Coach Education Resources
The Coach's Craft Where Data Meets Intuition in Training Olympic Jumpers
Watch a replay of this fantastic session, hosted by world class coach Nelio Moura, a veteran of seven Olympic Games. He shares key insights into high-performance jumps coaching, blending biomechanics, sprint development, accuracy training, and strength programming with real-world coaching applications.
High Jump: Overview of the Technical Model
Need a quick-reference guide for teaching high jump?
This pocket guide breaks down the technical model step by step—from approach to landing—so you can help your athletes maximise height over the bar.
🔖 Save this for your next session!
The High Jump Approach - Finding Where to Start the Curve
A well-executed approach run is the foundation of every successful high jump. In this article, we break down one of the most widely used tools in high jump coaching—the Intercept Point—and show you how to calculate, mark, and refine it for your athlete.
If you want your high jumper to run a more consistent curve, generate better takeoff force, and clear higher bars, this is the resource for you.
Helping Athletes Adapt to Travel, Time Zone Changes, and Competing Away from Home
With the 2025 National Championships in Perth approaching, our coaching community shared their best strategies for helping athletes adapt to long travel, time zone changes, and competing away from home. From adjusting sleep schedules and managing travel fatigue to maintaining familiar routines and supporting mental readiness, experienced coaches provided practical, battle-tested insights to help athletes perform at their best. Whether it’s hydration, movement, light exposure, or simply embracing travel as a learning experience, this summary captures the key takeaways to help coaches and athletes navigate competition travel successfully.
Race Tactics in the 800m: Breaking Down the Men’s 800m at the Adelaide Invitational
At the 2025 Adelaide Invitational, young talent Daniel Williams made a fearless move at 200m to go, forcing the pace and giving himself every chance to win. But Peter Bol, with his world-class experience, stayed composed, trusting his race plan to withstand the challenge and surge home in the final straight.
This article breaks down the key tactical decisions in the race, highlighting the strengths and risks of both approaches. Coaches, how do you help your athletes develop the instincts to make the right call under pressure? Dive in to explore strategies for building race-craft and decision-making skills in middle-distance racing.
Cracking the Code of Adolescent Athlete Development: What Every Track and Field Coach Should Know
Navigating the wild ride of adolescent athlete development can be a challenge for track and field coaches. One moment, your athletes are improving by leaps and bounds, and the next, they’re struggling with coordination and stagnating in performance. This article dives into the science behind these changes—why boys experience explosive gains post-puberty, why girls may hit a plateau, and how to tailor training to capitalise on critical windows of development.
Why You Should Rethink Saying "I'm Proud of You" to Your Athletes
Athletes receive plenty of external validation—parents, teachers, and friends all tell them they’re proud. But if an athlete begins to associate success with pleasing others, their motivation can shift from self-driven to externally dependent.
Hear from Peter Hannan on why he doesn’t say “I’m Proud of You” to his athletes, and suitable alternatives that he uses with his squad.
Understanding and Managing the Performance Plateau in Adolescent Athletes
Puberty brings a wave of hormonal, biomechanical, and psychological changes that can temporarily disrupt an athlete’s performance. Sprint times may slow, endurance can dip, coordination may feel off, and frustration can set in—especially for female athletes navigating mid adolescence.
But a plateau isn’t a dead end—it’s a phase of adaptation. In this article, we explore the four key factors affecting performance during puberty and provide practical, science-backed coaching strategies to help athletes regain confidence, refine technique, and unlock their full potential.
Rotational Shot Put Technical Model
The rotational shot put isn’t just about raw power—it’s about precision, sequencing, and controlled energy transfer. In this in-depth guide, we break down the six key phases of the throw, highlighting essential coaching points, optimal body positions, and common technical errors.
The Back Squat: A Somewhat Necessary Evil of Track and Field Training (And How to Fix It)
The squat—every athlete’s best friend and worst enemy. When done right, it builds explosive power, stability, and strength. When done wrong, it’s a fast track to imbalance, inefficiency, and potential injury. In this guide, we break down squat mechanics using a bottom-up approach, helping track and field coaches identify and correct common faults. From heels lifting to knees caving in, we provide practical cues and strategies to keep your athletes squatting safely and effectively. Whether you're coaching sprinters, jumpers, or throwers, this article will ensure their squats are working for them, not against them.
