Coach Development Strategy

What is Our Vision?

Australian Track and Field coaches feel fully equipped to deliver outstanding experiences to athletes at all levels of the sport.

What is Our Mission?

• To drive the uptake and retention of people interested in coaching athletics.

• To provide coaches with the knowledge, skills, tools, and confidence to perform their role successfully. 

• To promote coach wellbeing and address the challenges of time committments and burnout.

• To recognise and celebrate the contribution of coaches to the sport.

• To create, communicate, and enforce a coaching culture that produces optimal outcomes for athletes and coaches. 

What are Our Strategic Priorities? 

Priority 1: Transition from a compliance-based to a value-based education model by adopting a coach education framework that reflects best practices in adult education and sports development. 

• Personalised Learning Journeys: Tailored education pathways that align with individual coaching aspirations, skill levels, and the needs of their athletes.

• Practical Application: Emphasis on experiential learning, peer mentoring, and hands-on workshops to bridge theory and practice effectively.

• Modern Delivery Methods: Integration of online modules, interactive tools, and blended learning approaches to ensure accessibility and flexibility for all coaches.

• Ongoing Professional Development: Establishing a culture of continuous learning through modular courses, advanced certifications, and opportunities to engage with cutting-edge sports science and coaching techniques.

• Coach Recognition and Progression: Clearly defined pathways for coach growth, celebrating milestones and recognising contributions to athlete and sport development.

Priority 2: Develop an inclusive coaching workforce by increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups, offering region-specific education programs, and promoting equity in access to resources.

• Opportunities for Underrepresented Groups: Actively recruit and support women, Indigenous Australians, individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds, and coaches in regional or remote areas through targeted initiatives and mentorship programs.

• Region-Specific Education: Deliver accessible and locally relevant training programs tailored to the unique challenges and needs of various regions, ensuring no community is left behind.

• Equity in Resources: Promote fairness by providing equal access to high-quality resources with a focus on addressing barriers faced by underrepresented groups.

• Leadership Development: Create pathways for underrepresented coaches to take on leadership roles within clubs, communities, and the national coaching structure, ensuring diverse perspectives shape the future of the sport.

• Community Connection: Build partnerships with schools, clubs, and local organisations to increase grassroots engagement and create a supportive pipeline for aspiring coaches from all backgrounds

Priority 3: Provide a stronger membership and development proposition offering coaches access to a broad suite of CPD resources, priority registration for workshops, and tools tailored to enhance coaching outcomes.

• Comprehensive CPD Resources: Provide access to a robust library of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) materials, including videos, articles, and interactive modules covering technical, tactical, and interpersonal coaching skills.

• Priority Access to Workshops: Enable members to register early for high-demand workshops, webinars, and practical sessions led by leading experts in athletics coaching and sports science.

• Tailored Coaching Tools: Develop and share user-friendly templates, session planners, and athlete management tools to simplify coaching tasks and improve efficiency.

• Exclusive Networking Opportunities: Facilitate connections through members-only forums, events, and peer mentoring programs to foster a collaborative coaching community.

• Recognition and Incentives: Introduce a rewards program for active members, acknowledging their commitment to development and providing discounts on education programs, events, and resources.

• Continuous Feedback and Innovation: Regularly gather input from members to refine offerings and ensure the membership proposition remains relevant and valuable.

Priority 4: Publish, educate, and actively enforce a transparent code of conduct that underpins a positive coaching culture and ensures consistent behaviours across the athletics community.

• Collaborative Development: Involve coaches, athletes, and stakeholders in the creation and review of the code to ensure it reflects shared values and practical expectations.

• Comprehensive Education: Provide tailored training and resources to help coaches understand the principles of the code, including workshops, webinars, and case studies illustrating real-world applications.

• Accessible Communication: Ensure the code is easy to access, understand, and implement, using digital platforms, visual guides, and plain language to maximise clarity and reach.

• Supportive Enforcement: Foster adherence to the code by offering ongoing guidance, peer mentoring, and conflict resolution resources, while maintaining clear procedures for addressing breaches.

• Recognition and Reinforcement: Celebrate examples of coaches demonstrating exemplary conduct, creating role models and reinforcing the behaviours that drive a positive and inclusive coaching culture.