Will Heffernan Strength and Conditioning coach blog

Mickk · 09-05-2008 09:58AM #1

A very good blog which details the training of a few professional athletes, some up and coming international stars, like a 16 y/o girl who can deep squat bw+15kg for 15 reps, and one of the best rugby clubs in Ireland. Very good read and would be good to follow and/or copy! Its great to see that atleast some elite Irish sports are moving away from "laps" to get in shape for the season...
http://willheffernan.blogspot.com/

Pen1987 · 09-05-2008 12:37PM

Good blog alright... He keeps it to the basic in a very structured and focused manner, certainly gets results.

Id be very interested to see David Gillicks developments in his run up to Beijing.

Wonder what the usual standard of athlete he trains are at to begin with, I recognised Daira Fanning in one photo who plays rugby for Irish Colleges and St.Marys in one photo, dont think hes any aspirations to be a pro-player... but hes also training Gillick and Sutherland who are professional standard, then talks about training a slightly overweight 40year old male in other posts. It'd be interesting to see a general overview of his client base and their rate of improvement in some kind of graph. I always wondered what type of % performance improvement our average bloke could get with the best of training, in comparison with the uber-talented... or even if there is an catergory of super-talent, or are they the ones who just train the best.

PS... Cant find anything on the 16 year old girl lifting 15+BW

Size=everything · 09-05-2008 12:49PM

Pen1987 wrote: »

Good blog alright... He keeps it to the basic in a very structured and focused manner, certainly gets results.

Id be very interested to see David Gillicks developments in his run up to Beijing.

Wonder what the usual standard of athlete he trains are at to begin with, I recognised Daira Fanning in one photo who plays rugby for Irish Colleges and St.Marys in one photo, dont think hes any aspirations to be a pro-player... but hes also training Gillick and Sutherland who are professional standard, then talks about training a slightly overweight 40year old male in other posts. It'd be interesting to see a general overview of his client base and their rate of improvement in some kind of graph. I always wondered what type of % performance improvement our average bloke could get with the best of training, in comparison with the uber-talented... or even if there is an catergory of super-talent, or are they the ones who just train the best.

PS... Cant find anything on the 16 year old girl lifting 15+BW

He's training Irish and Leinster youth players as well

Malteaser! · 09-05-2008 12:56PM

Pen1987 wrote: »

PS... Cant find anything on the 16 year old girl lifting 15+BW

Just had a quick look - First one on this page!

There's probably more!

thirtyfoot · 09-05-2008 02:10PM

Pen1987 wrote: »

Id be very interested to see David Gillicks developments in his run up to Beijing.

Gillick is now coached and has been for the past two seasons by Nick Dakin in Loughborough, (unless he has returned to Will Heffernan in the meantime) No slight on Heffernan (or Jim Kidd his coach in DSD), but Gillick has gone through the roof since he made the transition to the UK probably because of the whole structural change of his training as opposed to his move from Jim Kidd or Heffernan. It was Kidd who really got him to where he was for his first Euro gold too and I'm guessing the move to involve Heffernan was to supplement Kidd's excellent sprinting knowledge with WH's excellent S&C knowledge. Unfortunately, that season was a disaster and it pre-empted Gillick's move to the UK (with the full blessing of Kidd by all accounts).

http://www.sportsmanagementireland.com/jan_news_04.html

He split with his coaches, Jim Kidd and Will Heffernan and moved camp to Loughborough where he now trains under Nick Dakin. It was a painful decision for him at the time.

