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Talent Identification
Athletics Australia is committed to increasing the depth of Indigenous athletes competing at an international level and will be implementing programs in 2007 to address this.
National Talent and Identification Development program for Indigenous athletes
Program information
Athletics Australia (AA), The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) are launching a talent identification and development (NTID) program for Indigenous athletes.
The program will be conducted (subject to satisfactory results) over four years with the goal of having an increased number of Indigenous male and female athletes participating at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The program is a perfect opportunity for not only Indigenous athletes to develop their talent and skills but also an opportunity for athletics in Australia to take a step forward in terms of coach education and support services.
The initial program will run for 18 months and will involve athletes who are currently participating in the sport at a state or national level of participation and will provide these athletes with an enriching environment of improved training and competition structures that will fast track them to high performance levels and programs. These athletes have been identified through the EITAAP (Elite Indigenous Travel And Accommodation Program) or have been identified through the Athletics for the Outback program.
The daily training environment will be enhanced through specific training camps, skills sessions, competition opportunities and exposure to elite coaching expertise. These camps will be held regionally and at the AIS.
Valuable contribution will be provided by the AIS in areas such as athlete testing, education programs (particularly coach education) sports science and sports medicine. An induction camp will be held at the AIS in the early part of 2007 where data will be collected to allow a comprehensive database to be developed.
Athletes who are not currently involved with the sport of track and field at the required level will be considered for selection by application on performance and attaining the required selection criteria that is currently being devised.
A number of selected athletes currently receiving support from the institute or academy network may be eligible to be involved in the Jump Start to London program on application and recommendation by a panel consisting of members from the AIS, ASC, AA and NEC. This may include extended travel and competition opportunities.
Initially the program will concentrate on two disciplines, namely sprints, relays and jumps* where Australia has already had a measure of success. Athletes involved will be in the age bracket of 17 – 23 years enabling us to have a depth of athletes with the aim of attaining team placements in 2012.
*Other events will not be ruled out should an athletes show characteristics for that discipline
Coaches
The athletes who have been identified to form the pilot group have, in most cases, a coach. These coaches will be included in any camp and education program that are run. If requested by the personal coach a mentor coach can be assigned to assist in program preparation, and areas such as strength and conditioning. The coaches of identified athletes will be required to comply with a reporting service to allow athlete improvements and progressions to be monitored.
Coaches will also be encouraged to advance their level of accreditation so increasing their personal knowledge that will be taken into a squad environment that should include indigenous and non-indigenous athletes, so increasing the potential of the entire training group or squad.
It is anticipated that the main legacy from the Jump Start to London program will be coach education.
Six Regional Coaching Coordinators (RCC) will be appointed to coordinate seminars and skills program in their regional and liaise closely with the Athletics Australia Development Manger, ASC NTID Program Manager and the athlete coaches. The coordinator roles will initially be in NSW, QLD, WA and NT. We will also be creating a coach scholarship position that will be based at the AIS or at NSWIS.
Extended competition opportunities
A significant aspect of the Jump Start to London 2012 program is to extend the competition experiences of Indigenous athletes both domestic and internationally. The experience they will gain from travelling will be invaluable in having to deal with international travel, sharing accommodation, pre departure criteria, preparing for competition, working with unfamiliar coaches and team management.
Development tours to Oceania and Asia are planned on 2007. A number of indigenous mentors will be groomed for management and coaching positions.
Athlete/coach commitment
Should athletes wish to participate in this unique program we will be asking them to commit to regular, consistent training programs assessments by NEC/AIS and institute staff (as required). Coaches will also be asked to provide regular reports and submit training programs and athlete diaries for assessment by NEC/AIS/SIS/SAS staff.
This will provide an opportunity for the athlete’s progression to be tracked and reviewed.
The X-Factor
This will be a unique talent development opportunity for Indigenous athletes from schools through to elite levels (Olympics). It will have a comprehensive competition structure with opportunities to gain international experience from a relatively young talent pool known for its athletic ability. Mentors and role models will come from Indigenous backgrounds; Kyle Vander Kuyp, Patrick Johnson, Nova Batman, Joshua Ross etc. we will be able to tap into the Indigenous population in a more structured manner using the ASC Indigenous development officers and the NTID coordinators. Education for non-indigenous coaches will have an element of Indigenous culture awareness attached giving the program the edge and more participation from Indigenous athletes.
