The strength and conditioning room at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena has been fully operational since 1 January 2005. This room designed by the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland includes specific strength and conditioning equipment brought directly from the USA. In May 2005 Stefan Kerr joined the staff of the arena as strength and conditioning coach -Stefan has been involved in strength and conditioning work for over 10 years and sees it as a vital part of sport today for maximising speed, strength, power, flexibility and endurance. He firmly believes that people from all sports and levels of fitness can benefit but stresses that it is a long term committment.

Strength and conditioning forms an integral part of the development of all athletes. Programs are designed by the Strength & Conditioning coach in consultation with sport coaches, to allow each athlete to progressively achieve their optimal performance.

Each athlete's program is individually tailored to meet their specific strengths and weaknesses. This progression is constantly monitored by the Strength and Conditioning coach throughout the athlete's scholarship.

The aims of the Strength & Conditioning program are to:

• develop correct exercise technique
• improve the strength base of all athletes
• individualise programs to address athlete specific strengths and weaknesses
• improve athletes' sports specific movements and techniques through agility and speed sessions
• improve athletes' physical conditioning through sport specific conditioning sessions

Each athlete is required to fill in a training diary for each weight training session. This enables the Strength & Conditioning coach to monitor each athlete's progress and adjust programs to enhance the athletes’ development.

Abdominal/core stability, injury prevention/rehabilitation, proprioception and agility programs are also performed as part of their overall strength and conditioning program.

Stefan will work directly with individual athletes, teams and coaches with the primary objective of allowing individual athletes to progressively maximise their performance and will tailor a programme to meet each indivduals specific strengths and weaknesses.

Stefan is available for inductions every Monday and Wednesday evening from 5.30pm to 9.30pm to make an appointment contact MUSA reception on 028 8676 7135 or e-mail him on musa@cookstown.gov.uk

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