As part of the East Riding County FA's offer to it's coaching workforce Hull City Academy were able and willing to develop a workshop that would serve as part of the 2014-15 In Service workshop programme, focusing on the integration of sports science within grassroots football.

Present on the evening from Hull City's Academy Staff were Tony Pennock, Academy Manager, Jon Beale, Head of Academy Coaching and Frankie Hunter, Head of Sports Science & Medicine.

The workshop had both theory and practical elements to it and was structured around the attending coaches being taken through a presentation before observing practical with a group of U9 players from the academy, then finishing with a debrief, question and answer session.

The presentation delivered by the Academy's Head of Sports Science and Medicine, Frankie Hunter, looked at

• Sport Science Support within the Academy
• Types of Provision
• Early v Late Specialisation
• Effects of Maturation on Performance

The presentation set the scene for the coaches in what to expect from the practical and generated some really good discussion on what the Academy's Values, Vision & Culture, Coaching and Playing philosophy are. You can read more on the Academy via their website by clicking here.   

For the practical Frankie spoke of the FA's four corner player development model and highlighted that the majority of the practical session outside would look very similar to sessions coaches do back at their club, but for the sports science staff within the academy focus more towards the 'Physical' corner within the four corner model. 

Once the practical session moved inside the players took part in gymnastic activities, focusing on agility, balance & co-ordination before finishing with a game of basketball. 

The review of the evening took place after this back in the classroom setting. All the academy staff, Tony, Jon and Frankie, spoke of the importance of players participating in different sports, especially at the Foundation phase (5-11years) and that the academy demonstrates the importance and benefits of this especially now that not all schools deliver sports such as gymnastics and invasion games within their curriculum. 

All of the attending coaches had great praise for the workshop in the way it was structured and the amount of information shared and given out by the Academy staff. Paul Mortimer, a local grassroots coach with Hall Road Rangers tweeted that evening saying 'excellent workshop tonight, would highly recommend this, thanks to all involved #CPD'.

This workshop in partnership with Hull City Academy is one of more to follow thanks to the developing relationship between the East Riding County FA and Hull City Academy. Below is a quote form Tony Pennock on the importance in developing this relationship.

We at the County FA would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony and the other Academy staff and players for developing and delivering the workshop and look forward to future workshops.

If you want to know more about our In Service workshop programme then please click here.