Team Hallam S&C Blog Interview
Lisa Cockburn
Job Title: Graduate Intern Strength and Conditioning
Coach
What sports do you currently work with?
I am
currently the lead S&C coach for Rowing, Badminton, Tennis, Squash,
Climbing, Canoe and Equestrian. In addition to these teams, I coach a couple of
PASP athletes from Pole Vault and Fencing.
How did you get into S&C?
My first
experience of S&C was as a student-athlete at Leeds Metropolitan University
where I studied BSc Sports & Exercise Therapy and played Rugby. It was here
that my love for training and lifting begun. I noticed what a difference the
work off the pitch made to my performance on the pitch. I decided to go back to
university to study MSc Strength & Conditioning at Northumbria where I
interned with Team Northumbria for two years, leading S&C for Men’s Rugby
Union and Women’s Football. During my time in Newcastle I also interned with
the Newcastle Falcons Junior Academy and Sunderland FC Regional Talent Club.
What is
your coaching philosophy?
As an S&C coach at the beginning of my career, I am still
developing my coaching philosophy. At the moment with the population and
environment I work in it is as follows;
1). Simple things done well
2). Earn the right to progress
3). Develop independent and competent student-athletes
My job is to deliver training to reduce the risk of injury
and to improve athletic performance to university athletes. I believe that
building a solid foundation of fundamental movement competencies in which to
develop strength and power upon, progressing where appropriate and building
strong coach – athlete relationships work towards this aim.
Who are
some of the main practitioners you recommend reading?
Anatomy and Human Movement by Palastanga and Soames
Strength and Conditioning Biological Principles and Practical
and Practical Applications by Cadinale, Newton and Kosaka
High-Performance Training for Sports by Joyce and Lewindon
Periodization - Theory and methodology of training by Bompa
& Haff
Supertraining by Verkhoshansky and Siff
Athletic Development by Vern Gambetta
Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning by Beachle
and Earle
Pacey Performance and Rugby Strength Coach Podcasts
Conscious Coaching by Brett Bartholomew
Legacy by James Kerr
What are
your main areas of interest in S&C?
From my Sports Therapy background and from being injured
myself I have a keen interest in injury prevention and rehabilitation,
specifically integrating the work of the physio with the S&C coach during
the rehabilitation or ‘reconditioning’ program, in order to prepare and return
the athlete back to pre-injury performance levels. Preparation for competition
post-injury requires the restoration of strength, power, speed, and agility and
endurance levels exhibited in sport, not just having recovered in medical terms
such as improvements in range of motion, pain, neuromuscular control and
inflammation. Both the physio and
S&C coach play an integral part in returning an athlete to sport in the
best interest of that athlete’s welfare.
In addition, a training method that has caught my attention is
triphasic training, developed by Cal Dietz (check out his book ‘Triphasic
Training’). All dynamic muscle action is triphasic, there is an eccentric,
isometric and concentric phase. As explained in this book, ‘a chain is only as
strong as its weakest link,’ therefore a training program should consist of
methods to develop all three phases of dynamic movement within a periodised
model. This is something I am reading further into and trying myself to see
whether I can adapt this method to make it applicable to the university setting
to improve strength and power.
What is
your sporting background?
I’ve played Rugby Union for 10 years, currently playing in
the Tyrells Premier 15s for Darlington Mowden Park Sharks. At college I played
field hockey and at school I’d play anything and everything. My main sports
when I was younger were Taekwondo and Western Horse Riding.
What advice
would you give up and coming practitioners who would like to be in your
position?
Coach, coach and coach some more. The only way you are going
to develop confidence and learn how to que and deliver a session is by actually
doing it. Whether it’s coaching S&C or a sport, you’re learning how to
communicate and build relationships with athletes.
Regularly step outside of your comfort zone. When you begin
to think you know everything, you don’t. S&C is continually evolving and so
should you. Every so often, reflect on your coaching and knowledge and
challenge yourself to learn or try something new, whether that’s reading
research, listening to a podcast, trying a new training method yourself or
coaching in a different environment.
Make the most of every opportunity. Experience is invaluable
and will ultimately help you get a job. My Grandpa would always tell me to do
the best in everything you do, even the most mundane of tasks, as you never
know who is watching. This could be your future reference or contact for
another internship or job.
Prioritise and try not to spin too many plates at once.
Speaking from experience, sometimes less is more. Prioritise the internship
that provides you with the most experience and learning, be organised and plan
your time. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin and not give your all to
what’s most important.
What is
your favourite aspect of working for Team Hallam?
I really enjoy working with a multitude of sports and
abilities which the university has to offer. I think it’s great that we offer
S&C support to so many teams, not just the performance sports. It’s
important to support as many teams as possible as those at have a very young
training age are the most susceptible to injury and it educates more students a
lifelong skill of training. Working at Hallam has provided me with the
opportunity to see how another institution runs its S&C support
service.
My 5 year plan changes with the more experience I get.
Currently I would like to head up an S&C department at a University as I
enjoy working in the university environment and working with a variety of
sports. For many students, their first experience of S&C will be at
university and for many it will be their only experience. I hope to create
positive training experiences and educate student-athletes how to train so that
they will continue long after they have left university. I also enjoy working
with younger athletes, starting them on the journey of their long term athletic
development.