For more details please contact:
Sally McGrady
Athletics Australia
Development Manager
Email: sally.mcgrady@athletics.org.au
Ph: (03) 9869 5013
National Talent and Identification Development program for Indigenous athletes
Program information
Athletics Australia (AA), The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) are launching a talent identification and development (NTID) program for Indigenous athletes.
The program will be conducted (subject to satisfactory results) over four years with the goal of having an increased number of Indigenous male and female athletes participating at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The program is a perfect opportunity for not only Indigenous athletes to develop their talent and skills but also an opportunity for athletics in Australia to take a step forward in terms of coach education and support services.
The initial program will run for 18 months and will involve athletes who are currently participating in the sport at a state or national level of participation and will provide these athletes with an enriching environment of improved training and competition structures that will fast track them to high performance levels and programs. These athletes have been identified through the EITAAP (Elite Indigenous Travel And Accommodation Program) or have been identified through the Athletics for the Outback program.
The daily training environment will be enhanced through specific training camps, skills sessions, competition opportunities and exposure to elite coaching expertise. These camps will be held regionally and at the AIS.
Valuable contribution will be provided by the AIS in areas such as athlete testing, education programs (particularly coach education) sports science and sports medicine. An induction camp will be held at the AIS in the early part of 2007 where data will be collected to allow a comprehensive database to be developed.
Athletes who are not currently involved with the sport of track and field at the required level will be considered for selection by application on performance and attaining the required selection criteria that is currently being devised.
A number of selected athletes currently receiving support from the institute or academy network may be eligible to be involved in the Jump Start to London program on application and recommendation by a panel consisting of members from the AIS, ASC, AA and NEC. This may include extended travel and competition opportunities.
Initially the program will concentrate on two disciplines, namely sprints, relays and jumps* where Australia has already had a measure of success. Athletes involved will be in the age bracket of 17 – 23 years enabling us to have a depth of athletes with the aim of attaining team placements in 2012.
*Other events will not be ruled out should an athletes show characteristics for that discipline
Coaches
The athletes who have been identified to form the pilot group have, in most cases, a coach. These coaches will be included in any camp and education program that are run. If requested by the personal coach a mentor coach can be assigned to assist in program preparation, and areas such as strength and conditioning. The coaches of identified athletes will be required to comply with a reporting service to allow athlete improvements and progressions to be monitored.
Coaches will also be encouraged to advance their level of accreditation so increasing their personal knowledge that will be taken into a squad environment that should include indigenous and non-indigenous athletes, so increasing the potential of the entire training group or squad.
It is anticipated that the main legacy from the Jump Start to London program will be coach education.
Six Regional Coaching Coordinators (RCC) will be appointed to coordinate seminars and skills program in their regional and liaise closely with the Athletics Australia Development Manger, ASC NTID Program Manager and the athlete coaches. The coordinator roles will initially be in NSW, QLD, WA and NT. We will also be creating a coach scholarship position that will be based at the AIS or at NSWIS.
Extended competition opportunities
A significant aspect of the Jump Start to London 2012 program is to extend the competition experiences of Indigenous athletes both domestic and internationally. The experience they will gain from travelling will be invaluable in having to deal with international travel, sharing accommodation, pre departure criteria, preparing for competition, working with unfamiliar coaches and team management.
Development tours to Oceania and Asia are planned on 2007. A number of indigenous mentors will be groomed for management and coaching positions.
Athlete/coach commitment
Should athletes wish to participate in this unique program we will be asking them to commit to regular, consistent training programs assessments by NEC/AIS and institute staff (as required). Coaches will also be asked to provide regular reports and submit training programs and athlete diaries for assessment by NEC/AIS/SIS/SAS staff.
This will provide an opportunity for the athlete’s progression to be tracked and reviewed.
The X-Factor
This will be a unique talent development opportunity for Indigenous athletes from schools through to elite levels (Olympics). It will have a comprehensive competition structure with opportunities to gain international experience from a relatively young talent pool known for its athletic ability. Mentors and role models will come from Indigenous backgrounds; Kyle Vander Kuyp, Patrick Johnson, Nova Batman, Joshua Ross etc. we will be able to tap into the Indigenous population in a more structured manner using the ASC Indigenous development officers and the NTID coordinators. Education for non-indigenous coaches will have an element of Indigenous culture awareness attached giving the program the edge and more participation from Indigenous athletes.
For more details please contact:
Sally McGrady
Athletics Australia
Development Manager
Email: sally.mcgrady@athletics.org.au
Ph: (03) 9869 5013
