Sheppard’s Flock & Ryan’s Rankings.

Following on from the previous informative and interesting articles from our U11’s and U13’s Age Group Leaders, this week it’s the turn of the U15’s

All of our discrete age groups are key to the gradual development of our young athletes, insofar that as they go through their transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and young adulthood, the coaches have a responsibility to ensure they are “phased” through these early years with a care for their health and wellbeing, as well as developing their skills to get them to be the best they can be

The under 15 age group in all sports is recognised as the most vulnerable for “drop outs” with social and school pressures given as the main reasons for giving sport up.

However, over the years, SUAAC’s under 15 group has consistently maintained a very healthy cohort that has moved into our older age group. This has largely been down to the coaches past and present who have kept the training environment a fun and enjoyable place to come to and not just for the physical benefits but also to enjoy the social element that we promote….at the appropriate time…and to simply let off steam.

Here, Mike Sheppard gives an insight into the way the under 15s are organised with his small but perfectly formed band of volunteer coaches.

Paul Bearman

U15s: Mike Sheppard

Who are you and what is your role in your respective group in the junior section?

As Age Group Leader, I plan the Tuesday sessions, coordinate the coaching team and organize the squad for league and sportshall competitions. I also have a thriving side-hustle completing DofE reports.

On Thursdays I coach a small group of U15-U20s focusing on the Long Sprints and on Sundays I help Paul Hawkins on the Welcombe Hills.

I’ve been an athletics nut all my life. Early inspiration came from watching the peerless Steve Ovett race Henry Rono at Crystal Palace (check it out on YouTube – an awesome performance) and my formative years were spent racing for Tonbridge AC on track and country. My own competitive career peaked at the age of 11 when, a couple of years after beating Rono, the same Steve Ovett presented me with a silver trophy for winning the local “King of the Hill” race.

I got involved with Stratford AC when my daughters started with the Club and I have been coaching the U15s since 2012.

Who are the coaches?

It’s a small but able team:

Rob Forman started with Stratford about the same time as me and has recently returned to the fold after a dalliance with basketball coaching. Rob is a stickler for the correct execution of drills.

Jenny Sheppard is a very effective organizer and brings the calm perspective of someone who has come to athletics through marriage rather than blood. Jenny previously looked after the U13s and this has provided helpful continuity through the disruptions of 2020.

Val Bronjewski has been with us for 18 months and brings experience gained from a competitive past in the horizontal jumps.

Sandy Green and Steve Roberts also provide valuable support, particularly with the throws.

Over the summer we were fortunate to be supported by Imogen, Archie & Jess, three of our excellent younger coaches. However, with all of them now back at University we are stretched again, so I’m on the hunt for new recruits!

Do you have any coaching philosophy or ideas how athletics sessions should be run?

The U15 years are often pivotal to an athlete’s long-term trajectory in the sport. Rapid advancements in power, strength and speed can open up exciting new possibilities but also present a challenge when individuals perceive a ‘dip’ in their level relative to others. The ones who stick with it are those who find their own motivation, enjoying the company of fellow athletes but gaining pleasure through the challenge of improving their own performance rather than by comparison to others.

In this context, these are some of the beliefs that shape my approach to planning and managing sessions, my personal “Ten Commandments” if you like:

1. Athletics is our hobby so it should be enjoyable.
2. Athletics is all about competition……,but
3. Your primary competitor is yourself – no one can do better than a Personal Best.
4. You don’t know what you can do unless you try.
5. The goal of training is to get better.
6. Every session should have a purpose – know what you are doing and why.
7. Tactics is playing to your strengths, but improvement is working on your weaknesses.
8. Get the detail right – amateur should not mean amateurish.
9. It’s not fit or fast, it’s fit and fast.
10. You get out what you put in – persistence pays.

How many athletes are in your group & how do you set your training groups up e.g. coach: athlete ratios

We have 30-35 on an ‘average’ Tuesday, more girls than boys.

Over the period of restrictions, coaches have worked with a group of 5-8 for the duration of each session. Everyone agrees that smaller groups work best, but in practice we are limited by the number of coaches and available track space now the dark evenings are with us.

How do you plan your weekly activities and what do you aim to achieve?

At this age many athletes are beginning to specialize in particular events, but we try to keep Tuesday nights generalist in line with the club’s “all-rounder” philosophy.

We work to an overall plan which places slightly more emphasis on general conditioning in the autumn, specific fitness in the spring and competition preparation in the summer. However, we always aim to maintain a varied diet of activity as far as facilities and weather allow. Provided young athletes are getting appropriate rest, I believe most benefit if they can continue to develop key skills like sprinting, jumping and throwing all year round.

What have been the main challenges this year and how have you overcome them?

Firstly, the long period without track access between from March and June which curtailed structured training for most of the group. Secondly, the cancellation of competitions which left athletes with little to aim for and few opportunities to realise the benefits of a winter’s hard work.

On the bright side, it’s been fantastic to see just how enthusiastic the athletes have been when we have been able to train together.

What if any have been the highlights this year?
A great evening in January when Rob and I accompanied 8 of our U15s to pick up ‘Junior Team of the Year’ at the Stratford District Community Sports Awards.

Competition wise, watching a record contingent of Stratford AC athletes represent their counties at the English Schools XC in early March. A brilliant day out in Liverpool’s Sefton Park despite the looming cloud of Covid.

Delivering such a successful Club Championships in September was a phenomenal achievement given current constraints. Hats off to all concerned but particularly Paul Bearman for making it happen.

Have you got any personal objectives e.g. development

If I ever have more time I would like to spend some of it just watching how other coaches and other clubs go about things. There are many ways to skin a cat!

Looking ahead and assuming Coronavirus eventually is under control, what are your hopes for the club in 2021 realizing that none of us are able to predict what the future will bring?

A return to proper, competitive athletics.

Any personal thoughts for the future?

Longer term, it would be fantastic if the Club could build on its established success at junior and veteran level to become seriously competitive in the senior age groups as well. It’s a hard nut to crack as young adults are so busy and those that do remain competitive will often move away or be drawn to larger clubs. However, if we could establish a strong core I think it might take off.