SCH 1

"Positive feedback following the SAQ® Training induction has been overwhelming! We intend to have a SAQ® Schools Training Director down again soon to train the remainder of the teachers keen to benefit from this fantastic resource. The teachers who have experienced the course have completely changed their approach to delivering fundamental motor skills to both primary and secondary aged pupils".

Leigh Marshall - PDM, Coopers Company and Coburn, Sports College Partnership, Upminster

SCH 2

"SAQ® has underpinned our desire to impart good practice across the authority. With excellent training from SAQ® Training Directors, 90 coaches, secondary and primary teachers have been trained. Long Term Athlete Development is at the heart of our work and SAQ® is a key programme in it's delivery and sustainability!"

Sue Odgers - PDM, South Gloucestershire, County Council

SCH 3

"SAQ® Training plays an important role within our partnership, particularly in encouraging teachers to be innovative and to think about developing pupils' generic movement skills".

Geoff Sheldon - PDM, Education Action Zone, Easington District, County Durham

SCH 4

"SAQ® Training has provided County Durham primary and secondary school teachers with an innovative, flexible, adaptable and user friendly resource. Activities are all inclusive and ideally support both fundamental and essential core dance, gymnastics, games and athletic skills and activities across Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4".

Alan Duff - PDM, Wear Valley Sports Coordinator, County Durham

SCH 5

“An amazing course - the best inset I have ever been to”

Matt Lloyd, Devizes School (Award evaluation form)

SPOR 1

“The entire SAQ® concept is breathtaking and yet so simple. I strongly recommend taking the one-day course at your earliest convenience. The grass roots and coaches of all backgrounds should embrace these ideas.”

Allan Manners (by email)

SPORT 2

“Following the Award I have done a number of sessions with various groups of young hockey players, from basic junior teams up to the Midlands Schoolgirls U17 squad. Even over a one off session I’ve found their balance and foot movement has improved immensely.”

Clive Terret (by letter)

“I feel like I’ve re-trained and have the same level of inspiration I once had”

Durham teacher

SCH 6

Most valuable training day I’ve had”

Durham teacher (Award evaluation form)

SPORT 3

“Attending the Award allowed me to submit a really innovative dissertation to complete my Degree and find work with a large soccer company in the USA. I use the skills and methods I learnt on a daily basis.”

Glen Maybo, Seattle (by email)

SPORT 4

“In addition to ’superb’ I could also add ‘inspiring’, ‘challenging’, ‘highly motivational’ and ‘educational’. To have learned so much in one day and have an opportunity to put the principles into practice was quite excilarating.”

John Davis FACA

SPORT 5

“Jo has provided the club with a new innovative and enjoyable way of training. During the season we have seen less injuries than normal and an improvement in the overall speed and agility of players”.

Fran Ripley Club Captain - Lansdown Women’s Hockey Club (Mentor to International Diploma student, Jo Shire)

SPORT 6

“The I-Diploma has been a great help in developing my coaching technique and ability. It has been refreshing to me and all who have taken part, but also very challenging”.

Jim Weir – Youth Team Coach St Johnstone Football Club

SPORT 7

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of designing and implementing a conditioning programme using SAQ® Training principles. The experience has opened my mind and unlocked my imagination to many new ideas, and I firmly believe I am a better coach for it. The goalkeepers have enjoyed and responded to the new challenges placed upon them with improved performances in games. The parents, too, have noticed the difference and passed comment! However, this is only the beginning in their quest to become, more athletic Goalkeepers. Roll on pre-season!”

Richard Steadman – Academy Goalkeeper Coach Birmingham City F.C

SPORT 8

“This course has been extremely enriching. It has developed me as a SAQ® Trainer and made me so much more employable by equipping me with a thorough understanding of the SAQ® Continuum and the ability to design and implement an SAQ® Programme.

