Perth sprint running coach Western Australia
What you say about Block ...
"Darren has made a big impact on our 2019/20 American Football women's team. We asked him to come along to help us get faster, more efficient, reduce running injuries and improve our running technique. We now have girls that never thought they would be confident runners pacing out our best sprinters all over the field. Now we run with confidence. Personally, I can now run a whole game and can play both sides of the ball without getting tired because my running style is so much more efficient. He’s made a huge difference to our team. We’re really grateful for his teaching, warm-ups and running techniques. He’s a lovely guy too! We’re so lucky to have found him. Kind regards, Kathryn, Curtin Saints American Football Team"
"Both of our boys have genuinely enjoyed their experience at Block Athletics under Darren. They have gained specific skills on pre-race preparation and improved their running technique. Darren’s ability to identify specific needs at an individual level has enabled our boys to work on both their strengths and weaknesses. Darren has been able to provide the boys with a consistent approach to improving their running skills in an environment that promotes inclusion with all ages and levels of ability. Kind regards Kirsty & Trent"
"Darren coached the Beach Team at Trigg SLSC in 2018/19. He coached Juniors, Youth, Senior and Masters competitors. At all times Darren was reliable, enthusiastic and organised going beyond his scope to make sure all athletes received excellent instruction and feedback. Darren was certainly an asset to the Trigg Beach Team which had a most successful season. Cas, Trigg SLSC"
"My 9 year old son, has been attending Block Athletics for the last 15 months. During that time, his skill and confidence has grown significantly and he has moved up a couple of divisions and placed in his school athletics carnival, thanks to Darren's excellent coaching. Darren is patient, an excellent motivator and has developed a training program that is highly effective and engaging. Kind regards Katie"
"As a Basketball Coach, I’m always looking for different ways to challenge my teams performance levels and improve the level of play. I had spoken to Darren about some of the goals I was hoping to achieve with my U/14 Boys team and he suggested he come in and do a session. Darren’s drills and technique had almost immediate effect on the team’s ability to move up and down the court. Offensively & defensively, seconds matter – and I have seen a major improvement on both sides. If you have any doubt what value a sprint coach would bring, I can only recommend that you give a session with Block Athletics a go. Thanks Reza, Puma Willetton Basketball Coach"
"We’ve only recently started at Block but my observations are that the kids are actively engaged, being challenged and enjoying the training sessions. In addition to managing the group you have also been able to address individual requirements, which is appreciated. Keep up the good work. Regards Paul"
"I was introduced to Darren at Block Athletics through my senior sprint coach, in my hope to be able to train and compete at the World Athletics Championships in Perth November 2016. Darren was recommended based on his expertise and interest in coaching master and junior athletes. I worked with Darren to achieve my goal and succeeded in competing at the Championships, injury free as well as winning three gold medals at the Western Australian Surf Lifesaving Masters in February 2017. Additionally, my daughters, aged 9 and 5, joined in Darren’s sessions, where he showed skill and care in grading programs specific to the age, goal and sport of the athletes. My older daughter went on to win her school 70 metre sprint, place 2nd in the Inter-school 70m sprint and finished 4th at the Junior State Surf Lifesaving Championships in both beach sprints and flags. This year offers an exciting opportunity as the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships are in Perth March 2018. My old relay team hopes to train under Darren to reclaim our National Title. We all have had either State or Australian team selection and have high regard in the skill, knowledge and expertise Darren has to assist us to reach our goal. Sonja"
"After hearing about hearing about Block Athletics, I knew it was exactly what our 8 year old son needed to improve his running technique. He's always struggled with sports and so we decided to enroll both of our sons in the 12 week summer program. Darren is a patient coach and has a very effective approach when training his athletes. He accommodates to the athletes individual strengths and weaknesses, to ensure improvement and to achieve any goals set. He regularly changed both the location and trading schedule to keep it interesting, which the kids liked. Both of our boys were very comfortable around Darren & the group and enjoyed the program. Our oldest son definitely improved his technique and is also running faster, which is a bonus! Thanks Darren for running an effective Athletics program, with no pressure to perform but with proven results. You can see you take pride in what he do and this is reflected in each athlete you train. Keep up the awesome work! Danielle"
"I just want to say a big thank you for the way you have helped our children to develop their running ability and general fitness. Their improvement is clearly evident and even better, they understand what they need to do and what they need to change. The benefits of their training has been has more than just physical, it has greatly improved their confidence and general mental attitude. We are so grateful for your attentiveness to each of their different needs and your ability to mix up the lessons to keep it fresh and interesting. Our kids never complain about the sessions being dull, they absolutely love them and look forward to each session. Your ability to deal with a range of age groups at the same time and keep control of the group is amazing. All the parents remark that you are a natural! Brilliant with kids and adults. We couldn’t agree more. Dave"
