ATHLETES PLAN FOR ACADEMIC CHALLENGE A significant number of our athletes are now entering a critical phase in terms of their progression as individuals outside the competitive arena. Many face university examinations towards the middle of the month while a number take their A Levels in late May and June. A number of athletes have used the career and education service to build detailed ‘Integration Plans’ to direct their time management over this busy period. An ‘Integration Plan’ helps an athlete to allocate their time effectively between training, competitions, academic and social commitments. At this time of year the planning process becomes very specific to include daily revision targets for those preparing for exams. Higher education athletes have also taken part in sessions demonstrating the most productive use of past paper questions during revision. Best wishes to all our athletes facing academic challenges over the next period – remember you get nothing for nothing! |
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OTIUM PRESENTS IT'S REPORT ON 6 MONTH TRIAL AT SINI Last week Tony Morrison, of Otium Leisure Consultancy, presented his final report on the six month trial of athlete services at the Institute. The 30 page document will be available on request to athletes and coaches and a 6 page summary of the report will be available to download from the website soon. Otium were asked to look at the following objectives in order to help inform possible improvements to provision in the future :  Effectiveness
of medical and physiotherapy profiling Athletes
views on the quality of services Service
providers views on the operation of SINI Effectiveness
of communication SINI > Athletes > SINI Effectiveness
of SINI in starting to create a High Performance culture Tony's report follows an extensive consultation with a large number of the 57 athletes, through one to one interviews by phone or face to face and a series of focus group meetings. Click here to see the recommendations. |
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| NEW ATHLETES ACCESS SERVICES AT SINI Three new athletes have started to access services at the Institute as part of the Talented Athlete Programme, funded by the Lottery Sports Fund. Richard McKeown - MOTOCROSS (Full Time Athlete) Andrew Yoong - DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKING (Full Time Athlete) Andrew Brown - SQUASH (Full Time Athlete/Part Time Lecturer) All three have completed their musculo-skeletal profiles and have started to access services including Strength and Conditioning at Jordanstown. This means that the Institute is working at full capacity in terms of Strength and Conditioning, and will be unable to take on any additional athletes until further staff are appointed. |
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WORLD CONFERENCE PLANS IN ACTION SINI was represented by physiologist Declan Gamble whilst University of Ulster lecturers, Peter O'Donoghue and Paul Boyle presented. The 5th World Congress on Science and Football attracted a host of academic researchers and Sports Science professionals from around the globe. Professor Tom Reilly’s historical overview was followed by a series of keynote presentations, which outlined examples of how Sport Science was currently being integrated into the development of footballers from Academy level to Senior International. Overall, the conference was a great success. The information obtained is now being disseminated to the SINI performance managers, and will facilitate the development and implementation of SINI’s sport science programmes Click here to read some of main points from the conference. |
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PERFORMANCE MANAGER ATHLETICS GETS NEW POST Simon Nathan who has been the High Performance Manager at SINI for the past two years is leaving in the next few weeks to take up a new post with UKAthletics. The new post will be based at Sport City in Manchester, near Simon's hometown of Bolton. Obviously Simon is delighted at being offered the new position but can reflect positively about his time in Northern Ireland. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my two years in Northern Ireland. N.I.A.F now has a High Performance Plan in place, which will steer the High Performance elements of the sport over the next few years. The Institute squad is in place and making use of the services at Jordanstown. I will watch with interest the progress and performance of the athletes in the months and years ahead." The High Performance Manager's post will be advertised widely in the next few weeks with a plan in place to interview in mid June. The N.I.A.F is hopeful of attracting a quality applicant to fill the post. Everyone at the Institute, N.I.A.F, athletes and coaches would take this opportunity to wish Simon well with his future career. |
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THE U19 RUGBY WORLD CUP EXPERIENCE For those involved, players and management alike, the U19 World Cup in France 2003 will be recorded in Irish Rugby as a memorable and successful campaign. Last year Ireland finished a modest ninth which meant an opening encounter against Italy in which the players produced a comprehensive team performance running out handsome winners at 33 points to 7. This result ensured that they would face the number one seeds (New Zealand) in the next match. Even with strong support from the fans the Irish could not hold out to the aura and physicality of the All Blacks. As a result of the defeat to the New Zealanders the highest achievable ranking was fifth – a realistic but challenging target. To accomplish this goal Ireland had to overcome Scotland in their final game and the winners of Wales versus England in our final game of four. The challenge of finishing as the top home nation team had undoubted appeal. Ireland came, saw and conquered their fierce rivals, ensuring a final ranking of fifth in the world All 26 players deserve congratulations for their aptitude and attitude. As a squad they are unlikely to ever grace a rugby pitch together again. Some will be content with the challenge of club rugby, some will experience International emotions again at an U21 level, but few will taste the echelons of the senior International arena. Yet every player involved in the U19 World Cup is special. All gave their all for the reward of honour and to ensure they had no regrets personally and collectively. Read the full story and results. |
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GAA LAUNCH HIGH PERFORMANCE STRATEGY The GAA launched its High Performance Strategy for Gaelic Football last Wednesday at The Armagh City Hotel. The launch coincided with the launch of this years Ulster Senior and Minor Championship Football. The Strategy sets out a framework that will help guide Ulster Counties in their preparation for Senior County Championship. The Strategy sets out clearly the need to focus on the Performance Pathways in GAA and to introduce good practice and routine with our Development Squads. The Ulster Council in association with the Sports Institute will provide many of the services and coach education opportunites that will underpin the Strategy. The vision is to have a strong and regular presence by Ulster Teams at all levels of competiton at All Ireland level. Download the plan from our website www.sini.co.uk/hpp |
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HOCKEY UPDATE Several SINI athletes competed in the Irish Club championships in Dublin over the May Bank holiday weekend. Patrick Brown was awarded player of the tournament after completion of the 2003 Series. Athletes David Smyth, Chris Jackson, Errol Lutton, Mark Raphael, Mark Irwin and Patrick Brown have all been named in the Irish Senior Panel to compete against England at the end of May. SINI athlete Bridget McKeever has been invited back to train with the Irish senior women's hockey panel which is currently preparing for the European Championships in Barcelona in September. Initially she was called up, to gain experience with the elite players who make up the bulk of the panel. Now she has another opportunity to see how she matches up. The Irish players are now preparing for their next panel session in June through participation in SINI strength and conditioning and technical sessions.A busy summer lies ahead with several trips planned, the first being a visit to Holland for a training camp next month. |
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AND COMING EVENTS TO STRETCH OR NOT TO STRETCH - Wed 14th May Click here for details COACHES WORKSHOP - Polar Heart Rate monitoring, Powerbreathe Inspiratory muscle training and Compex electrical muscle stimulation - their impact on training programmes. 13/14th June. SANZAR U21 Rugby World Cup - Tommy Bowe, Rory Best and Michael McComish begin the countdown for this tournament to be held in England in June. The Irish preparation involves training sessions in Dublin virtually every weekend over the next 2 months. NORTHERN IRELAND TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Mary Peter's Track, Belfast 7th June |
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