Greg Commins – Fitness and Conditioning Coach University of Cape Town Rugby Club

SPORT 9

“Greg’s Pre-season Training Programme has been a great success. The level of fitness achieved by the players and the emphasis on the honing of skills was exceptional too. Described by the committee as “the best prepared teams ever at UCT”.

Leonard Kaplan – Head Coach of University of Cape Town Rugby Club and Mentor to Greg Commins

SPORT 10

“The results of the Final Assessment prove that, as a result of implementing an 8-week, sports specific conditioning programme using SAQ® Training principles, Real Tennis performance improved. This should provide reason enough for anyone to incorporate these techniques into their training”.

Dominic King – Real Tennis Coach

SPORT 11

“The 8-week programme made the players work smartly and the drills were game related so they understood the benefits to be gained by using SAQ® Training to enhance their personal development. All feedback received from players, coaches and parents has been very positive and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are looking to continue their work undertake further programmes next season”.

Mark Smithson – Wakefield Trinity Wildcats U-13s coach

SPORT 12

“Having recently completed the P-Award, I decided to enrol on the I-Diploma. SAQ® has made a huge difference to my coaching, and the players do understand the benefits of sports specific fitness work. There is also the added benefit that it is both challenging and fun. I would add that with the SAQ® Continuum, training possibilities are limited only by your imagination!”

Terry O’Sullivan – Hockey Coach University College of Cork

SPORT 13

DAVID JAMES

"Having been a professional player for over 20 years I have seen many trainers and many training programmes, years of old school, prosaic programs. My experience with Big Al (Alan Pearson) and SAQ fundamentally changed the way I looked at my training. The SAQ Programme is without doubt one of the reasons I still maintain my current position in the premier league at nearly 37 years old. With continued use I feel able to continue my career well into my 40's." David James

Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester City, England

SPORT 14 9NOTE)

PETER FRIAR MSc MCSP BSc (Hons)

As a Chartered Physiotherapist and Sports Scientist my job in professional football is to oversee Injury Prevention Strategies, Post Injury Rehabilitation and the Fitness Conditioning of my players.

The ‘fundamental skills and movement’ taught through SAQ® based drills underpin all these ‘goals’ and provide a framework upon which players can ‘condition’ to play their chosen sport. Consequently I have actively promoted and utilized the SAQ® principles heavily in my work from junior football players to Premier League and International players.

In Alan Pearson, SAQ® have somebody with unequalled enthusiasm and foresight to think ‘outside the box’ to ensure that the principles of SAQ® underpin the fundamental movements of all sports, in a sports specific manner.

I highly recommend SAQ® for Soccer as a resource tool but once you have an in-depth knowledge of the principles of SAQ® training (courses are available), the greatest resource tool is your imagination and your understanding of SAQ® principles allied to your chosen sport.

Peter Friar MSc MCSP BSc (Hons)

Head of Sport Medicine, Sunderland AFC

SPORT 15

STEVE PALMER

"I have actively been using the principles of SAQ® for ten years. As a player in both the Premier and Football League I found the advanced elements of the Continuum a useful tool in enhancing quickness and power. As a coach working with elite schoolboy players the SAQ® fundamentals on mechanics and movement patterns form an integral part in physical development schemes."

Ipswich, Watford, currently Spurs Academy Coach.

SPORT 16

DON HUTCHINSON

"I was introduced to SAQ® while at West Ham, found the training stimulating, football specific and top notch. Made a massive difference to both the team and my individual performances. I believe all clubs should the SAQ® Programme."

Liverpool, West Ham, Coventry City, Scottish International

SPORT 17

STEVE LOMAS

"SAQ® Training develops speed and movement patterns that are relative to playing a game of football. The SAQ® Training in my experience made a massive difference to the performance level of the players and the team, another plus is that it is motivational and varied from session to session so you never get stale. The modern game demands that players are fast, multi-directional and at times explosive. SAQ® Training definitely delivers this."