"It was a hard decision leaving my coaches and home but I feel it was the right decision," he said. "I am working in a different environment but this is all about little inches and adding them up ? extra conditioning work training with really good athletes."

littlefriend · 09-05-2008 07:44PM

Mickk wrote: »

Its great to see that atleast some elite Irish sports are moving away from "laps" to get in shape for the season...
http://willheffernan.blogspot.com/

He's married to a friend of mine - he's Australian

Really sound guy, very smart and knowledgeable too

figs86 · 09-05-2008 08:21PM

the big fella is in my class,

very friendly bloke despite being....30 years older than the rest of us (hope he reads this!)

pretty modest too, in 2 years he hasn't mentioned any of these high profile athletes he works with, doesn't name drop at all.

interesting athlete himself, had a conversation with him about how he used to run cross country internationally (ending in disaster!), then hit...think he said 130 odd kg last year and now looks like a rugby player.

has a sweet ducati too!

Mickk · 09-05-2008 10:47PM

figs86 wrote: »

the big fella is in my class,

very friendly bloke despite being....30 years older than the rest of us (hope he reads this!)

pretty modest too, in 2 years he hasn't mentioned any of these high profile athletes he works with, doesn't name drop at all.

interesting athlete himself, had a conversation with him about how he used to run cross country internationally (ending in disaster!), then hit...think he said 130 odd kg last year and now looks like a rugby player.

has a sweet ducati too!

Wow you have slightly above average grammar for an 8 year old

I think the 130kg he was was muscle rather than fat but I am not sure?

Pen1987 · 10-05-2008 07:10PM

he ran cross country? frick off!

hah, hes huge now! who did he run for?

KERPAL · 11-05-2008 12:05AM

Dont know him but have heard some stories:
Hes a chancer, fired from his old job with a Province, and is full of it, doesnt have a clue bla bla bla.

Could/prob is complete bull****, but its an alternative view.

thirtyfoot · 11-05-2008 12:38AM

KERPAL wrote: »

Dont know him but have heard some stories:
Hes a chancer, fired from his old job with a Province, and is full of it, doesnt have a clue bla bla bla.

Could/prob is complete bull****, but its an alternative view.

Interesting. Does anyone know if he is actually coaching David Gillick or just putting up youtube links to give the impression he is? If he is no longer coaching Gillick then maybe putting a post on your blog to give the impression you are and talking of Beijing (as was assumed by someone in this thread) could be regarded by some as being a bit of a chancer. Gillick did work with him in 2006 but I'd be very suprised if he has returned to him and left Dakin and the coaching excellance of Loughborough in the UK, anyone know for sure?

KERPAL · 11-05-2008 12:44AM

I could elaborate but that wouldnt be fair because i dunno if the guy i was talking to has an agenda. But if he has coached Gillick in the History i wouldnt be shy makin the point known to be honest.

figs86 · 11-05-2008 01:03AM

according to the man himself and his blog he was 140kg and 30% odd bodyfat!

he ran cross country as a youth or some such for....i THINK he said oz/his province in oz and he said he weighed - gonna have to ask him again but less than 80kg! - it all came to an end when whilst running through a forest in some race he couldnt see where he was going and ran over a ledge and down into a quarry, wrecking his back and legs and breaking bones in the process. he can't sit still in class, always getting up and stretching his back, sitting at weird angles and grimacing in pain a lot!

gillick mentioned will in a times article this season so he must have been involved in some capacity, i read the article but i forget what he said, it's possible he was talking about previous seasons

Mickk · 11-05-2008 01:26AM

Tingle wrote: »

Interesting. Does anyone know if he is actually coaching David Gillick or just putting up youtube links to give the impression he is? If he is no longer coaching Gillick then maybe putting a post on your blog to give the impression you are and talking of Beijing (as was assumed by someone in this thread) could be regarded by some as being a bit of a chancer. Gillick did work with him in 2006 but I'd be very suprised if he has returned to him and left Dakin and the coaching excellance of Loughborough in the UK, anyone know for sure?

Here is a link to an article where gillick talks about will favourably
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/02/21/story573139374.asp
as already mentioned he did move to england after this which was more to do with training with other world class athletes. People here seem to not know what a strength and conditioning coach is, he does not coach how to play better, he coaches on how to be better athletes and then their sports team coaches coach them on how to play their chosen sports. I believe gillick went to him to help come back from an injury and after training with him for the winter had his best season of the last few years...

