Ans Botha and Helena Duplantis are among the speakers at online International Festival of Athletics Coaching conference this weekend

Earlier this year the International Festival of Athletics Coaching (IFAC) was one of the first big events in the sport to be called off due to coronavirus. It was due to take place in Loughborough in March but with the pandemic already spreading through Europe some coaches were unable to travel to the UK for it.

Now, though, it has been re-arranged for this weekend (November 6-8) as an online event called “Virtual IFAC 2020” with a host of interesting experts poised to deliver online lectures.

Speakers include Ans Botha, the coach of Wayde van Niekerk, plus Helena Duplantis, coach to Mondo Duplantis – a real coup for the conference given that their athletes are world record-holders.

In addition there is multiple Paralympic wheelchair racing gold medallist Chantal Petitclerc and Dawn Scott, the physical preparation manager for the England women’s football team who previously worked with the World Cup-winning United States team.

The line-up also ranges from world record coaches to leaders in science and emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence.

Further coaches due to speak include Frank Dick, Charles van Commenee, Malcolm Arnold and Vern Gambetta.

Virtual IFAC 2020 will take place on November 6-8 over seven separate sessions, each lasting around 2 hours 30 minutes, consisting of two presentations and a panel discussion with the opportunity for attendees to send questions to the panel.

Access and information on Virtual IFAC 2020 will all be driven through the newly relaunched EACA website.

Virtual IFAC 2020 costs €99 but AW subscribers can receive a 20% discount with a voucher code in our AW Clubhouse here.