Shared Vision | Coach Leaders Workshop Aligns High Performance Coaching Ranks

Athletics Australia’s High Performance coaching ranks have been strengthened by the introduction of the Coach Leaders Workshop, tackling a range of topics from preparing for major championships through to coach wellbeing at the five day program held in Casuarina, New South Wales.

Bringing together the nation’s most experienced coaches and developing prospects ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, the program was hatched on the foundation of shared knowledge and skills - aiming to enhance the coaching environment and network within Australia through seminars, storytelling and discussion.

Keynote presenter John Coghlan, coach of reigning Olympic 100m hurdles champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and 200m champion Andre De Grasse, shared his coaching journey and philosophy, along with insights gained throughout his 20-year career to date. Athletics Australia’s National Performance Pathway Lead – Coaching, Dianne Huxley was quick to acknowledge the significance of Coghlan’s attendance:

“John provided a wealth of knowledge and information, and was incredibly generous when talking to coaches and running clinics on the Gold Coast and in Sydney,” she said.

“Offering his time over both formal presentations and social catchups, John was warmly received and welcomed by the group. The generosity of his time in sharing and exchanging ideas surrounding High Performance was greatly appreciated by Athletics Australia and coaches from around the country.”

Funded by a grant from the Australian Institute of Sport, over 40 of Australia’s top coaches relished the opportunity for both professional and personal development, aligning Athletics Australia’s High Performance program with an inclusive and united system that encourages collaboration and sustainability.

The workshop included members of Athletics Australia’s Women in High Performance Coaching Program (WiHPC) and the Australian Institute of Sport’s National Generation 2032 Coach Program, bringing together a diverse range of coaches to dissect challenges and barriers to success.

Athletics Australia’s Director of Performance Coaching, Scott Goodman said that it was fantastic to be able to bring system employed coaches and the WiHPC cohort together “face-to-face” to talk about High Performance coaching, in particular preparing athletes to perform at Bench Mark Events (Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships).

“During the COVID-19 period, opportunities to get together and challenge each other’s thinking have been limited. This initiative is intended to encourage greater collaboration amongst our coaches during the build up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond,” Goodman said.

“We want to leverage off the momentum generated from the recent successes of our leading athlete and coach combinations, and reset the bar to support all athlete and coach combinations to perform at their best at the BME’s.”

With material presented through a range of mediums including the popular Theatresports, while also allowing time for group activities such as surfing and time spent with family members who were flown in, Athletics Australia National Event Group Lead – Walks, Brent Vallance emphasised the success of the program.

“We often don’t get our coaches together outside of a championship setting, so that was one of the greatest advantages. I have done variations of this for 20 years, and I was sitting in the room looking at not only a keynote speaker who was exceptional [John Coghlan], but also a group of young coaches who have coached world champions and Olympic medallists,” Vallance said.

“To talk about the non-technical side of coaching and the other problems coaches have was really beneficial for us all. For me personally, athletics is in a really good spot given the coaching talent pool and the fact that we have coaches producing top-eight and medal-winning campaigns year on year now.”

“The rest of the system is progressing. We are way ahead of the game compared to where we have been for previous Olympic cycles.”

While much of the program focused on High Performance coaching for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond, time was also dedicated to coach wellbeing and lifestyle balance – breaking down factors such as managing time away from home and pressure for both developing and established coaches.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 15/11/2023