"I would like to write a quick comment about Block Athletics and Darren’s fantastic coaching of our then 14 year old daughter. She was always bright and happy after each session, pleased with herself and her increasing performance and ability. Not always having the confidence within herself Darren had the ability to push hard enough to create the improvement, enjoyment and create some wonderful life skills. Darren was always mindful of age and ability and provided the appropriate training levels, always providing an enjoyable environment for her to train in. Our son who was not in training and only 7 at the time, was always welcome when appropriate to join in the warm ups and would get little coaching tips and encouragement, which he was always so pleased to get and has made a big difference to how he runs and his thought process to training and running. We had a wonderful time with Block Athletics and would highly recommend Darren to any person who would like any form of athletic training. Happy to provide the above comment, you are certainly a wonderful coach and the kids still remember their time with you and both will admit the changes and life improvements it made. It was a wonderful experience that I am very glad we did! Like riding a bike, taught at that age in the right way they will never forget. Thanks again, keep well. Cheers, Claire"
"Darren has been my 100m sprint coach and mentor for the past year. I am a 34 year old novice sprinter and was referred to Darren by another coach who recommended him as I was a beginner. I thoroughly enjoy my sessions with Darren, which are fun as well as being productive and challenging. I have been impressed by his knowledge of bio mechanics and physiology of sprinting which he communicates in a simple and effective way. I would describe Darren as passionate, enthusiastic, patient and dedicated coach, who is conscientious and strives to bring out the best of people's abilities. As a result of these qualities and his knowledge I have been able to improve my performance and technique. I have sustained two injuries- a stress fracture and recurrent shin splints-over the past year whilst running unsupervised (not during Darren's sessions) as a result of an old injury (fractured femur several years ago) . Darren has guided me through my recovery and rehabilitation, liaising with health professionals such as my podiatrist and providing an alternative program of training to suit my needs whilst injured. Had it not been for his encouragement and guidance, it is likely I may have stopped training altogether. Darren also faces the challenge of training both adults and children together and I find it impressive how he integrates the training for such different age groups, addressing the needs of both groups. It has been a pleasure to work with Darren and I hope to continue with him in the future and have no doubt my performance will continue to improve as a result of his mentoring. Juliet "
"I started training with Block Athletics to improve my running and to help me be quicker around the Tennis Court. I will never be able to thank Darren enough. My running went from no technique at all to looking and feeling like I could run. I now run with confidence during training and at school and I now make it to every ball at the nets from the back court. Anyone who needs help should go to see Darren at Block Athletics, Darren was positive, friendly, patient and professional. Thank you Darren for training me to be more competitive on the Tennis court and generally feeling more confident about myself. Jack"
"Block Athletics has been an amazing experience for our daughters. They have improved their running, sprinting and jumping techniques, as well as their confidence too. They absolutely love going to the training sessions and Darren is a great role-model. It is great to have an experienced, talented coach who is able to provide engaging training sessions for all ages and all running abilities. Darren models great technique, clearly communicates instructions and provides constructive feedback to everyone on their running techniques. He brilliantly differentiates his training sessions so everyone can participate. He has a great way with the kids who are always fully engaged and finish every session with a buzz! Seb & Hayley"
"I was looking for a sprints coach to help me get back into shape to compete at an event I registered for in 2016. Block Athletics was recommended to me as a good place to cater for all abilities. Darren helped me get into shape and overcome an injury with a good program including gym sessions, pool sessions and track work. I successfully competed at my event and was very pleased with my performance. The bonus of Block Athletics is that it is family friendly, which I love. My two girls really enjoy going to sprints training with me and they enjoy the fun atmosphere in which the drills and techniques are taught. Regards Tony"
"Our daughter joined Block Athletics to pursue her enjoyment of running and improve her technique. Darren immediately identified some areas to refine her style carefully explaining to us that these modifications would reduce the risk of injury later on. Throughout the running session he manages to challenge her at her own level without feeling like she's competing with anyone else. Darren's calm, approachable coaching style has ensured she is continuing to enjoy running. We would highly recommend Darren to anyone who is considering running training for competition, or just for fitness and fun. Nicole & Greg"
"We enrolled our son into the Building Blocks Athletics program to improve his sprinting and running technique under the coaching leadership of Darren. Our son felt at ease from the very start and it is evident that Darren has created a safe learning environment for young athletes to develop their potential. Darren is able to effectively communicate athletic techniques and principles, even to the youngest athletes in his group, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team. My son thoroughly enjoys the coaching sessions each week and has made huge improvements in all aspects of his young sporting portfolio, including sprinting, middle distance running, soccer and Tae Kwon Do.
