Coaching Accreditation
Minimum Standards
Australian Athletics requires all coaches to hold an accreditation recognised by the Australian Sports Commission.
Athletes should always seek out an Accredited Athletics Coach with the appropriate level of qualifications and experience for their training goals.
When choosing an Accredited Athletics Coach, you can have confidence that:
- 1 They hold professional qualifications recognised by Australian Athletics, State Athletics Associations, and the Australian Sports Commission. This education and formal assessment equips them with a strong foundation in coaching principles, sports science, and athlete development.
- 2 They are insured under the Australian Athletics Coaching Insurance Policy.
- 3 They agree to abide by and are held to the standards of the Australian Athletics Code of Conduct, including the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and are aware of their responsibilities as an Accredited Coach.
- 4 They hold a Working with Children Check or have a valid exemption according to the legislative requirements of their State or Territory.
- 5 They have completed an annual coaching update and have access to the latest resources to ensure that they remain up-to-date.
- 6 They follow best practices in body composition assessment, athlete data collection and storage, and athlete wellbeing .
- 7 You have a process for raising concerns regarding the coach's conduct through Sport Integrity Australia, Australian Athletics, or your State Athletics Association.
- 8 They are eligible to coach within affiliated athletics clubs.
Australian Athletics advises athletes to avoid training with Non-Accredited Coaches
Using a non-accredited coach without a membership to their State Athletics Association has potential risks and disadvantages to the athlete’s safety, wellbeing, development, and performance.
- Limited Screening: Non-members have not been screened for suitability to work as a coach with Track and Field athletes. They are not bound by Australian Athletics’ Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, and Working with Children policies. An athlete has no way to know that the coach maintains the behaviours and standards of a safe and effective coach.
- Limited Accountability and Evaluation: Non-members do not hold Athletics Coach Accreditation and may lack education in coaching methodologies, sports science, injury prevention, and performance optimisation. As a result, they might not have the knowledge or expertise to develop effective training programs or address athletes' specific needs.
- Limited Access to Resources and Education: Non-member coaches do not have access to Australian Athletics’ ongoing coach education resources or mandatory ongoing training, meaning there is no oversight of whether they are informed and making appropriate decisions for their athletes’ wellbeing and performance.
- Lack of Access to Coaching Insurance: Non-member coaches are not covered under Australian Athletics’ Insurance Program and are therefore ineligible for Australian Athletics’ coach insurance coverage.
- Inability to Work Within Affiliated Clubs: Non-members are not permitted to coach as part of an affiliated Athletics club.
Finding the Right Coach for Your Level
Every accredited athletics coach in Australia has been trained to work with specific athlete groups based on age, goals and event focus. Use this tool to understand what each coaching level means, so you can choose a coach who’s best matched to your development stage, whether you’re just starting out or targeting international competition.
Coach Accreditation Overivew
The following table summarises the demonstrated skills of coaches by accreditation level.
Youth Coach Level 1
Athlete Cohort: Junior athletes up to 13 years of age.
Program Focus: Fundamental movement skills development through games-based approach.
Youth coaches have demonstrated the skills and competencies to work with athletes up to 13 years of age, developing the fundamental movement skills of running, jumping, and throwing through a games-based approach.
Development Coach Level 2
Athlete Cohort: 12 years of age and above.
Program Focus: Event technique and biomotor development, preparing athletes for state-level competition.
Development coaches have demonstrated the skills and competencies to work with athletes 12 years and above, developing the technical model of Track and Field events and building biomotor abilities including speed, endurance, strength, mobility, agility, and coordination. They can develop season plans to prepare athletes for target events.
Performance Coach Level 3
Athlete Cohort: 16 years of age and above aiming for State or National Championships
Program Focus: Advanced technical model, physical development, testing, and mental skills for competition performance
Performance coaches have demonstrated the skills and competencies to work with athletes 16 years and above who are targeting high levels of performance at State and National Championships. They specialise in developing an advanced technical model of their chosen discipline, conducting testing and performance analysis, event-specific biomotor development, competition preparation, competition tactics, and strategies to enchance mental performance.
High Performance Coach Level 4
Athlete Cohort: 16 years of age and above targeting major international championships (World U20 Championships, World Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Program Focus: Elite performance within the National Institute System
High Performance coaches have demonstrated the skills and competencies to work with athletes 16 years and above, targeting major international competitions and benchmark events (BMEs) They specialise in working within the National Institute System to support their athletes to achieve elite levels of performance and coordinating a high performance team.
Coach Accreditation Matrix
The following table shows Australian Athletics' recommended minimum accreditation level by event.