National Conference for Supporting High-Performance Sport in Schools

Monday, 16 November at Loughborough University

National Conference for Supporting High-Performance Sport in Schools - November 2026
Dates & Venues

    This innovative new Conference is a collaboration between the Sports Science Department at world-leading Loughborough University, and ICE Education. It is intended for Strength and Conditioning coaches, Athletic Development leaders and other performance professionals who deal with aspiring and able athletes in a school setting. It will present the most contemporary thinking and approaches, direct from elite sport, and consider how these can be adopted and adapted within a school setting.

    The afternoon will present a carousel of sessions with Loughborough staff, each considering how best practice from elite sport can be leveraged to support athletes in schools. It will enable coaches to return to schools equipped to enhance their programmes for the new school year, ensuring that their students will benefit from the most recent science and current approaches in elite sport.

    As always, there will the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals. This will be formalised within the discussion forum, where delegates can share approaches to common issues and widen their sector awareness.

    Programme
    9.00am

    Conference Assembles. Refreshments

    9.30am
    Supporting High Performance in School Sport
    Neil Rollings
    Professional Association of Directors of Sport in Schools
    10.00am
    Optimising physical preparation for young athletes
    Ben Pollard 
    World Rugby, Head of Athletic Development
    11.00am

    Refreshment Break

    11.15am
    Case Study: the Role of Athletic Development for Sprinters
    Bianca Williams OLY
    Professional Sprinter: Olympic Athlete 
    11.45am
    Discussion Forum: Athletic Development Issues in Schools
    12.30pm

    Lunch

    1.20pm
    Afternoon Practical Seminars

    Loughborough University Sports Science staff will run a rotation of four sessions featuring the latest practice in performance support. Delegates will attend each session on a rotation.

    1.20pm
    Contemporary Approaches to Strength and Conditioning 
    Cormac Ryan 
    Head of Performance Services and Senior Conditioning Coach, Loughborough University
    2.10pm
    Supporting a High Performance Lifestyle
    Sabrina Cox 
    Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing Officer, Loughborough University
    2.55pm
    Performance Physiology
    Hannah Bashford 
    Physiologist, Loughborough University
    3.45pm
    Nutrition for High Performers
    4.30pm

    Conference Disperses

    In association with
    Prices

    1 place £239
    2 places £379 
    3 places £485

    All prices exclude VAT

    Don’t forget schools can now reclaim the VAT on all our courses

    Conference runs 9am – 4pm. Prices include catering and resources. Should you need to cancel a booking you have made for a particular course you need to give us a minimum of 14 days' notice.