Darren also inspired me to get back into athletics and I now train under his guidance as a Masters athlete. I highly recommend Darren as coach and Block Athletics as a focused yet fun way to improve athletic performance. Donovan"
"Both of our boys have genuinely enjoyed their experience at Block Athletics under Darren. They have gained specific skills on pre-race preparation and improved their running technique. Darren’s ability to identify specific needs at an individual level has enabled our boys to work on both their strengths and weaknesses. Darren has been able to provide the boys with a consistent approach to improving their running skills in an environment that promotes inclusion with all ages and levels of ability. Kind regards Kirsty & Trent"
"Darren coached the Beach Team at Trigg SLSC in 2018/19. He coached Juniors, Youth, Senior and Masters competitors. At all times Darren was reliable, enthusiastic and organised going beyond his scope to make sure all athletes received excellent instruction and feedback. Darren was certainly an asset to the Trigg Beach Team which had a most successful season. Cas, Trigg SLSC"
"My 9 year old son, has been attending Block Athletics for the last 15 months. During that time, his skill and confidence has grown significantly and he has moved up a couple of divisions and placed in his school athletics carnival, thanks to Darren's excellent coaching. Darren is patient, an excellent motivator and has developed a training program that is highly effective and engaging. Kind regards Katie"
"As a Basketball Coach, I’m always looking for different ways to challenge my teams performance levels and improve the level of play. I had spoken to Darren about some of the goals I was hoping to achieve with my U/14 Boys team and he suggested he come in and do a session. Darren’s drills and technique had almost immediate effect on the team’s ability to move up and down the court. Offensively & defensively, seconds matter – and I have seen a major improvement on both sides. If you have any doubt what value a sprint coach would bring, I can only recommend that you give a session with Block Athletics a go. Thanks Reza, Puma Willetton Basketball Coach"
"We’ve only recently started at Block but my observations are that the kids are actively engaged, being challenged and enjoying the training sessions. In addition to managing the group you have also been able to address individual requirements, which is appreciated. Keep up the good work. Regards Paul"
"I was introduced to Darren at Block Athletics through my senior sprint coach, in my hope to be able to train and compete at the World Athletics Championships in Perth November 2016. Darren was recommended based on his expertise and interest in coaching master and junior athletes. I worked with Darren to achieve my goal and succeeded in competing at the Championships, injury free as well as winning three gold medals at the Western Australian Surf Lifesaving Masters in February 2017. Additionally, my daughters, aged 9 and 5, joined in Darren’s sessions, where he showed skill and care in grading programs specific to the age, goal and sport of the athletes. My older daughter went on to win her school 70 metre sprint, place 2nd in the Inter-school 70m sprint and finished 4th at the Junior State Surf Lifesaving Championships in both beach sprints and flags. This year offers an exciting opportunity as the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships are in Perth March 2018. My old relay team hopes to train under Darren to reclaim our National Title. We all have had either State or Australian team selection and have high regard in the skill, knowledge and expertise Darren has to assist us to reach our goal. Sonja"
"After hearing about hearing about Block Athletics, I knew it was exactly what our 8 year old son needed to improve his running technique. He's always struggled with sports and so we decided to enroll both of our sons in the 12 week summer program. Darren is a patient coach and has a very effective approach when training his athletes. He accommodates to the athletes individual strengths and weaknesses, to ensure improvement and to achieve any goals set. He regularly changed both the location and trading schedule to keep it interesting, which the kids liked. Both of our boys were very comfortable around Darren & the group and enjoyed the program. Our oldest son definitely improved his technique and is also running faster, which is a bonus! Thanks Darren for running an effective Athletics program, with no pressure to perform but with proven results. You can see you take pride in what he do and this is reflected in each athlete you train. Keep up the awesome work! Danielle"
"I just want to say a big thank you for the way you have helped our children to develop their running ability and general fitness. Their improvement is clearly evident and even better, they understand what they need to do and what they need to change. The benefits of their training has been has more than just physical, it has greatly improved their confidence and general mental attitude. We are so grateful for your attentiveness to each of their different needs and your ability to mix up the lessons to keep it fresh and interesting. Our kids never complain about the sessions being dull, they absolutely love them and look forward to each session. Your ability to deal with a range of age groups at the same time and keep control of the group is amazing. All the parents remark that you are a natural! Brilliant with kids and adults. We couldn’t agree more. Dave"
