Running Mechanics coach/workshop

clint_silver

Hoping this is the right place and someone knows. Im involved with several kids football teams in a gaa club. We have a number of kids at various ages from 8-12 who have what I can only describe as an awkward running gait. Some worse than others. It definitely slows them down. while we've got some good football coaches, other than knowing something isnt right, we're not remotely qualified for fixing it.

Would someone on here know is there anyone who does workshops on running to correct this awkward running style so kids can develop proper running mechanics? A coach the coaches thing?
Maybe visit a club and show several coaches what to look for and how to correct it?
Theres a ton of stuff out there online but looking for something hands on from someone who knows what theyre talking about or point me in the right direction of who I could talk to.

thanks

Coffee Fulled Runner

Is there a athletics club in your area?

clear thinking

Stating the obvious, running tends to be in one direction, field sports tend to be multi directional.

But you could get an athletics coach to give you some drills that can be used in warm ups and maybe work on short sprints to help the 'mechanics'.

Ceepo

You might be better if you got a physio or someone that does biomechanical screening to look at them

Getting someone that can look at their movement patterns and accessing the muscles imbalances would be far better starting point imo.

I can pass on 2 names to you if you want. Both have a lot of experience working with athletes.

Djoucer

Rene Borg and Champions Everywhere do workshops.

http://www.championseverywhere.com/services/workshops-classes/

Myles Splitz

A word of caution in trying to "fix" biomechanics in kids there is no linear progression in the development of kids and growth spurts can vary from kid to kid as such some will take a little longer adapting to the changes in height etc and so some simply might be adjusting which why they may appear to be awkward

While I do advise to have someone give you guys a bit of advice and help I would say there is not the need to go into depths of functional and biomechanical screening of kids but rather get someone who had a background in drills (sprint coaches generally tend to have a better knowledge here) but also someone who has a background in multi lateral movements or atleast an understanding of them, to tailor drills that you can incorporate into the warmup for your kids.

It's also worth bearing in mind that running mechanics will be a 2 part development (running with and without the ball) and as such you should spend a bit of time on work with and without ball during drills.

I would advise to spend a good bit of time on agility ladder work and mini hurdles also as these can be great for this sort of work.

meathcountysec

It is normal for some kids to have an "awkward running gait". As said before, it can be caused by different stages in their development, and will most probably sort itself out as they grow. Unless there is something medically wrong I would leave well enough alone.

Ceepo

meathcountysec wrote: »

It is normal for some kids to have an "awkward running gait". and will most probably sort itself out as they grow.

That's would be an interesting study to look at.
Any links ?

Myles Splitz

Ceepo wrote: »

That's would be an interesting study to look at.
Any links ?

Ceepo wrote: »

That's would be an interesting study to look at.
Any links ?

Would imagine what is being referred to here is that sudden grow spurts can cause dramatic muscle lengthening over short time frame which compromises muscle tension and strength which takes longer to catch up.

Often biomechanical issues can be strength and endurance issues in muscles which if used and strengthened will correct biomechanical flaws over time

Obviously it can be beneficial to get an expert to offer input but it's a fine line between that and hyperspecialisation at a young age (which especially when you are dealing with biomechanics can be detrimental from an injury risk standpoint long terms given that kinds are still in a state of change)

Personally I would as mentioned above look to develop general running drills to promote overall good movement patterns for the teams as a group as opposed to going down the line of individual biomechanics assessments and altering.

Ceepo

Myles Splitz wrote: »

Would imagine what is being referred to here is that sudden grow spurts can cause dramatic muscle lengthening over short time frame which compromises muscle tension and strength which takes longer to catch up.

Often biomechanical issues can be strength and endurance issues in muscles which if used and strengthened will correct biomechanical flaws over time

Obviously it can be beneficial to get an expert to offer input but it's a fine line between that and hyperspecialisation at a young age (which especially when you are dealing with biomechanics can be detrimental from an injury risk standpoint long terms given that kinds are still in a state of change)

Personally I would as mentioned above look to develop general running drills to promote overall good movement patterns for the teams as a group as opposed to going down the line of individual biomechanics assessments and altering.

Good post, and I would agree with a lot of what you have said.

As we don't have the ability to see the "awkward running style" we can only hazard a guess as to the reason behind the running gait. (And are we qualified to access it ?)
As you quite rightly pointed out it may be from any of the above that may be the cause of their gait. And group running drills may help to correct some of their issues

However there are always outliner's for whom they need a more individual assessment and may need additional and or specific needs.

An example of this is a young chap 12/13 that lives near me. Plays Gaa and Rugby but has very pronounced medially rotated feet. (Which in my opinion is going to be a limiting factor for him) Doing group drill sessions may do very little if anything to help correct this issue without give more specific work.
If he was assessed by a qualified person, they may agree to take a wait and see view and do the group session and reassess after a period of time. They might also give them additional exercise or drills to complement what they are already doing. Or they may not agree with the group specific drills and prescribe an individualised stretching and strength programme.
Again this is where a suitably qualified person can make an informed decision based on what is presented to them
As opposed to a one for all session


Of course this is just my view.

(Off topic)
Btw good running last sunday