Miss Hannah Clarke
Head of Strength and Conditioning
Strength and conditioning in youth provides essential benefits for both physical and mental development. It enhances athletic performance by improving strength, speed, and agility, thereby boosting confidence in sports. Additionally, it promotes healthy growth by building strong bones and muscles, while improving coordination and balance, ultimately reducing the risk of injury throughout maturation.
At CLC, we provide a variety of strength and conditioning opportunities both within and outside of the curriculum. Our programme attracts a diverse range of participants, including athletes from various performance teams, highly competitive individuals, and those interested in strength training for overall wellbeing. Each student follows a personalised training plan tailored to their specific needs, whether performance-based, rehabilitative, or focused on maturation.
We emphasise not only the practical aspects of strength training but also the educational components. Participants learn the fundamentals of effective movement, safe training practices, and how strength training can enhance athletic performance. We also instill the importance of goal setting in their training journeys.
As part of our strength and conditioning programme, we offer students a unique opportunity to engage in strength training before the academic day begins. Early morning sessions provide a dedicated time for students to focus on their strength development, allowing them to start their day with purpose and without conflicting with other school commitments. Engaging in physical activity supports both physical and mental wellbeing, promoting higher levels of endorphins that contribute to reduced stress and improved mood. Early morning training not only fosters a sense of discipline but also encourages a positive start to the day.
However, not everyone is a morning person. We also run a strength and conditioning club every evening during club sessions for LC3 – SFC2, offering structured and guided sessions. While more confident older students have open access to the main Health and Fitness Centre gym facilities.
The strength and conditioning curriculum is designed to scale with students throughout their time at CLC. In LC1 and LC2 (Years 7 & 8), students are introduced to strength and conditioning through weekly physical literacy sessions focused on developing solid fundamental movement patterns. LC3 and UC4 (Years 9 & 10) transitions students into a gym environment, introducing various strength techniques through specialised lessons. By UC5 and SFC (Year 11 and up), students build upon this foundational knowledge and strength base during PE lessons.
Ultimately, our goal is to empower young women to feel confident and capable in their strength and conditioning training.
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