About
Coaching Staff

Ilan Cumberbirch
OWNER, BKIN, CSCS
Yard Athlete Development was founded in 2015 by Ilan Cumberbirch. Ilan previously owned Factory Hockey Player Development, working with hockey players from the NHL to youth ranks, both on and off-ice. Coming from a sporting background playing professional hockey, and collegiate rugby, Ilan understands first hand the rigours and demands of sport, both from a physical and mental standpoint.
Ilan completed his Bachelors of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia in 2014, then went on to play professional hockey in The Netherlands while obtaining his Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist designation. Ilan recognizes that no athletes, sports or training days are the same. Focusing on each athlete’s ability to perform to their highest ability, Ilan ensures that the specific needs and demands of each athlete are met; without sacrificing performance in the competitive arena.
Designing and implementing periodized training systems with focuses on mobility, strength, power, speed and/or endurance training utilizing a broad range of training methodologies; Ilan is able to exceed your training objectives.

Sam Shaw
ASSISTANT MANAGER, BKIN, CSCS
Sam has worked as a Strength and Conditioning coach with Yard Athlete Development since its inauguration in 2015. During this time Sam has had the opportunity to work with youth, junior, collegiate and professional athletes. Coming from an athletic background as a former national and varsity team volleyball player, Sam has a thorough understanding of how to maximize performance both from a programming and coaching
standpoint.
Sam completed his Bachelors of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia in 2015 and was given the opportunity to work with the varsity strength and conditioning program during that time. Following graduation, Sam completed his CSCS through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and began working as a strength and conditioning coach with Factory Hockey Player Development. This exposure to professional and aspiring athletes allowed Sam to better understand the demands of sport and the extent to which effective programming can impact their performance.Â
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In the present day, Sam continues to work with a diverse range of athletes and assists with programming at Yard Athlete Development. By focusing on your specific goals and
implementing individualized training protocols that work to develop mobility, strength, power, speed and/or endurance training; Sam is able to reach your training goals.

Jeff Anderson
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH, BA, DPLM, CSCS, PN1
Jeff has been a personal trainer for over 8 years now, having trained a wide demographic of individuals from his time in Toronto, Ontario. Having previously earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2014, a Fitness and Health Promotion diploma in 2016, and in recent years, earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. He has shifted more of his focus to training athletes, or those individuals with more athletic/performance pursuits in their training. Jeff has also worked with a wide variety of athletes ranging from youth, semi-pro to masters-level athletes, in sports ranging from ice hockey, football, basketball, tennis, basketball, football, etc. Jeff is currently an intern at Simon Fraser University as a Strength and Conditioning coach, where he assists with programming and coaching their varsity sports teams.
Jeff grew up an athlete, playing a multitude of different sports. He is able to take those experiences and apply them to his coaching, while combining those with the scientific principles of strength and conditioning. A big belief of Jeff’s is an athlete's best ability is their availability. Once a robust foundation is established, then further building an athlete's physical capabilities via strength, power, speed, agility, endurance, etc., can be maximized to best suit the athlete’s sport and needs. If you want to elevate yourself to the next level, Jeff will help you get there.
What
Yard Athlete Development offers a range of services including but not limited to:
- Customized Strength & Conditioning Sessions
- Speed & Power Development Training
- Semi Private Group Training
- Team Training Sessions
- Customized Training Program Design
Contact
For more information about our current offerings and how we can help you in attaining your athletic ambitions: