As
athletes continue to strive for improved performances and consistency
at national and international level, the Sports Institute is poised
to move to the next stage of it’s proposed staffing development. Finally it is also time to say ‘goodbye’ to two of our placement students Claire Grimes and Claire Doyle. We thank them both for their excellent work, Claire Grimes as she moves into a Graduate Training Programme in Banking and Claire Doyle as she completes her degree in Interactive Multimedia Design. Work hard girls and best wishes from all at SINI.
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Ulster’s day out in Croke Park proved a resounding success. SINI Director Ronnie Smyth was among the 68,000 spectators who witnessed Armagh’s demolition of Donegal in the Ulster Senior Football Final. It was a working day for Dr Eugene Young and SINI analyst Denise Martin as they produced a real-time analysis of the performance of the minor referee, while Declan Gamble tracked his physical performance using the ground-breaking Global Positioning System. With Eugene videoing the game, Denise entered the information into the computer using Focus X2, under the instruction of GAA Referee Tutor and Assessor John Gough. After the game it was possible to review all the referees decisions and using the video also examine the positioning of the referee in relation to play, the role of the linemen and the handling of substitutions and injury time. Gough was impressed by the volume
of information generated from the video analysis, particularly the
ability to review each decision made by the referee which he said
will enhance the quality of the feedback to the referee as good
decisions can be praised and any poor decisions can be examined
and explained. Gough hopes the computer based analysis can be used
for training purposes with assessors, tutors and developing referees
in a bid to achieve consistency in decision making among referees. Gough
described the information produced by the GPS analysis as 'tremendous'
particularly as it revealed that the referee ran eight kilometres
or five miles during the game. The pilot data already suggests that
current referee training programmes are insufficient and Gough hopes
to use the new information to generate tailored programs for referee
training incorporating appropriate sprints and distance work. |
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This month Peter McCabe (Performance Lifestyle Coordinator) considers the nature of modern athletes and reflects on understanding needed by coaches and support staff as they try to help the athletes maximise their potential. Let me introduce a typical modern coach/staff member – he/she is from Generation X. Let me introduce a typical modern athlete – he/she is from Generation Y. Confusing…then let me explain. The sociology discipline tends to refer to different generations or cohorts by specific terms. For example you may be familiar with the term ‘Baby Boomers’ used to describe individuals born in the 1950’s and early 60’s. Generation Xers were born in the 1960’s to early 70’s and many practising coaches and staff come from this cohort. Young emerging athletes were born in the 80’s and therefore represent Generation Yers. The significance of these facts and indeed the reason for this article is to identify that research shows real differences between Generations X and Y when it comes to general characteristics. Coaches and support staff interested in holistic athlete development need to appreciate these differences to function with maximum effect. Consider a typical Generation Xer (young coach/staff member) Research indicates that he/she will
have witnessed inflation, political disenchantment, workplace instability,
the negative consequences of downsizing and its effects on families. In contrast now consider Generation Yers (emerging athlete) Research indicates that he/she will have witnessed economic growth with relatively few negative consequences. He/she will be bred for success with multiple images of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ all around in every walk of life. Traditional values are less evident and he/she will have grown up with fewer clear behavioural boundaries. In what way will these experiences have forged the characteristics of Generation Yers? Once again research can help us find the answer. General characteristics of Generation Yers are as follows: > Self-confidence
that can seem arrogant or disrespectful Suggestions for Generation Xers working with Generation Y athletes: >Generation
Y athletes benefit from clear behavioural boundaries perhaps because
they are likely to have fewer boundaries created for them at home.
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The Sports Institute Northern Ireland launched the 'Winning Ways' program a few months ago. It is a workshop program designed to look at topics that are relevant to the enhancement of athlete performance but with a difference. The presentations will be short ½ hour presentations with the remainder of the time dedicated for discussion on the topic. Group participation will be actively sort as we try to break the traditional coaching workshop mould. The next program of the bi-monthly workshops will take place on the 26th August with 2 workshops looking at Fitness Testing and Periodisation Planning and Design. The series is aimed at attracting any one who has an interest in sport and the improvement in athlete performance. There is no cost associated with attendance all we ask is that you express interest by emailing info@sini.co.uk, your name will then be placed on a data base and as the venue etc is finalised you will be notified. Places will be limited to 30 so it is a case of first come first in. For more information on the series and the topics visit www.sini.co.uk and click onto the winning ways section. Unfortunately
attendance at the last workshop was poor and not all those who expressed
interest attended, therefore we would ask that if you register interest
and then are unable to attend, please let us know in good time so
we can finalise numbers. |
