It’s fair to say that Rick Pilling has taken pole vault in Sussex to new heights. He has spent the 15 years since he started coaching developing both his own skills and those of his athletes and not without a lot of success. With accolades including mentoring a string of national champions and English Schools medalists from both his home club of Lewes AC as well as others across the county, he is definitely getting it right. Kate Matthews caught up with Rick to talk about his coaching and how it has been affected by Covid19.
Kate: Who are you? 
Rick: Richard Pilling, aged 63, retired firefighter and publican. UKA Level 3 Pole Vault & Jumps coach. Lewes AC is my home club. I also coach at Crawley AC.
Kate: Which athletes do you and have you coached?
Rick: I coach Junior athletes Pole Vault aged from ten to twenty. The squad has over thirty athletes training on a regular basis.
The athletes I have coached are as follows:
Livvy Connor (twice English Schools U19 champion, U17 National champion outdoors & Indoors).
Naomi Lee (National outdoor U15 champion and indoor silver medallist).
Calum Neil (English Schools silver and National U17 silver medallist).
Emilie Oakden (English Schools U15 gold and bronze as well as indoor National champion U17 and indoor Nationals’ bronze).
Amelia Hatchard (English Schools U15 silver and National bronze medallist).
Bill Saunders (silver U15 English Schools and indoor Nationals Silver).
William Snashall (U15 English Schools silver and outdoor National bronze medals).
Emilie Blackwell (U17 English Schools bronze medal).
Freya Fitchett (U15 indoor National bronze).
Natasha Purchas (English Schools U15 silver, U17 bronze and U19 gold). 
Jack Harris (U20 Nationals indoors silver).
Lucinda White (U15 English Schools and National champion).
Gemma Tutton (U15 outdoor National and U17 indoor National Champion, UK record holder both indoors and outdoors at U13 and U15).
James Pratt (Nationals outdoor bronze).
Kate: How long have you been coaching and how did you get into it?
Rick: I started coaching in 2005. Chris, my son started vaulting and his then coach had to give up. I was persuaded to take the group over. Mentored and helped in the early years through my UKA qualifications by Mick Cole of HBS. For the last twelve years I have been mentored by Allan Williams.
Kate: Were you an athlete before a coach?
Rick: I only did athletics during my school years - Triple, High Jump and Hurdles. After leaving school I played football, rugby, golf and volleyball.
Kate: How often do you coach?
Rick: Sessions are worked out and planned on athlete needs for the time of year, athlete long term goals and competition. Nothing is written down, everything is very flexible to cope with school/college exams, growth, other interests, family and the British weather!! Strength and conditioning training depends on maturation. Whilst again not set-in stone, the athletes have circuits and exercises, they are expected to fit in round coached technical sessions and other activities.
It does depend on the time of year as to how many sessions I coach. Spring/Summer around twelve sessions a week. Winter/Autumn same number of sessions but I coach less and rely on other group coaches to take some S & C and sprint sessions. My sessions are varied - pole vault requires all round training.
Kate: What are the highs and lows of being a coach?
Rick: The British weather would best describe the highs and lows of coaching a technical event - you never really know what you're going to get.
Kate: What is/are your proudest moment(s)?
Rick: It has to be Emilie Oakden winning the English Schools pole vault title with a CBP record. I will never forget the look of horror on her face when during the competition several thousand spectators gave her the runway "hand clap" for the first time.
Kate: What have been the hardest moments?
Rick: Any time an athlete no heights.
Kate: How do you motivate your athletes to keep going and focus etc? 
Rick: Goal setting helps set focus, but the big motivator is making the training varied and fun.
Kate: What has coaching athletics brought to your life?
Rick: Many friends.
Kate: Has coaching changed over the years?
Rick : Yes, with all the information available on the internet coaching is getting more technical. My view if you want the athlete to lift a leg keep it simple and tell them to lift it, don't give them a lecture on anatomy, they can get that at school.
Kate: What are the main difficulties that face you and your athletes in normal times?
Rick: Lack of Indoor training facilities both locally and on a national level.
Kate: What have been the main difficulties facing you and your athletes during Covid19? How have you overcome these? Is it getting harder to manage the more lockdowns we face? 
Rick: Boredom and Isolation have been the main problems. Circulating training programs and hosting zoom meetings helped the athletes stay fit and motivated. The athletes in the group at Priory School and ex Priory school pupils were previously lucky in as soon as two people could meet up with a coach the headmaster allowed them full use of the Lewes track during school hours. We are back to Zoom now.
Kate: Would you encourage others to become coaches and why?
Rick: Find yourself a mentor, watch and listen to as many coaches as you can. Use the internet with caution and don't use any drills/exercises found unless you understand what they do.
Kate: How could the world of athletics be improved for both athletes and coaches?
Rick: Funding is the big issue - should coaches be professional and paid?