Hi, I’m Lijana. I come from a background involving competing, coaching, officiating and spectating within athletics. I am a level 3 Athletics Coach and am working towards event group specific coaching qualifications.

From my experience with juniors and Athletics 365 I gained an invaluable place on the England Athletics National Coach Development Programme for Youth Development.

You will find me officiating at Sportshall events across the country, especially the UK Final as part of the events team. Each Summer I coach and manage on Star: Track schemes. Last year was slightly different having volunteered as a Games Maker at the Olympics Games.

My philosophy is a kaizen approach; bringing positive change through development in order to drive things onwards and upwards. Having been immersed in the sport for fifteen years I hope my knowledge and understanding will aid in helping shape the future direction of the sport and leave an everlasting legacy.

I hope that as a group we can inspire generation after generation to get involved in athletics irrespective of ability, age, background or gender. Adopting the inclusive attitude that athletics is for anyone and everyone.

Lijana’s Blog

Hi guys!

As you may or may not be aware, it was the European Athletics Team Championships this weekend in Gateshead.

Many of the YAG members have been working behind the scenes in Assistant Team Leader roles (Athletes Marshall, Event Services, Kit Carriers), Team Attachés and Officials.

Breaking down the language barriers as team attachés were Kat and Georgina. Communication may have started off as exaggerated arm movements to describe things, but by the end of the weekend they knew a fair few words in Russian!

Escorting the athletes around to their events was Andre. How he wasn’t star struck is beyond me. Caught him casually chatting to Eilidh Child before her race. She then went on to run a 400m hurdle PB, so maybe Andre is a lucky charm.

Officiating was our Andrew. Officiating at an event like this is a common occurrence for the likes of a top official. He even had the shades on because he is such a cool dude, though that might be why it tipped it down with rain!

Guiding the public in spectator services was Poppy. Despite the weather, she brightened up the weekend with her smile and bubbly personality.

And John and I were managing the kit carriers. John’s experience trackside from the Olympics greatly aided with the organisation of the kit carriers.

On the performance front…

Over the weekend we saw some fantastic performances from Great Britain, and notably from the youngsters in the team. In the field, Sophie Hitchon further increased her British record in the Hammer to smash the 72m mark. On the track, Emelia Gorecka came second in the Women’s 5000m as did Charlie Grice in the 1500m. Also Jessica Judd, only having finished her A Level a few days earlier, won the 800m on her British debut, proving that the future of British Athletics is bright, as bright as her pink spikes and the volunteers’ orange t-shirts. Overall, we came a very respectable third and not far behind the likes of Russia and Germany.

To finish the event off, the athletes mixed with the volunteers at the after party…Dancing with the stars, European Athletics style.

This is Lijana reporting from the European Athletics Team Champs…over and out!

P.S. Many people fail to realise the forms in which you can volunteer. If you would like to find out more information on how to get involved in volunteering get in touch and be a part of it!