Twelve dedicated coaches from eleven clubs across the island of Ireland recently gathered at ATU Galway for an intensive two-day Advanced Strength & Conditioning (S&C) Module as part of our Level Two Coaching Course. This specialised course was delivered by Coach Developer, Luke Smyth, MSC in Sports Performance, ensuring participants received expert insights into the latest advancements in S&C principles.

The module builds upon foundational knowledge from Level One, taking a scaffolded approach to developing strength and power in athletes safely and effectively. Participants must have completed the Level One S&C content with Luke Smyth before attending.

Hosted at The ATU Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Racecourse Business Park, Galway, the course format combined theory, practical training, and hands-on coaching assessments. Coaches engaged in:

  • Bodyweight and weighted exercise techniques following structured RAMP warm-ups.
  • Movement assessment, progression, and regression strategies to tailor training for different athlete needs.
  • Spotting techniques and hands-on coaching to ensure safe and effective performance of key lifts such as squats, lunges, deadlifts, and pressing movements.
  • Programming breakdown and case study group tasks, applying the 7-step program design model for different rower profiles.

Feedback from the course was overwhelmingly positive, with one experienced coach stating:

“I got to say it is fantastic, really good deep dive into the theory of the planning then I got the practical with movements and nuggets of information throughout. I’m on three pages of notes. Very happy. Day 2 complete and a wealth of information, so informative. Luke fantastic as usual.”

The enthusiasm and commitment of the participating coaches reflect the ongoing dedication within the rowing community to enhance athlete development through cutting-edge training methodologies. The course not only strengthened coaching knowledge but also fostered collaboration between clubs, further elevating the standard of rowing performance nationwide.

Each participant received a printed copy of the course material for notes and reference, ensuring long-term learning benefits beyond the weekend workshop.

We extend our thanks to all the coaches who participated and to Luke Smyth for delivering another outstanding module. Keep an eye out for future coaching development opportunities as Rowing Ireland continues to support and upskill our dedicated coaching network. Learn more here.