Sport Science Support
Sport Science plays an important part in allowing sport performers to reach their full potential. There will be sport science support provided to all the pupils on the programme. This will range from fitness testing, to nutiritional adivice, to VO2 max testing and strengthening and conditioning. The level of support provided will vary from athlete to athlete with occordance to their needs and performance levels.
Pictures of Coopers' pupils at Think Fitness.
Think Fitness
The school will be working in partnership with Think Fitness this year to provide high quality Sport Science support to our most talented athletes. The company work with many professional athletes and teams. They have the facilities and expertise to perform VO2 max tests providing students with individual stats on training zones, threshold speeds and maximum uptake. This information can prove extremely beneficial in training sessions to improve fitness levels.
Further support the company provides are movement analysis and strengthening and conditioning. This consists a professional analysing the way an athletes joints articulate and producing an individual assessment on what potential injuries could occur if no correction is made. The company then provides further strengthening and conditioning which will be held at school to correct any muscle imbalances, enabling joints to move more fluidly, preventing injury and improving performance.
Gary Baker 
Support is currently provided through termly workshops for the CATs on a range of issues including anxiety, emotional control, and loss of confidence. Sport Psychology is an extremely important tool in gaining that extra edge over your competitor and achieving your full potential.
Gary is also available through email should any athlete from school wish to discuss individual psychological issues: gary@gbtherapy.co.uk
The powerpoint from the first workshop delivered in January can be downloaded here:
Workshop 1 powerpoint on Confidence, Negative Thoughts and CompetitionWorkshop 1 powerpoint on Confidence, Negative Thoughts and Competition
Pro-Activate Nutrition
The third part of our Sports Science support programme is a company called Pro-Activate nutrition. Becky Stephenson is an accredited Sports Nutritionist who currently works as Sports Nutrition Manager at the National Tennis Centre working with our top players, including Andy Murray. Becky visits the school once every term to provide some invaluable nutritional advice on many areas including hydration, fueling for competition and supplementation.
Like Gary she is also available to contact over email for the Coopers CATs should you require any individual advice. Her contact email is:
becky@pro-activate.co.uk
Website: www.pro-activate.co.uk
Log in to access downloads: username: coopers
password: coburn (Becky spelt it wrong not me!)
Other resources:
Strength Sessions Animations
Update: Those of you who have started your training sessions with Warren, use the following links to access animations of the different stretches and exercises:
Stretches:
Calf complex
Gastrocnemius (turn back foot in slightly)
Soleus
Peroneals (video is a bit weird. Just get into the same position as the gastroc stretch (back foot turned in). Now roll on the outside edge of your trainers, trying to make the sole of your trainers face upwards.
Hamstrings (ignore what is going on in the upper body. You just need to lean forward, think push bum back and have the leg across the body slightly.
Piriformis
TFL
Hip Flexors
Adductor (two stretches) - First Stretch & Second stretch
Erector spinae
Lats (bring arm toward midline of body as well as reaching forwards as far as you can. Tuck bum under.) Can also be done standing
Chest or with a ball
Exercises
1. Core
Lateral tube walking
Floor / ball cobra: Floor Ball
Ball bridge with abduction
Ball bridge with adduction (squeeze med ball between knees)
Prone isomentric abs
Isometric abs with abduction
Isometric abs with extension
Side lying isometric ab
Side isometric ab with abduction
2. Balance
Single leg balance reach
Single leg squat
3. Reactive
Horizontal jump with stabilisation forwards
Sideways
90 degree rotation
Squat jump with stabilisation
4. Strength
Chest
Ball chest press
Back
Single leg DB row
Ball row (same as above video but on ball. Ignore what he does with his arms. Its a bit weird this vid for some reason)
Shoulders
Ball seated shoulder press
Biceps
Single leg bicep curl
Triceps
Ball lying triceps extensions
Legs
Prisoner squats with abduction (wrap band/tubing around lower leg). To do adduction squeeze a med ball between knees
For more informaiton about Think Fitness click here: Think Fitness website