Strength and Conditioning
Helping you realise your peak performance in sport.
What Do We Do
Newcastle’s strength and conditioning department supports high performance student-athletes in their pursuit of sporting excellence. We provide individualised coaching delivered within a programme of athletic development and injury mitigation.
Why Do We Do It
S&C improves physical performance qualities while developing the necessary durability and resilience that underpins athletic robustness. This is essential to tolerate the demands of the sport and ultimately increases athlete availability to train and compete.
“We believe sport is a vital part of the university student experience.”
Session Details
Training runs throughout both the competitive season and the vacation period. Typical training sessions involve:
- physical literacy
- weightlifting
- speed, agility and/or plyometrics
- (P)rehabilitation
Expectations
Our coaches set high standards and hold you to those standards, your commitment to training will develop a healthy work ethic. You will grow skills in accountability, responsibility and discipline.
“Does your behaviour match your goals?”
We will always explain the reasoning behind the prescribed exercise. Understanding the ‘whys’ behind your training programme will ensure that you stay motivated and focused. Hopefully after your time with us you will graduate as a self-sufficient trainer capable of directing your own training and using those skills in all departments of your life.
Richard Eaton – Head of Strength & Conditioning
Rich is a UKSCA accredited coach and qualified badminton coach. With over 20 years of coaching experience he has supported multi-sport athletes ranging from grass roots right up to the Olympic level. Rich holds a BSc in Sport Science, an MSc in Sport Psychology and is currently international badminton coach to the Falkland Islands Badminton Team.
- Rich provides S&C to Newcastle Rowing, Racket Sports, Water Polo and various scholars.
- Rich designs and delivers content for the BSc Sport & Exercise Science course and leads on the department CPD coach education programme.
- Rich has previously been involved with England Netball (NPL & NSL), England Volleyball, NBL Division 1 and international racket sport athletes.
Ross Drummond
Ross became a UKSCA accredited coach in 2016 and has over 10 years of S&C coaching experience. Ross started as an intern with the University back in 2012 progressing to a full-time member of the team. During his time at the University, Ross has supported numerous multi-sport athletes.
- Ross provides S&C support to Hockey, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Men’s Football and various scholars. Some of those teams compete in both BUCS and National Leagues, requiring players are physically ready to tolerate the fixture heavy season.
- Ross also contributes to the department CPD programme educating a different cohort of interns and volunteers each year.
- External to Newcastle University, Ross also leads on the land programme for the very successful Newcastle Swim Team. Athletes range from County level (10yr olds) right up to Performance (16yr old+).
Chris Ferriter
Chris began coaching with the university as a volunteer back in 2014. He progressed from volunteer to full-time member of staff, picking up an MSc in Strength and Conditioning and UKSCA accreditation along the way. Chris has worked in multi-sports, most notably Rugby Union, Basketball and Swimming.
- For several years, Chris was the Lead S&C Coach at City of Sunderland ASC providing support all along the development pathway from child to international athlete.
- He has also worked with British Para-Swimming as a remote practitioner and was selected on the support team for major international competitions and training camps.
- Chris also contributes to the development of our intern coaches and manages student research projects investigating the effects of neck strengthening in contact sports.