Manchester City, West Ham, QPR, Captain Northern Ireland

SPORT 18

SUE LOPEZ, MBE

SAQ Women's Soccer is an undoubted boost to the development of
skilful female football players.

SAQ Training is ideally suited to refining girls' natural
movements. They enjoy the opportunity to move dynamically and
rhythmically, adapting their generally lighter and more fluid movements
to a football context.

I certainly wish I could have trained the SAQ way when I was playing for
Southampton and England! As a FA ‘A’ Licence coach and SAQ Trainer I can at least coach players using these great techniques. My Physical Education teaching background convinces me that the SAQ Women's Soccer programme can enhance all movement for football, whatever the age and ability of the player.

Head of Women's Football, Southampton Football Club
Director of Football, Southampton Saints (Women’s FA Premier League)

Sue Lopez MBE   

COMM 1

Dr Madeleine Portwood

Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist

Chairperson of the Education Committee of the Dyspraxia Foundation

Dynamic flexibility is optimally achieved with the Dynamic Flex Warm-Up. Dynamic Flex adapts to individual movement needs of children and encourages them to extend their skills naturally. It fits in with their behaviour and natural development. It is easy to follow, making it ideal for parents and anyone working with children and young people, providing a structured learning opportunity and allowing them to obtain and improve essential movement skills.

COMM 2 (NOTE)

Peter Friar BSc (Hons), MSc, MScP, SRP

Head Physiotherapist and Sport Scientist at Sunderland F.C.

Dynamic flex is the way we should warm up because when we play sport and exercise it is dynamic. Warming up for physical activity must therefore be dynamic. Dynamic flex warms up the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems and can be adapted to the needs of all sports and activities with ease. This new book is clear, informative and simple to follow and I recommend it to anyone involved in sport or physical activity, whatever their age or ability, professional or amateur.

SPORT 19

Riet’s version

As hockey coaches, SAQ offers an irresistable combination: injury prevention, increased power, improvements in speed and a structured method for players to develop rapid changes of direction under control. It’s ideal for hockey, very game-related and offers huge variety to keep our players interested.

The reaction to its introduction with the Irish senior national squad has been hugely positive. Through many years in hockey, I’ve come across a variety of different physical training methods and techniques. I can safely say that players of all ages from junior school teams to senior international squads can really enjoy and benefit from the hockey-specific SAQ programme.

I’d encourage anyone in hockey to try SAQ and hope that it will be as enjoyable and effective for you as it has been for the teams that I’ve been involved with

COMM 3

KIM CHESTERFIELD

As a chartered physiotherapist actively involved in the treatment of sports injuries as well as general musculoskeletal injuries, I am delighted that such a simple and easy to use resource is now available for everybody to enjoy.

The majority of joint and soft-tissue injuries I treat, outside of the sporting context, are either a direct or indirect result of poor posture. Most bad postural habits are the result of not sitting properly for long hours at work. Our bodies are designed to move and stretch, so long hours of static, poor posture leads to muscle and joint fatigue in addition to poor flexibility; these eventually manifest themselves as pain.

Part of our treatment of such conditions is education about posture and exercise, often related to daily working routines. Fit 4 Work will give people the tools they need to counteract the negative affects of poor posture and prolonged periods of inactivity. I will happily recommend this book to all my clients along with their physiotherapy exercises.

Kim Chesterfield MCSP SRP

Chartered Physiotherapist, Director of Therapeutics Ltd, Team GBR Sailing Head Physiotherapist.

SPORT 20

“The lads and I now feel more confident in how to use the equipment but also in giving the technical instruction to the players we work with.

We are implementing these elements at our Residential course this Summer which enhance the experience had by all the children”

Mike Neary

UK & Ireland Course Manager

Manchester United Soccer Schools

SERVICES 1

Our Company works closely with SAQ international providing performance development solutions for individuals and teams within elite sport, the military and schools.