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This months quadrennial games are the pinnacle of most athletic careers as well as the summer TV viewing schedule for most couch potatoes. However in general there seems to be apathy about the forthcoming games amongst the general public. Most commentators seem to suggest that nobody cares who wins the athletics events due to the cloud of suspicion overhanging any fantastical performances. Equally, poor quality races also leave the public scratching their heads with disbelief due false expectation based on past form. There can be no doubting the affect the ‘drugs scandal’ has had on the sport, for example the farcical situation of the women’s 100m from Paris last year. In this event the original winner was disqualified, while recently (April 2004) the promoted winner also tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. At the same time the press are hounding Marion Jones, one of the icons of women’s sport, about the ‘BALCO scandal’. In the light of such bad publicity, its no wonder then that the Greek authorities are having problems selling seats for the main stadium. Lets hope that the continued hard line approaches taken by WADA and the National Olympic Councils result in a clean, and very successful Athens; and that the major controversies are a thing of the past come Beijing. From a Northern Ireland Athletics point of view, disappointingly we will have only one representative in Athens, compared to three in Sydney. Paul Brizzel (200m) will be the sole athletics representative, although one is better than none. Zoe Brown can feel herself hard done by in her non-selection. Paul Mc Kee had a season to forget. James Mc Ilroy despite achieving the ‘A’ standard twice less than 10 months ago is left behind. Andrew Graffin picked the wrong year to change events! Gareth Turnbull was a tenth of a second off selection. However globally athletics, swimming etc have been hard hit by the gigantisms of the Olympics. The new sports have meant a restriction on the number of participants at the festival and concomitantly emergence of very strict qualifying standards. If the standards are also based on winners with artificially enhanced performances, again they make it difficult for clean athletes to qualify. It will be interesting to statistically analyse the ‘A’ standards after the games, and to see how many would have achieved medals! UK:Athletics looked back at the 2000 Olympics and noted that 17 out of the 75 strong British squad would not have achieved the ‘A’ standard. I’m sure this figure could be doubled if they analysed the Atlanta team. Good
Luck to Paul in Athens and hopefully he can inspire our young athletes
into achieving the standards in four years time. |
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Ex
Irish International Maurice Field has been appointed to the post
of High Performance Manager at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland.
The appointment was made by the Ulster Branch – Irish Rugby
Football Union. Ulster have based their academy squad at SINI this year – a squad that contains 5 of the players who took part in the recent U21 World Cup in Scotland and finished runners up. Many of the players will go on to play for Ulster in a few years time and Field will be guided in the early stages by Clarke to ensure continuity with Rugby development at such a critical point in these players careers. Everyone at SINI wishes Maurice well in his new and challenging post. |
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The
U21 European Hockey Championships which took place last week in
Belgium for the Men and Dublin for the Women saw both sides fall
to defeat and crash out of Division A. Failure to finish in the
top 6 means that both are unable to compete in the Junior World
Cup next year. The men suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Poland. They were 2-1 up going into the final minute, but again were caught sleeping at the climax and the Poles equalised to take the game into extra time. Then they really rubbed salt in the wounds by snatching the golden goal winner ... in the final minute of extra time. They then took on Scotland on Saturday and again suffered the agony of a ‘golden goal’ defeat when Scotland took a 4-3 victory in extra time. Defeat meant that Ireland finished last in a disappointing 8th place. The
women also were defeated in their first crossover game on Friday
against Belarus with a disappointing 4-1 score line. On Saturday
they faced Scotland and snatched a 2-1 victory to finish 7th place. |
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Over the last year I have been providing web development support at SINI to gain a Diploma in Industrial Studies (DIS) as part of my degree in Interactive Multimedia Design. My placement experience with SINI has been immensely enjoyable and worthwhile. I never imagined I could have learned so many valuable skills in one year. I really felt part of the team and made welcome by staff from day one. The staff in SINI are quite a close-knit group and interact with ease so I was able to establish a rapport with them extremely quickly. As a SINI website already existed when I began my placement my main role was to maintain it and keep information on it up-to-date. Other tasks included producing images and graphics for staff on an ‘ad-hoc’ basis (for inclusion in presentations and other visual stimulus) helping with video capture (for the use of performance analysis) and taking photographs at various events as well as producing this newsletter each month! The main highlight of my year has been the friendship I have built up with Janet Gray the World Blind Water-ski Champion. When I began my placement Janet came into the Institute 3 days per week to access the gym, pool, physio and massage on a regular basis and then other services as required. As Janet is blind, while she was in the Institute a member of staff would guide her around the university, go to lunch with her and take her back to the train station. During this time I got to know Janet extremely well and then when I was working on her presentation and promotional CV I felt even closer to her. On the 31st March we received the horrific news that Janet had been seriously injured while training in Florida. Everyone in the Institute was extremely worried and concerned. It was several weeks before we were allowed to go and see Janet. Janet is now back in the Institute two days a week to receive extensive Physio treatment from Phil Glasgow in the Hydrotherapy and Diving pools. I have been accompanying her during these sessions and helping Phil with equipment. Janet is a real inspiration to me her commitment and determination to get better sets a wonderful example to me, demonstrating the attitude needed to succeed in life. I have really enjoyed spending time with her throughout my placement. I have met many outstanding athletes during my time at SINI and having to converse with such a wide range of people on a daily basis has helped my communication skills immensely. Many athletes who I have had the pleasure of meeting have qualified for the Olympics in Athens, so will be watching the proceedings this month with extra interest! I will hand over to my replacement next week when I will help train them in various tasks to ensure a smooth transition in terms of web support. I have
found my placement year an invaluable learning experience and one
which has helped me develop considerably. I have learned so much
from such an assortment of people - now all I have to do is finish
my degree in Interactive Multimedia Design at Jordanstown! Claire Doyle |
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HOCKEY GAA |
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