20 September 2010

IAAF Academy member and Level 5 ‘Elite Jumps Coach’ Alan Richardson has been appointed as UKA’s National Event Coach for Pole Vault.

Richardson, currently an England Athletics National Coach Mentor for Pole Vault and Jumps, will be based at UKA’s National Performance Centre in Loughborough and will provide full time dedicated coaching to individual athletes or groups of athletes as directed by the Olympic Head Coach.

In addition, Richardson will work alongside Kevin Tyler, UKA’s Strategic Head of Coaching and Development, Home Countries National Coach Mentors and UKA Development Coaches toprovide leadership in technical methodology, coaching development and event development programmes.

A UKA Achieving Excellence in Coaching Programme member and UKA Level 4 Pole Vault coach, Richardson is personal coach to five of the UK’s top ten male senior pole vaulters and the second-equal ranked female. Six of his athletes have been selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

“In recent years I’ve been exposed to world class knowledge, expertise and performance through attendance at events including the 2009 IAAF World Class Coaches Club (Berlin) and IAAF World Coaches Conference (Germany), in addition to taking on team staff roles for both England and Aviva GB & NI teams,” he said. “My own career development has taken me from Community Coach to England Athletics as a Regional Coach and then National Coach Mentor. Throughout my time with England I worked closely with UKA in a strategic capacity to support the National Event Coach, and I think the time is right for me to step up to this position. I’m excited about working with coaches and athletes across the country to continue the positive progression of pole vault.”

Charles van Commenee, UKA’s Head Coach, said: “Alan has a very good working relationship with athletes and coaches across the UK and has coached several athletes to national records in 2010. We’re beginning to make progress in the pole vault, evidenced in part by two of our athletes winning bronze medals at this year’s World Junior Championships. We need to ensure that this positive momentum for both coaches and athletes continues through to, and beyond, 2012.”

Kevin Tyler, UKA’s Strategic Head of Coaching and Development said: “Alan is a great example of a coach who has progressed through our new system and is contributing to the long term legacy for the sport. Over the course of his coaching career he has gained significant experience and expertise through a variety of professional development and coach education opportunities. His coaching pedigree is undisputed while his knowledge of the sport and enthusiasm to lead the pole vault programme makes his an excellent candidate to take the event forward.”