"I would like to write a quick comment about Block Athletics and Darren’s fantastic coaching of our then 14 year old daughter. She was always bright and happy after each session, pleased with herself and her increasing performance and ability. Not always having the confidence within herself Darren had the ability to push hard enough to create the improvement, enjoyment and create some wonderful life skills. Darren was always mindful of age and ability and provided the appropriate training levels, always providing an enjoyable environment for her to train in. Our son who was not in training and only 7 at the time, was always welcome when appropriate to join in the warm ups and would get little coaching tips and encouragement, which he was always so pleased to get and has made a big difference to how he runs and his thought process to training and running. We had a wonderful time with Block Athletics and would highly recommend Darren to any person who would like any form of athletic training. Happy to provide the above comment, you are certainly a wonderful coach and the kids still remember their time with you and both will admit the changes and life improvements it made. It was a wonderful experience that I am very glad we did! Like riding a bike, taught at that age in the right way they will never forget. Thanks again, keep well. Cheers, Claire"
"Darren has been my 100m sprint coach and mentor for the past year. I am a 34 year old novice sprinter and was referred to Darren by another coach who recommended him as I was a beginner. I thoroughly enjoy my sessions with Darren, which are fun as well as being productive and challenging. I have been impressed by his knowledge of bio mechanics and physiology of sprinting which he communicates in a simple and effective way. I would describe Darren as passionate, enthusiastic, patient and dedicated coach, who is conscientious and strives to bring out the best of people's abilities. As a result of these qualities and his knowledge I have been able to improve my performance and technique. I have sustained two injuries- a stress fracture and recurrent shin splints-over the past year whilst running unsupervised (not during Darren's sessions) as a result of an old injury (fractured femur several years ago) . Darren has guided me through my recovery and rehabilitation, liaising with health professionals such as my podiatrist and providing an alternative program of training to suit my needs whilst injured. Had it not been for his encouragement and guidance, it is likely I may have stopped training altogether. Darren also faces the challenge of training both adults and children together and I find it impressive how he integrates the training for such different age groups, addressing the needs of both groups. It has been a pleasure to work with Darren and I hope to continue with him in the future and have no doubt my performance will continue to improve as a result of his mentoring. Juliet "
"I started training with Block Athletics to improve my running and to help me be quicker around the Tennis Court. I will never be able to thank Darren enough. My running went from no technique at all to looking and feeling like I could run. I now run with confidence during training and at school and I now make it to every ball at the nets from the back court. Anyone who needs help should go to see Darren at Block Athletics, Darren was positive, friendly, patient and professional. Thank you Darren for training me to be more competitive on the Tennis court and generally feeling more confident about myself. Jack"
"Block Athletics has been an amazing experience for our daughters. They have improved their running, sprinting and jumping techniques, as well as their confidence too. They absolutely love going to the training sessions and Darren is a great role-model. It is great to have an experienced, talented coach who is able to provide engaging training sessions for all ages and all running abilities. Darren models great technique, clearly communicates instructions and provides constructive feedback to everyone on their running techniques. He brilliantly differentiates his training sessions so everyone can participate. He has a great way with the kids who are always fully engaged and finish every session with a buzz! Seb & Hayley"
"I was looking for a sprints coach to help me get back into shape to compete at an event I registered for in 2016. Block Athletics was recommended to me as a good place to cater for all abilities. Darren helped me get into shape and overcome an injury with a good program including gym sessions, pool sessions and track work. I successfully competed at my event and was very pleased with my performance. The bonus of Block Athletics is that it is family friendly, which I love. My two girls really enjoy going to sprints training with me and they enjoy the fun atmosphere in which the drills and techniques are taught. Regards Tony"
"Our daughter joined Block Athletics to pursue her enjoyment of running and improve her technique. Darren immediately identified some areas to refine her style carefully explaining to us that these modifications would reduce the risk of injury later on. Throughout the running session he manages to challenge her at her own level without feeling like she's competing with anyone else. Darren's calm, approachable coaching style has ensured she is continuing to enjoy running. We would highly recommend Darren to anyone who is considering running training for competition, or just for fitness and fun. Nicole & Greg"
"We enrolled our son into the Building Blocks Athletics program to improve his sprinting and running technique under the coaching leadership of Darren. Our son felt at ease from the very start and it is evident that Darren has created a safe learning environment for young athletes to develop their potential. Darren is able to effectively communicate athletic techniques and principles, even to the youngest athletes in his group, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team. My son thoroughly enjoys the coaching sessions each week and has made huge improvements in all aspects of his young sporting portfolio, including sprinting, middle distance running, soccer and Tae Kwon Do.
Darren also inspired me to get back into athletics and I now train under his guidance as a Masters athlete. I highly recommend Darren as coach and Block Athletics as a focused yet fun way to improve athletic performance. Donovan"