Sport
9 December, 2022
NQ Athletics to end the year with a coaching clinic
THE governing body for track and field and recreational running in North Queensland, Athletics North Queensland, will close its season with a coaching clinic for jumps and throws by respected coach Eric Brown.
After a very successful year of sport, NQ Athletics will close the year with jumps and throws clinic on Thursday, December 15 and Friday, December 16, at Barlow Park.
Athletics North Queensland assists and manages the development, administration and competition of all matters regarding track and field and recreational running in the region.
General Manager of Athletics North Queensland Dayne O’Hara said it was exciting to have Eric Brown on board for the event.
“We’re very excited to lock in Eric Brown,” Mr O’Hara said.
“A level five Combined Events Coach with knowledge in Australia and across the world will come and teach up-and-coming athletes skills in throwing and jumping.
“He will be at Barlow Park on Thursday, December 15, in the afternoon and Friday, December 16, in the morning to coach local athletes.”
Mr O’Hara said that everyone in the community with interest in athletics over the age of 11 is encouraged to participate and learn new skills.
“Eric will run through a lot of techniques on how to jump and refine a jumping skill as well as throwing skills,” he said.
“He has written many books on the fundamentals of coaching; he will be able to provide things outside the technical aspects, so he will discuss things like nutrition with the athletes.”
Mr O’Hara said that events like this aimed to offer the best opportunities for North Queensland that previously only athletes in the Southeast could get.
“Having Eric puts the next level of quality to North Queenslanders,” he said.
“North Queenslanders tend not to get the advantages that athletes get in Brisbane; however, through Eric and coaches like him, there’s been a focus on getting more clinics of this nature coming into regional areas.
“The coaches and the associates have realised the potential North Queenslanders have of future success, and it’s the perfect time with the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and, more importantly, for Brisbane 2032.”
This year’s clinic coincides with another closing event for Athletics North Queensland with the Raise the Bar Academy, a residential camp program specifically for Indigenous secondary school students in years 10, 11 and 12 who aspire to participate in athletics and further their studies post-Secondary College.
The Raise the Bar Academy will run from December 12-16 at the AFL Cape York House for Girls, with four young athletes from Cairns and many more from across regional Queensland.
“We were very lucky for our national body Athletics Australia that Rio Tinto has come on as our major sponsor,” Mr O’Hara said.
“Rio is now fully supporting the Athletics for the Outback Program, ensuring that our regional and remote athletes, especially First Nations, are getting the quality and athletic experiences in their communities.
“So the Raise the Bar component of it is really targeting those athletes from Year 10 to 12 with interest in athletics who want to further their education.”
For more information on the Jump and Throw coaching clinic and to register, visit: bit.ly/3iDs12p
For more information on Raise the Bar, visit: bit.ly/3BfVsxP
