training blocks, exercise / drill routines, coaching points

will be made available to you in hard and electronic copy.

This pack will cost £300

Business Plan /

Delivery Options

Athletic Development for School Sports (ADSS) S&C Coaches

Dr Kevin Till

Kevin Shattock

Mat Pears

adssprogramme@gmail.com