Interview with Lisa Cockburn, Graduate Intern S&C Coach

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

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.