Barry Barnes Profile
Name: Barry Barnes
Grade: Level 3
Specialist Disciplines: Middle Distance/Endurance/Sprints
Age Groups: Under 15 and older
Training Days: Tuesday, Thursday and occasional Saturday/ Sunday
Years coaching: 22 years
Coaching Background:
Started by coaching boxing when my career ended, then moved to football when my youngest son started playing (mid 1970’s). Qualified as a football coach under Mick Wadsworth (former England assistant coach to Bobby Robson) and moved to athletics coaching during the mid 1980’s at Stainforth Athletic Club. Worked up to Level 3 status in Middle Distance, Sprints and Hurdles before suspending my activities due to career priorities. Resumed coaching after the move to the Keepmoat Stadium and have looked to develop my skills, knowledge and experience at every opportunity. I am on the Coach Development programme and meet regularly with Brian Scobie (my mentor on the programme, a National Coach who has coached Olympic and World class athletes). At every opportunity I attend meetings and seminars and look to involve the athletes I work with in regional and national activities and events that will contribute to their development, including attendance at elite athlete workshops.
I am the club representative on the South Yorkshire Coach Development Group I work tirelessly for the benefit of the athletes I work with and share in the success that they achieve. I strive to involve them in the decisions that impact on their athletics career and I seek opportunities to ensure the quality of care they recieve is of the highest standard, nutrition, injury management, psychological and physical. I believe that skill and technique development, in the young athletes I work with, is a priority and I place the emphasis on this in my coaching sessions
Future coaching plans for me, are to continue with my development and to build on my knowledge and understanding in the area of Sport Psychology. To this end, I am working closely with my mentor and other athletic representatives to ensure this area of athlete development becomes a focus for coach training.
Athlete Background:
Was an ‘open class’ boxer up to my late teens and in my mid to late 20’s played football at a semi-professional level, although I didn’t get paid.
Became interest in running having completed the first London Marathon (3 35) and joined Stainforth Athletic Club as a result. Never a top class athlete I still represented the club at various events and enjoyed the -camaraderie’ the built among the senior members. I think my main achievement was completing the London Marathon in 2-56 in 1989 and that same year I came in the top 300 in the City to Surf in Sydney, Australia. Whilst there I also ‘represented’ Great Britain in the Australian Cross Country Championships (it’s a story to tell) and competed against the great Steve Moneggheti (twice London Marathon winner and Olympic silver medallist)
Whilst at Stainforth AC I was the club secretary and took the club through the amalgamation with Doncaster Plant Works AC. I was instrumental in the development of the facilities at the Keepmoat Stadium (another story to tell) and I am both the company secretary as well as the club secretary. Although not an athlete of much status (I achieved that during my boxing career) I feel I have a great deal to offer to those I coach and I ensure a caring and supportive environment is provided, where success has many facets.
Favourite Music: Varied
Favourite Movie: Prefer theatre
Favourite Food: Traditional English
Worst Job:
Favourite Athlete: Steve Monagghetti
Favourite Quote: ‘If you can dream it you can do it’ (Michael Flynne)
Contact Details:
9 Brosley Avenue , Barnby Dun, Doncaster, DN3 1AH
01302 884195