Physical conditioning continues to have a growing role within programmes of school sport and Physical Education. As more schools appoint coaches to support the sports staff, their impact widens to embrace broader outcomes and influences an increased range of pupils. This will require conditioning coaches to have a comprehensive skill set and a creative programme.

This year’s Conference focuses on what school coaches can learn from higher education and from elite sport. Some of the country’s most experienced and innovative practitioners will outline the approaches and programmes adopted by the top youth sport organisations, and suggest how these can be transferred into schools. 

The challenges of developing teenage athletes in a range of sports across different stages of maturation – with both boys and girls - requires school strength and conditioning coaches to adapt the developing science into practical programmes. These must then be integrated into the wider provision for school sport, and balanced with both technical coaching and wider educational commitments.

The Conference seeks to support coaches in enhancing their awareness of current best practice in a range of physical domains, and to share experience with other practitioners in the sector.