Plyometrics for Track and Field Coaches: A Practical Guide
Welcome to the wonderfully explosive world of plyometrics—a training tool that’s been around since Russian athletes were wearing tracksuits you could hear before you saw. Plyometrics, or “jump training,” is a must-have in any track and field coach’s toolbox. Whether you’re coaching sprinters, jumpers, throwers, or even endurance athletes, this form of high-intensity exercise bridges the gap between raw strength and sport-specific power.
Here’s your quick guide to implementing plyometric training with a pinch of practical advice.
Coaching in Hot Weather: Practical Strategies from the Community Brainstorm
In our January Community Brainstorm, experienced coaches from across the country shared their tried-and-tested strategies for keeping athletes safe while maintaining training quality. Their insights highlight key adjustments in training scheduling, hydration, cooling strategies, shade, and alternative session planning.
Find great practical strategies for adjusting training in hot conditions in this article.
Rethinking The Role of A- and B-Skips in Improving Sprinting Performance
Go to any track on any given day and the chances are you’re going to see athletes doing A-skips and B-skips at some point. But how well do these drills actually replicate the movements of maximal sprinting? This article will look into the results of an article examining the kinematic and spatiotemporal differences between sprinting and these popular drills, providing valuable insights for coaches aiming to maximise sprint performance.
Biomechanics of Elite Pole Vaulters
The presentation highlighted insights from a recent research paper relevant to the biomechanics of pole vaulting. The data-driven analysis offered fresh perspectives on improving key aspects of the approach run, take-off, and bar clearance phases.
Online Abuse Targeting Athletes: A Four-Year Study by World Athletics
Familiarise yourself with the findings of a four year study by World Athletics examining online abuse experienced by athletes and your role as a coach in managing this issue.
Pool Running : Maximising Adaptations Beyond Rehabilitation
This article explores key benefits, effective techniques, and tailored session plans for both sprinters and distance runners of pool running. Whether you're looking to maintain fitness, build resilience, or introduce low-impact conditioning, this comprehensive overview will show you how to integrate pool running seamlessly into your training programs.
Managing Difficult Parents - Advice from the Athletics Coaching Community
This article explores strategies for managing "overbearing" parents in athletics coaching, drawing on insights shared by experienced coaches during the December Community Brainstorm. From setting clear boundaries with a parent code of conduct to fostering trust through open communication, the article highlights practical ways to turn parental involvement into a positive force. It also addresses the importance of coach well-being, offering advice on balancing professional responsibilities with self-care. Whether you're a new coach or a seasoned mentor, these tips provide valuable guidance for creating a supportive and productive training environment.
The Pathway to the Top
Di Huxley shares her research on what it takes to help athletes progress from juniors to elite seniors. She emphasises how crucial it is to truly know your athlete—not just their physical abilities but also their psychological and developmental needs. It’s about building trust, aligning your coaching goals with their readiness, and being flexible enough to adapt. She shares examples of how this approach can either nurture an athlete’s talent or, unfortunately, push them away.
Nutrition and Physiology 101
The presentation focuses on optimising performance and recovery during the upcoming January Relay camp in preparation for future competitions like the World Relays.
Key topics include the importance of hydration, nutrition, and central nervous system (CNS) recovery. Practical strategies are outlined, such as tracking fluid loss through pre- and post-training weighing, prioritising recovery snacks and ice baths, and managing heat exposure during training in hot and humid conditions.
Endurance Edge Masterclass: Performance Psychology and Altitude Training
The Endurance Edge Conference brought together some of Australia's brightest endurance stars and high-performance experts for an evening of inspiration and practical insights. Held at the Victorian Institute of Sport at Lakeside Stadium, the event highlighted strategies for athletic success and fostered connections between elite athletes, coaches, and attendees.