The team were a joy to work with from day 1, accepting challenges head on and being extremely flexible in their approach. The senior trainers are some of the most knowledgeable and experienced in their field.

We are currently working with SAQ International within new projects in Primary Schools and the British Army.

If you are serious about maximising your ability to develop yourself or others we would strongly recommend attending one of the many SAQ courses.

Mark Bennett MBE

Performance People

“Pioneers of the Performance Development System.”

SCH & COMM

QCA

A school, which places a great emphasis on raising pupil self-esteem, focused on developing a new transition PE curriculum from key stage 2 to 3. The school, that believes that PE and school sport plays an important part in promoting social inclusion, taught different activities including swimming, striking and fielding games, ball skills, and speed, agility and quickness work (SAQ). Pupils' ability to perform effectively was assessed using the core tasks from the QCA schemes of work. As a result of the transition curriculum, pupils' self- esteem was raised and rates of participation and attendance increased. During the pilot project, 95% of all transition PE lessons enjoyed a 100% participation rate.

Press release - 29th November 2001

QCA PE and School Sport project

SCH & COMM

Talent in Physical Education:

The Doncaster Project

Final Report

David Morley

Dr Richard Bailey

Dr Nicholas Holt

September 2003

Centre for Physical Education

Leeds Met Carnegie

4.7 Conclusions

4.7.1 Impact

• SAQ® activities has a positive impact on pupils in terms of self-esteem and self-confidence

• Although there are some structural concerns related to tedium of activities, pupils generally enjoy the activities particularly the use of the equipment

• Teachers noted improvements in performance, particularly in movement skills

• Some teachers successfully used the activities to improve the ability of children with SEN and this also had a positive effect on there standing within the group

• Teachers are very positive about the potential

benefits of using SAQ® activities

4.7.2 Placement

• A number of teachers felt that SAQ® activities are best placed in HRE or Athletics

• SAQ® activities can be used across the whole age range

• SAQ® activities are most effective in curricular time (in terms of identifying potential)

• Effective duration of activities is affected by the ability of the pupils, the structure of the activities and the overall rationale for using the activities

4.7.3 Improvement

• Teachers acknowledged improvement in games areas as a result of participating in SAQ® activities

• Occasionally, pupils found it difficult to see the link between SAQ® activities and performance in other activities

• Teachers were allowed to see pupils in a different light in a positive and negative sense

Teachers commented on the pupils enjoyment of the activities as a result of them being different and in some ways more challenging

SCH & COMM

Evaluation of the Durham

Dales PCT ‘Active

Choice’ LEAP Project

The data would suggest that the level of physical activity associated with the SAQ

session is consistently higher than that of a typical dance lesson. Moreover the overall

shape of the curve indicates that the exercise intensity was maintained at a relatively

high level over much of the time course of the session.

Whilst figure 7.10 above provides an illustrative example of how heart rate intensity

is maintained at an elevated level for an extended period of time. Figure 7.11 below

allows an interesting comparison of exercise intensity with other curriculum areas.

Here the data suggests that SAQ sessions compare most favourably with what might

be termed traditional ‘games’ activities. With average heart rates in the order of 133 –

138 beats per minute it is clear that SAQ lessons have a relatively high cardiovascular

requirement which is every much as demanding as other curriculum areas.

Combining the results of children’s positive perception of SAQ sessions and the

relative exercise intensity associated with such sessions it is clear that SAQ has

proved to be a valuable intervention of the ‘Active Choice’ project. Indeed when this

is put into the context of SAQ also helping to develop key movement skills and

general co-ordination then it is clear that its use, to complement the PE curriculum,

may well prove to be useful in engaging children in health promoting physical

activity.

TENNIS

"SAQ® Programmes have changed the way in which we train our coaches and our players. The dynamic systems have encouraged impressive improvements and results with the players in our academy Network and we are now including SAQ® Equipment in all our performance coaches courses"

Adrian Rattenbury, President European Registry of Tennis Professionals