ABOUT ME

My name is Val and I work as a Private Coach and as a freelance writer and speaker on topics such as sports science, fitness, health, mental health and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

I am a Post Graduate Teaching Assistant at Loughborough University, studying a PhD on Female Coaches in Strength and Conditioning. I am also supporting teaching on undergraduate exercise physiology modules and on the MSc in Strength & Conditioning. I am a member of the Loughborough School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) Equity, Diversity & Inclusion working group.

I recently joined the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) Board of Directors to help further Education and Training pre-accredited status (pre-ASCC).

I write and edit a new column in the UKSCA's Journal titled 'Empowering Female Coaches'.

I previously worked for Orreco, a private physiology company who work with elite sports teams globally. I have worked with teams and athletes from the FA's Premier League and Women's Super League (football/soccer).

I have over 23 years of experience in fitness & sports coaching, including coaching in football, snowboarding, Olympic weightlifting, CrossFit, running, indoor rowing & Strength & Conditioning.

I am an experienced educator with over 16 years of experience designing and delivering classroom and online learning content for both adults and young people. I have experience of redesigning organisational induction programmes and learning content. Whilst working for Honda Trading Europe, I was commended by Honda Trading Japan (HQ) for consistently high level feedback on my redesign and delivery of the Honda Philosophy course.

Through Private Coaching, my aim is to help athletes like myself make the most of their sport be it for fun or performance with health always at the core.

I work with all athletes from Recreational to Highly Competitive levels.

I branched into Life Coaching as well as sports coaching because I don't think you can neatly separate the mind and body. They are not two distinct aspects of the human organism, but rather two intertwined systems that are equally important for health and performance.

I previously studied a Post Graduate Diploma in Women's Studies and have a keen desire to broaden the reach of Strength & Conditioning as a profession to help inspire more females to become coaches.

I identify as a lesbian and hope to offer support to and provide a positive role model for the LGBTQ community.

I love all of the pursuits I engage in and believe that’s what helps keep my mind and body happy, peaceful and heathy.

MY LIFE MANTRAS

LIVE LIFE LOVE LIFE

Live Life: Make the most of what this life has to offer

Love Life: Enjoy life as much as possible

BE THE BEST YOU

Be the Best You is about using our experiences and connections to grow and develop positively and to hopefully have a positive impact within this life.

CURRENT MIND & BODY PURSUITS

Indoor Rowing*

Cycling*

Weightlifting**

Running

Open Water Swimming

Surfing

Buddhist Meditation***

*Coached by Eddie Fletcher

**Coached by Sarah Davies

***Coached by Bhante Samitha

SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

British Records Indoor Rowing

11th May 2020 British Record HWT Female 40-49 1 minute Row 332m
21st April 2020 Matched British Record HWT Female 40-49 100m Row 0:17.0
20th April 2020 British Record HWT Female 40-49 1 minute Row 330m

British Records SkiErg

4th March 2020 British Record Female 40-49 100m SkiErg 0:18.9
26th February 2020 British Record Female 40-49 4 minute SkiErg 1015m
18th February 2020 British Record Female 40-49 1 minute SkiErg 296m
13th December 2019 British Record Female 40-49 1000m SkiErg 3:52.8

World Rowing Indoor Championships

4th Place Finisher Female 45-49 2000m 2024

(This was after a full year out injured in 2022 and returning from injury in 2023-2024)

Indoor Rowing National Championships

Bronze Medal Female 40-49 2000m British Rowing Virtual Championships 2021
Silver Medal Female 40-49 1000m Scottish Rowing Indoor Championships 2020
Bronze Medal Female 40-49 500m Scottish Rowing Indoor Championships 2020
Bronze Medal Female 40-49 500m British Rowing Virtual Championships 2020
Bronze Medal Female 40-49 2000m British Rowing Virtual Championships 2020
Silver Medal Female 40-49 500m British Rowing Indoor Championships 2019

10 Mile Cycling Time Trial

21st July 2022 Swindon Wheelers Cycling Club V40 (women over 40) Club Record 25:51

