The registration deadline for the 2014 edition of the International Festival of Athletics Coaching (IFAC) is fast approaching but, according to the organisers, places for international participants remain available.
The festival, which will take place at the Acqua Acetosa Olympic Training Centre in Rome from 31 October to 2 November after being staged for a number of years in Glasgow, will focus on the theme of bringing athletes with “high potential to high performance”.
“We really have a great programme planned,” says festival organiser Jamie Bowie, “and although there are some places remaining I would encourage anyone interested to contact us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”
In support of the event, which is staged by the European Athletics Coaches Association with the support of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), European Athletics is offering its Member Federations scholarships of up to 800 Swiss Francs to help cover the cost of sending coaches to participate.
Leading the line-up of top-name presenters who have confirmed their participation is Bart Bennema of the Netherlands, who coaches Dafne Schippers, the recently crowned European Athlete of the Year following her 100m/200m double at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich.
In both his keynote presentation and breakout group discussions Bennema is expected explain how he developed Schippers, previously known for her talent as a heptathlete, in to Europe’s top female sprinter.
Other Keynote speakers include, Dr. Wolfgang Killing of Germany, one of the world’s most respected and knowledgeable high jump coaches and sports scientists, who will open the festival with his presentation entitled “Developing Potential: Lessons from Europe”.
An international high jumper himself with a best of 2.28m, the highlight of his career was claiming bronze at the 1978 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Milan.
Also speaking in Rome will be speed coach Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo, who was a part of the UK Athletics Apprentice Coach programme in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics.
Since graduating from the Apprentice Coach programme, Tawiah-Dodoo has been working closely with a number of talented young sprinters, with his most recent prodigy Chijindu Ujah hitting the top of the British 100m sprint rankings with a sub-10 second run earlier this year. Ujah, the 2013 European junior 100m champion, is the youngest Briton to break the mythical 10-second barrier.
Ekkart Arbeit of Germany will discuss the importance of strength training for throwing events and demonstrate ways of developing strength without weight lifting. Arbeit is known for coaching Great Britain’s Olympic heptathlon Gold medallist Denise Lewis towards the end of her career.
For further information visit the IFAC website at http://ifac.athleticscoaches.eu and go to www.ifac.eventbrite.co.uk to register.
For more information on the European Athletics scholarships see