Sports coach Julian turns published author

Tutor Julian Monk sees his sports expertise published in a new book

Sports students at UCEN Manchester are being coached for career success thanks to expert tutor Julian Monk, whose knowledge on strength and conditioning has been published in a newly released book.

Julian is Programme Lead for Sports Science and Human Performance and teaches students studying Level 4 to 6 . His wealth of experience includes working as head of fitness and conditioning at Liverpool Football Club academy, training players from the age of nine to 19, as well as roles with Widnes Vikings rugby league club, football clubs in Bury and Burnley and also personal training and gym management experience.

Now Julian’s years of expertise has seen him grace bookshelves across the country thanks to his chapter on Energy System Development for Female Athletes for the book “Strength and Conditioning for the Female Athlete” by Keith Barker and Debby Sargent. Julian joins fellow experts in the field to explore the differences in training a female athlete.

Julian said: “Seeing my work published felt a bit weird at first but it was an enjoyable experience and it’s nice to have completed something I’ve not done before. It also made me think about developing the information I provided for my chapter and turning that into a book of my own.”

Alongside his teaching responsibilities, Julian maintains his role as tutor and assessor for the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). The association ensures accredited coaches reach the highest standards in terms of learning, training and delivery, and is a recognised and essential accreditation for employment in top flight sports clubs.

Julian is passionate about ensuring students benefit from his 25 years in the strength and conditioning industry, and about giving them the edge when it comes to gaining a career.

He said: “My focus is on students gaining practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge. Having been an employer, I know the first question students will be asked at interviews is what practical experience they have. So this year we’ve been working closely with sports teams at The Manchester College, such as footballers the Nicholls Community Football Centre of Excellence, and getting our students put their learning into practice.

“As part of my role with UKSCA, I developed workshops to help people pass the different competency requirements needed for accreditation. The criteria needed to achieve accreditation has been incorporated into the course, so students are on track to gain their accreditation once they leave.”

Find out about the wide range of courses in Sports and Exercise Science at the UCEN Manchester website.