(This was only my 6th 10-mile TT and with little cycling miles behind me as I was out injured from indoor rowing)

Functional Fitness

1st Place Winners Female Masters Pairs Category at the Superhuman Games 2017

QUALIFICATIONS

Academic Qualifications

Currently studying a PhD on Female Coaches in Strength & Conditioning
Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology with Distinction
Post Graduate Certificate in Strength & Conditioning with Distinction
Post Graduate Diploma in Women’s Studies
First-Class BA Honours Degree in Youth & Community Work

UK Strength & Conditioning Association (UKSCA)

Accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach (ASCC)
Plyometrics, Agility & Speed Workshop
Applied Coaching Science Workshop
Planning Effective Programmes for Sports Performance Workshop
Weight Lifting for Sports Performance Workshop

Life Coaching, NLP and Mindfulness

Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching with Distinction
Level 3 Diploma in Life Coaching with Distinction
Life Coaching Diploma
NLP Certified Business Practitioner (Neuro Linguistic Programming)
Mindfulness Diploma

Sports Conditioning and Strength & Conditioning

Level 4 Award in Strength & Conditioning
Level 3 Certificate in Sports Conditioning

Indoor Rowing

Dark Horse Trainer / Concept2 Indoor Rowing Instructor
British Rowing Go Row Indoor Instructor

Olympic Weightlifting, Strength Training and Powerlifting

Level 2 Course for Technical Officials (Olympic Weightlifting)
Level 2 British Weight Lifting Certificate in Coaching Weight Lifting
Level 1 British Weight Lifting Certificate in Coaching Weight Lifting
Level 2 Award in Instructing Weight Lifting (Strength Training)
Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Powerlifting

Running

Coach in Running Fitness - England Athletics
Athletics Coaching Assistant - England Athletics
Gait Analysis

CrossFit

CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
CrossFit Kids Trainer
CrossFit Gymnastics Trainer
CrossFit Aerobic Capacity Trainer
Lesson Planning Certificate
Scaling Certificate
Running Certificate
Spot the Flaw Certificate

Fitness Qualifications

Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Pilates (Practitioner)
Level 3 Award in Adapting Exercise for Ante Natal and Post Natal Clients
Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training
Level 2 Award in Instructing Suspended Movement Training
Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Physical Activity to Children

Fitness Short Courses/CPD

Senior Fitness Specialist
Youth Exercise Specialist
Kettlebells
Bootcamp Training
Box Fit Instructor
Running Certificate
Torso Training & Core Stability Certificate
Circuit Training Certificate
Certificate in Nutrition for Health & Fitness

Swimming Qualifications

Level 1 Assistant Swim Teacher Certificate

Football Qualifications

Level 1 in Coaching Football
FA Junior Team Managers Award

Snowboard Qualifications

Level 1 UKCP Snowboard Coach (BASI)
Level 1 Certificate in Instructing Snowboarding (NZSIA)
Level 2 Certificate in Instructing Snowboarding (NZSIA)
Level 2 Children's Teaching Certificate (NZSIA)

Teaching and Learning & Development Qualifications

Level 5 Certificate in Learning & Development (CIPD)
Level 4 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Safeguarding and Equality & Diversity

Safeguarding & Protecting Children
Safeguarding and Protecting Children - Digital Kids
British Weight Lifting Safeguarding Refresher
Safeguarding in Athletics - UK Athletics
Level 2 Certificate in Equality & Diversity

Mental Health Awareness

Level 2 Award in Mental Health Awareness
Mental Health Awareness for Sport & Physical Activity
Mental Health First Aid

Clean Sport Awareness

UKAD Coach Clean
British Weight Lifting Lift Clean Awareness
British Athletics Clean Athletics Awareness
British Rowing iRowClean

First Aid

Emergency First Aid at Work

Professional Memberships

British Rowing
British Weight Lifting (BWL)
England Athletics (EA)
UK Coaching - Subscription
UK Strength & Conditioning Association (UKSCA) - Accredited Member
British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) - Professional Member