Jackie Gallagher Inspiring Next Generation | WORLD ATHLETICS

It comes as no surprise to see World Athletics announcing Athletics Australia as the recipient of its prestigious 'Member Federation of the Year Award’, particularly when you have coaches like Jackie Gallagher fostering excellence on a national and international level. Jackie is a sprints and hurdles coach based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Jackie was named as one of the most influential women on the Darling Downs, inspiring the next generation of athletes in the region. 

A former elite international sprinter herself, she admits she is a perfectionist at heart, which is what motivates her to ‘give back and has equipped (her) with an understanding of what athletes need, think and feel throughout the different times in an athletic journey.’.She has been working in Education as a teacher and coaching externally for over 16 years, however recently has returned to study Sports Psychology, recognising the power it can play amongst her elite athletes, in the quest for Olympic qualification. ‘Coaching is all about relationships, you need to know about training plans and all that jazz , but really it's all about the relationship you have with the athlete. You can make or break an athlete and that psychology part of it is really exciting.. I really love and value that relationship I have with my athletes and I know what I say is what they can take onto the track or the confidence that they need.. I think it's very powerful and I want to be that positive influence in so many areas.’

In recent times, Athletics Australia have made a particular effort in boosting cohesiveness, comradery, and collaboration through their various initiatives and programmes. Jackie is quick to compliment the proactive efforts made by Athletics Australia, recognising the significant contribution and opportunities they have enabled her. ‘I have really felt support from my NSO over the last 3 years. I have been invited to be a part of high-performance coaching programs with the Australian Institute of Sport, Athletics Australia, and the International Olympic Committee.

I am incredibly fortunate to be a part of the Athletics Australia Women in High Performance Coaching program. The women and men involved in this program have offered the support to enable me to navigate and confidently ask questions about high performance coaching in Australia. I feel like I must thank Di Huxley and Mark Stewart for their pioneering of this program.I am also mentored by two amazing leaders in the sport through the Athletics Australia HP Coach Mentoring program. I have linked up with Tudor Bidder nearly every fortnight for the past 12 months and his insightful and genuine mentorship is now a friendship that I greatly value. My second mentor, Cliff Mallett has also been wealth of knowledge and experience that I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with.’

The landscape for coaching in Australia has changed , she says ‘I feel Athletics Australia has grown positively in culture and is actively promoting a more inclusive coaching network and programs for aspiring coaches.’ High performance coaching at times can be very isolating but the practical efforts being made by the association has allowed coaches like Jackie to quickly fast track their development, and have removed some of the existing barriers that once stood in the way of aspiring coaches.

Recognising the need for change, Di Huxley began connecting some of Australia's best ever coaches such as Sharon Hannan, Penny Giles and Lyn Foreman, all with over 30 years of coaching experience and have been supporting other women throughout their own journeys. They were eager to be involved as they are amongst the prestigious group of coaches who have coached at the highest level in Australia, laid the path and fought many unspoken battles for gender equity. The programme has been very practical allowing coaches to connect regularly through Zoom meetups, mentoring, network events, in person workshops, weekend coaching clinics, WhatsApp, all through very flexible learning opportunities. Moving away from traditional models of learning the group asked for real life support, which is exactly what they were granted. 

Some of the workshops and support they received were in the following areas:
●    More coach collaboration
●    Event specific research
●    How to navigate overseas travels with for an athlete whilst still in Australia
●    How to gain entry into specific competitions
●    More strength and conditioning workshops and more

‘Over the last 14 months, we have been constantly chatting and all of us have found that incredibly valuable.. Most of the coaches are working with juniors or just out of the junior sphere and moving into those who are going towards the Olympic teams.’ Regardless of the level they operate at Jackie highlights, the group share similar fears as coaches ‘We have so many questions…Am I good enough? Am I doing the right thing? You see all these coaches who have been coaching for decades and are such a positive influence and inspiration and you say ‘I wanna be like them’..Being apart of this group has allowed us to talk to each other, bounce ideas of one and other,get the education that we actually specifically need and want- and they gave us exactly what we asked for.  A network that we can bounce into if we have any questions and with what we're doing, if we’re on the right track and if we don't know , they will help us find the answers with the right people’.

The programme was originally designed to connect experienced coaches with emerging female coaches but what it has created is a pipeline of women equipped with the necessary skills to lead more Australian teams. Jackie herself was selected as an Australian Team coach for the 2022 Australian Under 23 Tour to England and Ireland, whilst also traveling to China as the Australian Team sprints and relay coach at the World University Games. Next year, she will be an Australian Team Coach for the World Under 20 Championships in Peru in 2024.

She has learned from her mistakes as an elite athlete and now places a different emphasis on the training/development of her athletes. She is open and honest with all that she works with and welcomes the support from those who may have previously experienced similar scenarios to herself.  ‘When I was an athlete I was very single focused, athletics was my life, I lived and breathed it.. I was not open to collaboration. I don't know if it was mindset or culture at the time. However, now I am very very conscious as a coach.. I tell my athletes that I am going away to a course that I am constantly learning.. I am open to collaboration with other coaches and I am open to showing that working with other people is important. Letting them know that we are on this journey together and that I will make mistakes but I will do my absolute best for you and if I don't know , I will ask someone who does ..’ She now regularly links in with those who would have been team coaches to her when she was an athlete and that now it evokes a new found appreciation for what coaches have to do on a regular basis for their athletes. Speaking about Sharon Hannan, she recalls ‘I knew Sharon in a certain way when I was competing, but now as a coach I see her as one of my really, really good friends. I will drive in the car and go and have a catch up with her with my programs, down to the Gold Coast for an afternoon..she is available 24/7 , but she is very giving.’ 

Jackie is part of an incredible movement of women who are inspired to do more, not for themselves but for the women they represent. ‘We genuinely really care about each other and want to support each other in every way we can…especially knowing and hearing our stories and the barriers we have experienced over the years, what they have overcome as coaches, it is a big driving force for us all’. Jackie is a testament to herself and those she represents, and no doubt the future looks very promising as Athletics Australia embarks on a new era of success.

By World Athletics
Posted: 31/12/2023