Last half term, Coach Jenni worked with a group of young athletes to launch our first formal Young Leaders Programme, designed to develop leadership skills and build confidence.
From the very start, all athletes showed enthusiasm, motivation, and a genuine desire to learn — qualities that made the programme rewarding and inspiring for Jenni to deliver.
Encouraging children to give back through volunteering strengthens our community and creates positive, inclusive environments. Young leaders develop responsibility and gain pride while supporting others.
For the leaders themselves, the benefits are huge: confidence building, improved communication skills, and a belief in their own abilities. These are all valuable life skills that extend far beyond athletics.
Throughout the programme, the group explored the structure of an effective session, emphasising the 3 Ps; Positioning, Pace and Praise — to help the leaders understand how small planning details can make a big difference.
They then focused on teaching ABCs (agility, balance, coordination and speed) within activities, before discussing potential challenges that can arise when delivering sessions and how to manage them positively.
The young leaders approached every task with curiosity and maturity, growing in confidence week by week.
Jenni said, “It was a genuine pleasure to watch each individual develop, learn and shine in their own right. The programme was undoubtedly a success and something we are keen to continue in the future. Thank you, Young Leaders, you were fantastic.”
Next steps for Daisy, Rose, Harriet, Frankie, Charlotte, Ewan and Isabella are helping deliver our Athletics Fun Day in Sherburn on 3 January. Watch this space for the next phase of the programme and for details of a new intake at the end of the year.
