NESP Sprint Coaching

NESP holds sprint coaching for footballers, runners and professional sprinters

NESP is a specialist sprint training group focused on the speed development of athletes across a wide range of ages and sports. At NESP, we believe sprint technique to be an integral tool of many ground sports such as AFL, rugby, netball and soccer to name a few. NESP also has a dedicated race team made up both boys and girls who primarily compete in Victorian Athletic League (professional foot running ) in which we compete from November and finish the season at the iconic Easter Stawell Gift. NESP was formed in 2010 as a platform for an aspiring AFL footballer to reach his full speed potential and has since grown into a dynamic, fun and successful speed development team. At NESP we believe that every athlete has the ability to increase not only their speed but their running style, endurance, strength, co-ordination, mindset and overall performance. Craig Mair is the Sprint Coach at NESP. Craig has been a sprinter for nearly 20 years. Craig has won numerous gifts including, Keilor, Essendon, Albury, Ballarat, and the Bendigo black opal (400m). He still currently competes in open and veteran races. Craig Mair started NESP – North Eastern Sport Performance – Speed Development Coaching in 2010. NESP has trained over 80 athletes in that time over a variety of codes including:

• Stawell Gift winner and finalists
• National and state level junior athletes 
• Current AFL listed players 
• National Galiec Football
• TAC Football Squad members
• State level soccer players

As part of Craig’s qualifications he is an Athletics Australia accredited Level 2 Club Coach, a certified speed and agility specialist, holds a Certificate 3 in Fitness, and has completed a Speed and Power Course. One of Craig’s specialities is sprint training for football players. Having played football for the best part of 20 years he has an understanding of the speed skills needed for the sport.

A number of NESP’s athletes have been very successful with their sprinting and sporting endeavours over the years. In 2015 Keely Henderson came 5th in the Women’s Stawell Gift, she then went on to win the Women’s Stonnington Gift in 2016, and the Women’s Ballarat Gift in 2017. Also in 2017, Craig coached the winner of the Women’s Stawell Gift Liv Ryan, who then in 2019 won the Women’s Bendigo Black Pearl (400m). One of the founding members of the NESP team – Jason Castagna, was a premiership player for Richmond Football Club in 2017 and 2019.