Free sports education course

EXPERT advice from an Australian sports academy — one of the most advanced in the world was sought in the preparation of a new education programme now available to Irish sporting organisations.

The programme, launched in Dublin yesterday, will provide coaches, trainers, athletes and players in all disciplines scientific advice on every aspect of preparation for sport.

The programme will be administered from the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. They have drawn up a panel of seven experts who will be available to present the programme to interested groups, free of charge.

The NCTC joined forces with Lucozade Sport in developing the programme after independent research amongst coaches, players and dieticians in November 2000.

The research highlighted a profound difference in the levels of interest and knowledge in nutrition, diet and hydration.

The results showed these elements of training were ranked behind technical skills, strategy and tactics, player fitness and mental attitude; neither did many coaches feel qualified to provide detailed guidance on these subjects.

The programme was developed with the assistance of Australian sports scientist Margaret Galloway, who was seconded from the New South Wales Academy.

It consists of five modules covering: fitness; planning for success; the female athlete; hydration and fluid intake; and diet and nutrition.

The presenters are: John Glynn (ex-soccer player), Cora Fenton (exercise physiologist), Annette Kealy (international athlete), John Coghlan (ex-fitness trainer to St. Patrick's Athletic), Nicola Harris (PE teacher and Buntus tutor), Martin Kennedy (Dublin GAA player), Thomas Broderick (ex-trainer, Australian rules team).