Also I don't think any of his posts are made to look like he is currently training him, he wishes him all the best in beijing, from that alone I would have taken that he is not currently on the scene, its not the type of thing a current coach would say is it?

thirtyfoot · 11-05-2008 01:47AM

Mickk wrote: »

Here is a link to an article where gillick talks about will favourably
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/02/21/story573139374.asp
as already mentioned he did move to england after this which was more to do with training with other world class athletes. People here seem to not know what a strength and conditioning coach is, he does not coach how to play better, he coaches on how to be better athletes and then their sports team coaches coach them on how to play their chosen sports. I believe gillick went to him to help come back from an injury and after training with him for the winter had his best season of the last few years...

Also I don't think any of his posts are made to look like he is currently training him, he wishes him all the best in beijing, from that alone I would have taken that he is not currently on the scene, its not the type of thing a current coach would say is it?

I think the year he was with him was 2006 which was in fact Gillick's worst year but then again it doesn't really matter. You are correct, Gillick spoke highly of him and has a high regard for the man. Though if a coach is going to get kudos for breaking Gillick through it should be Jim Kidd. Don't know the guy Will Heffernan and if you are going to vouch for his intentions that is fair enough, I see what you mean by his posts if I look at it like that.

On the broader topic of Strenght and Conditioning Specialists or gurus, they are usefull if they have a good understanding of the systems and focus of the main coach. Sometimes there can be a disjoint and the S&C is not integrated into the overall training system to the max benefit. Not saying thats the case here as I'm not familiar with the training Kidd had Gillick doing but in track its best if the S&C is overseen by the main coach or at least someone from within the coachs camp. In team sports, the need is probably more as the main coach is probably more focussed on tactics etc and doesn't have the technical strength or conditioning knowledge. In track (especially the power stuff) a top coach worth his salt shouldn't need S&C help.

Scaldy Monster · 11-05-2008 09:56AM

1. He doesn't coach anyone. Certainly does not David Gillick or have anything to do with.
2. He's too fat and out of shape to have ever trained himself. Not a chance in the world that he ever competed in cross country let alone competed in any sport at international level. I doubt that he has ever competed in any sport from the look of him. No chance he ever did it at under 80kgs.
3. I agree with Kerpal. The guy is definitely a chancer, fired from his old job with a Province if he ever had one in the first place, and is full of it and absolutely doesnt have a clue about real strength training or fitness.

KERPAL · 11-05-2008 10:04AM

Scaldy Monster wrote: »

3. I agree with Kerpal. The guy is definitely a chancer, fired from his old job with a Province if he ever had one in the first place, and is full of it and absolutely doesnt have a clue about real strength training or fitness.

I never said he was a chancer, I said i heard he was a chancer:).
Just to clarify.
One thing I know is he can bench 190kg:D

Mikel · 11-05-2008 10:05AM

Nice first post..........

figs86 · 11-05-2008 10:35AM

strong suspicion that its the man himself - defo his sense of humour

otherwise....it is indeed a charming first post!

Hanley · 11-05-2008 11:27AM

figs86 wrote: »

strong suspicion that its the man himself - defo his sense of humour

otherwise....it is indeed a charming first post!

Lol... either way whoever posted it has an agenda!!

Mickk · 11-05-2008 11:35AM

figs86 wrote: »

strong suspicion that its the man himself - defo his sense of humour

otherwise....it is indeed a charming first post!

Haha just what I thought, not very suttle is he. Welcome to boards Will, I heard you are training Colin Montgomerie now and he is benching 180 for reps?

Hanley · 11-05-2008 11:36AM

Mickk wrote: »

Haha just what I thought, not very suttle is he. Welcome to boards Will, I heard you are training Colin Montgomerie now and he is benching 180 for reps?

I heard he got him down to 6% bodyfat too... :pac:

Pen1987 · 11-05-2008 04:07PM

To the person who said Will was in their class... what are you studying?

