Supporting Para-Athletes through Adaptability and Trust, with S&C Coach Nathan Norris

What makes working with para-athletes different – or similar – to working with other athletes?
Every athlete is unique, but with para-athletes, the challenges and solutions can be even more varied. Two athletes might both have cerebral palsy or both be wheelchair users, but they’ll present very differently in terms of how they move, what they can do, and what adaptations they might need. That’s what makes working with para-athletes so interesting – there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The needs analysis of the sport stays the same, but how we help the athletes meet those demands depends on their classification, abilities and confidence.

Do you have a particular philosophy or approach when working with para-athletes?
For me, it starts with one question: What can the athlete do? From there, we build. I also want to understand what their current confidence levels are and what they’re used to (and not used to) doing.
A lot of it is about confidence and creating the right environment. For example, when I started working with a para-skier who has CP and is deaf, she’d only ever done online PT sessions at home. The idea of coming into a busy gym was really daunting.
So, we started small – just the two of us in a quiet studio, her mum present at first for support. Gradually, we moved into the main S&C gym, then began introducing other athletes into her sessions. Now she comes in, trains independently and is part of the group. That progression wasn’t just physical – it was about confidence, comfort and trust.

Trust seems to be a big part of your process.
Absolutely. Para-athletes have often faced significant adversity just to get where they are. That determination and tenacity is already there – so my job is to build trust, include them in the process, and problem-solve together.
Rather than focusing on what they can’t do, I always try to start from what is possible and build on that. That’s where the progress happens.

Can you give an example of that problem-solving in action?
With one of our wheelchair basketball athletes, we started with everything done in the chair – bands, cables, dumbbells. Over time, as her confidence grew, we explored how she could safely transfer out of the chair to do certain exercises.
For instance, when she became strong enough to lift heavier loads, there was a risk that the cable machine weights could move her from her chair, so we transitioned her onto benches where she could lie chest-supported in a stable, inclined position. Here she could do the pulls and rows in a safe position to get the most out of the exercise.
But if we’d tried that in week one, it wouldn’t have worked – it’s all about going at their pace.

How do you make sure you’re meeting the specific needs of different para-sports?
When I’m assigned an athlete in a sport I’m less familiar with, I start by speaking with them – to understand what their performance levels are, what challenges they face and where they want to improve. I also connect with their coach, have the same conversation and see where the gaps are. I sometimes find that the coach will have a longer-term view of the athlete journey, where the athlete might be more focused on the here and now
If it’s a new para-sport to me, I’ll do a needs analysis, look at the information from the NGB, and often reach out to other practitioners in the TASS network who might have experience with that sport. There’s a huge amount of expertise across the network, so it makes sense to share best practice.

What are some of the biggest challenges in para-athlete S&C?
Flexibility is key. Para-athletes’ needs can vary from session to session. For example, with an athlete with CP, fatigue levels or muscle tone can fluctuate daily. Some days we push harder, other days we adapt the plan entirely – and that’s not a failure; it’s part of the process.
It also requires strong emotional intelligence. Many of these athletes are high performers who don’t want to show weakness, so you have to know them well enough to recognise when something isn’t right.

What misconceptions about para-athlete training would you like to change?
A big one is unintentionally limiting what a para-athlete is capable of because of preconceptions about their impairment.
The para-skier I mentioned was told she’d never walk unaided. She now not only walks but can stand up from the floor unaided – something doctors said would be impossible. She lifts barbells, trains independently, and has developed huge strength and confidence.
If we’d stuck with the lightest weights because of what she ‘shouldn’t’ be able to do, she’d never have reached that level.
(see video below for the incredible moment when Amy, the para-skier stands unaided for the first time)

How do you measure success in your work with para-athletes?
It depends on the athlete. For some, it’s about representing their country or competing internationally. For others, success might be the physical progress that gives them more independence in daily life – like being able to drive, move more easily, or simply feel stronger and more confident.
Those “little” wins are often the biggest victories.

What’s the most rewarding part of working with para-athletes through TASS?
The problem-solving, 100%. It’s about finding creative ways to help each athlete progress, including them in that journey, and seeing the results – both in performance and in confidence.
And because we work within the TASS system, we have that multi-disciplinary team around each athlete – physios, lifestyle, psych, nutrition – so the support feels truly holistic.
Watching an athlete go from nervous or uncertain to independent and thriving – that’s what makes it all worth it.

Nathan Norris is Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Manchester, part of the TASS network.