Becoming a coach 

The ability to improve athletic performance and realise the individual potential of each athlete at any level, relies heavily on the role and support of the coach. Great coaching will ensure athletes at all levels have the capacity to achieve personal best performances

Coaching has “enabled me to witness the development of the athlete, and the person, and to know that you contributed to that development in a significant way is very powerful”

Dr Cliff Mallett, Olympic Men’s Relay Coach, 2004 Athens Olympics. (Coaching Australia, Vol 9, No 2.  January 2006)

This statement by one of Athletics Australia’s world class coaches is true for his experience with Olympic athletes but is just as relevant for coaches at all levels of the sport.  A coach’s capacity to influence the decisions an athlete makes with regard to all aspects of their life can be one of the most rewarding elements of the coaching process, and should not be underestimated.

For coaches working with athletes at all levels, as well as developing the skills of the sport, the greatest attribute a coach can enhance is a love for the sport that becomes so infectious, that once you start, you just can’t stop!

Coaching is a truly rewarding role that is time consuming, technical, highly challenging and sometimes thankless. It enables athletes to achieve new challenges and occupies many of the coaches waking hours and sleepless nights.

Coaching combines both ‘art and science’ as it brings together technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills then applies them to the athlete who is made up of and influenced by, a variety of sporting and personal experiences.

Athletics Australia, in conjunction with its partners, the Australian Track & Field Coaches Association, the Member Associations and the network of athletics clubs, is responsible for the development and coordination of coaches around the country, at all levels and across all event areas.

To be among the world best athletic nations, Australia needs to recruit, develop, retain and recognise its coaches from the grassroots to world-class level and Athletics Australia, in conjunction with is partners is committed to achieving this standing.

Athletics needs more coaches!
To help decide if athletics coaching is for you talk to a current coach and visit an athletic club during a training session.

Some questions for potential coaches to ask themselves:

How much time can I commit to the sport?

Do I understand the needs of athletes in regards to the emotional, physical, technical and psychological support that is required?

How well do I cope with challenging situations?

Can I communicate with people in a variety of different ways?

Am I willing to commit to on-going coaching development?

Do I have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to understand more about my sport?

For further information on becoming a coach please contact your State Member Association or the Australian Track and Field Coaches Association in the links section below.