The Obstacle Play Park Junior Performance Programme is a little different to others you may have seen, the plan is to develop young athletes skills and to monitor this by a grading system very similar to what you might see in martial arts the idea is that each Student Athlete has to perform a series of techniques before moving to the next grade, this will ensure that they are competent in the basic skills they need to progress in the sport regardless of if they want to be competitive or be a fun runner or possibly leading into coaching at some point.

I have an very extensive and successful background in youth coaching at both club and international level in multiple sports and for the last 10 years have focused on OCR I am a level 2 Spartan SGX Coach a Spartan Obstacle Specialist Instructor (one of only 2 in the UK) and a world obstacle L2 coach, I  have also been a race director, course designer and owner/founder of one of the most comprehensive training venues in the UK, Obstacle Play Park. 

This season has seen many podiums from athletes that I coach in many different countries around the world from elite to junior athletes, at the most recent Spartan event two of my junior athletes placing 1st & 2nd in the same category in the British Championships and 2 athletes placing 1st and 2nd in different categories in the British Junior OCR Championships,along with a series win for another junior, this is just the juniors but there were also numerous Elite and age categories podiums and series wins, I also coach some Modern Pentathlon Athletes in ther Obstacle discipline the most recent success has been a gold medal in the U19s Pentathlon Olympic hopes competition in Poland.

I very pleased to announce that Emelia Solomon, Spartan Athlete and someone i have coached for a number of years from junior to adult racing will be assisting me in some of the coaching sessions, not only is she very talented but is starting to show some great attributes that i believe will make her a very good coach.  

A Student Athlete of the programme can represent or be a member of any team of training venue but at practice will act as one team respecting and supporting each other.

Ther will be 10 grades for both age categories all of which will be taught at the monthly training sessions

Grade 1

Perform a basic warm up

Perform two Techniques on monkey bars and rings

Be able to complete both 4 & 6 foot walls

Perform a foot lock on a rope

7-13yrs be able to run 3k

14-17yrs be able to to run 5k

Grade 2

Perform a full rope climb

Climb vertical cargo net

Climb A frame Cargo net (include a flip fro 14-17yrs)

Balance beams

Grade 3

Nunchuck hold - long arm position & locked position 

Ball hold - long arm position & locked position

Move along a simple low rig (tyres/rings/bars)

Grade 4

14-17yrs

Be able to instruct grade 2 to younger students

7-13yrs

Be able to instruct a warm up to 7-13yrs

7-13yrs able to run 4k

14-17yrs able to run 10k

Grade 5

To have run a Spartan or OCR race of any distance

Grade 6

To be able to complete a high rig with nunchucks, balls, skulls and bars

To be able to complete  ring and hook - anchors and rings - mediaeval hooks and ring rigs

7-13yrs able to run 5k

14-17yrs able to run 15k

Grade 7

14-17yrs

To be able to complete a combination of obstacles

walls - high rig - low rig + two other obstacles at race pace without failures

7-14yrs

To be able to complete a combination of obstacles

walls - high rig - low rig 

Grade 8

TBA

Grade 9

TBA

Grade 10

TBA

Some rules

There will be a code of conduct and commitment for each athlete to sign and agree too.

There will be a parent/guardian code of conduct and commitment to sign and agree too

All athletes are referred to as STUDENT ATHLETES

Kit

This programme is open to all athletes regardless of there team affiliations but team kit or sponsored kit is not to be worn to the monthly coached session, we are one programme for all so either a plain white or plain black top must be worn, black shorts and black shorts are preferable but not mandatory.

No team kit to be worn.

Performance Programme shirts will hopefully be available at some point 

Coached sessions will be held once a month on Saturday mornings ( list of proposed dates will be coming out soon, once the race calender is clearer)

7-13yrs

9.00 -10.30am coaching

10.30-11.30 free practice (adults can purchase a 1 hour practice slot for themselves 10.30-11.30am)

14-17yrs

10.45- 12.45pm coaching

12.45-1.45pm free practice (adults can purchase a 1 hour practice slot for themselves 12.45-1.45pm)

7-13yrs must be accompanied at all time during training, this means actually watching rain or shine every session (no dropping off or staying in the car)

14-17yrs I would prefer you watch your child train but if you chose not to that's ok but you have to stay on site during the session