IBU Academy First Level Course 2025/26 Concludes with Final Week in Ramsau, Austria

From 23 to 30 March 2026, participants of the IBU Academy First Level Course 2025/26 gathered in Ramsau, Austria, for the third and final week of the programme. The week began with spring-like weather, but as conditions shifted, participants were rewarded with late-winter conditions, all set for the successful completion of the practical coaching assignments.

A total of 19 coaches (11 female and 8 male) from 18 National Federations took part in the last week, concluding this international course, designed to establish a strong foundation in biathlon coaching, which was delivered across three separate weeks over the past year:

• Week 1: Hochfilzen, Austria – May 2025

• Week 2: Pokljuka, Slovenia – October 2025

• Week 3: Ramsau, Austria – March 2026

All 19 participants successfully completed the programme and were awarded their IBU First Level Coaching Certificates in Ramsau.

Final Week of Coach Education and Practical Coaching Assignments

The third week of the course focused on combining core coaching principles with hands-on application under the expert guidance of IBU educators Matthias Ahrens (GER) and Ilario Maddalin (ITA).

While the coaches continued to build their expertise through a combination of interactive sessions, group work, and engaging discussions, the highlight of the week were the practical coaching assignments, where each coach led a small group of peers in real-world training scenarios. Each coach demonstrated their individual coaching style while applying the concepts learned throughout the course. These sessions simulated real-world coaching environments and highlighted the participants’ progress and growing confidence. The sessions were followed by in-depth feedback discussions, allowing for further development and refinement of coaching skills.

Lectures and Educational Topics

In addition to the practical components, participants once again engaged in intensive shooting and skiing sessions. A wide range of expert-led lectures further enhanced participants’ knowledge in key areas relevant to modern biathlon coaching:

• Cardiorespiratory Health: Tom Kastner

• Muskuloskelettal Health: Kornelius Kraus

• Sustainability in Sport: Daniel Cade

• Safeguarding: Katharina Gatterer, Lucie Rothauer

• Training Diaries and Documentation: Tommy Sorlien, Fredrik Bjorgan, Trond Nystad

• Nutrition for Athletes: Judith Haudum

• Psychology: Amelie Heinrich

The successful completion of this course reflects IBU Academy's continued commitment to developing high-quality coaching education in biathlon. The certified coaches now return to their national programs equipped with new skills, perspectives, and a network of peers across Europe and beyond.