I read the whole blog, he has the exact same line of thinking as myself, I love his attitude toward training.

Will Heffernan · 11-05-2008 06:21PM

Some really weak hate going on here guys. Very disappointed at the general standard of ridicule and rumour. You all need to lift your game.

If you want...you can email PM me and I will give you a hand with your hating because the standard here is really low.

Al_Fernz · 11-05-2008 06:24PM

That blog is class- I like the cut of this guy's jib, and it seems to be updated regularly too. Defo one for the favorites list.

I did see in one of the routines has 95kg squats for 100 reps - filthy!

Will Heffernan · 11-05-2008 06:35PM

Al_Fernz wrote: »

That blog is class- I like the cut of this guy's jib, and it seems to be updated regularly too. Defo one for the favorites list.

I did see in one of the routines has 95kg squats for 100 reps - filthy!

Don't get too caught up in the hype....apparently I'm an idiot...and it isn't just me that thinks that.

There will be some guest appearances on the blog over the next few weeks that might make some of the posters here feel a little stupid...but isn't that why we all love forums...the opportunity to be faceless and anonymous and take pot shots at people...I love that stuff...like I said I'm just upset that the standard of 'hating' is so poor on this board.

I would love to hear what people have heard? What rumours there are? I tried to start more than a few myself but none of them really took off unfortunately.

For those that like the blog...cool....and for those of you that don't...that is cool too.

Al_Fernz · 11-05-2008 06:44PM

Will Heffernan wrote: »

Don't get too caught up in the hype....apparently I'm an idiot...and it isn't just me that thinks that.

You're quite fat too. Don't forget that!:pac:

Will Heffernan · 11-05-2008 06:48PM

Al_Fernz wrote: »

You're quite fat too. Don't forget that!:pac:

So it isn't just me that thinks that? Damn...I knew my mother was lying when she said I was just big boned.

Mickk · 11-05-2008 08:57PM

Ok Will, now brace yourself I have been working on this one for a while and it might hurt, you are both fat and skinny.
Stings doesn't it.

Will Heffernan · 11-05-2008 09:02PM

Mickk wrote: »

Ok Will, now brace yourself I have been working on this one for a while and it might hurt, you are both fat and skinny.
Stings doesn't it.

Ouch...you guys are really cruel here....I think it might be a little too nasty for me in this forum...I've a very thin skin....even if I do have a huge amount of fat right underneath it.

thirtyfoot · 11-05-2008 09:34PM

Will, leaving the bullsh*t and self-deprecating forum bravado aside, what do you think of the quote below, that in track and field a track coach shouldn't need an external S&C expert in that if they are are devising and implementing a programme the S&C is holistically included in the overall program and very much aligned to what the athlete is doing on the track.

When working with Gillick/Kidd how did it work? Did you talk to Kidd and see where he was at in his program with Gillick and work and base it from there or did you talk and look at Gillick and devise a strength program from there independently. Interested to know. Coaching track athletes myslef and strength is my weakness. I usually build the track/running program first and then work in the strength and get advice externally if I come unstuck but generally try and keep it simple in the gym. I suppose this applies to all sports in that what level of interaction do you have with the main coach when they are building their overall program?

Tingle wrote: »

On the broader topic of Strenght and Conditioning Specialists or gurus, they are usefull if they have a good understanding of the systems and focus of the main coach. Sometimes there can be a disjoint and the S&C is not integrated into the overall training system to the max benefit. Not saying thats the case here as I'm not familiar with the training Kidd had Gillick doing but in track its best if the S&C is overseen by the main coach or at least someone from within the coachs camp. In team sports, the need is probably more as the main coach is probably more focussed on tactics etc and doesn't have the technical strength or conditioning knowledge. In track (especially the power stuff) a top coach worth his salt shouldn't need S&C help.

Will Heffernan Strength and Conditioning coach blog

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