Lessons from Grant Ward’s Coaching Journey
This in-depth presentation, delivered by one of Australia’s accomplished Track and Field coaches, Grant Ward, explores the defining moments and enduring lessons from his decades-long coaching journey. From remote beginnings to international success, Grant shares candid reflections on his path, missteps, growth and philosophies—offering rich insights for coaches at every stage.
From Country NSW to Global Competition
Grant Ward’s coaching career began in regional NSW. Originally aspiring to be a cricketer, his interest in athletics sparked after watching the 1968 Olympics. A self-taught high jumper, he transitioned to the "flop" using rope and mattresses, driven by pure curiosity and passion.
His time in the United States as an exchange student introduced him to a competitive high school athletics environment, culminating in standout performances at state level. Back in Australia, his university years in Canberra exposed him to top athletes and coaches, eventually laying the foundation for his own coaching style.
Grant’s formal coaching began in 1988, supporting school athletes and then his partner, high jumper Vanessa Ward. When Vanessa lost her coach, Grant stepped in—despite feeling underprepared. This period, from 1990 to 1992, became a crash course in elite coaching. He adapted existing training models but learned the hard way that copying successful systems without tailoring them can backfire.
Vanessa’s pre-Olympic dip in performance was a pivotal lesson in the importance of individualisation, load management and knowing when to say "this isn't working".
The Coach as a Constant Learner
One of Grant’s standout messages was the necessity of reflection and owning mistakes. He candidly admits that the 1992 experience shaped his drive to improve. His mantra: "If you're not failing, you're not learning." This mindset led him to pursue qualifications, build strong coaching networks and value mentoring relationships deeply.
His experience at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) was transformative, allowing him to observe and collaborate with elite coaches and refine his practical understanding through conversation and real world observation.
Coaching Kim Mickle: Resilience, Relationship and Results
Grant shared a detailed case study on his 13 year coaching partnership with javelin thrower Kim Mickle. Starting during her rehab from surgery, their journey was marked by innovation, conflict, persistence and high performance including a Commonwealth Games gold, an Australian record and a World Championships silver medal.
He didn’t shy away from discussing the challenges: injuries, conflicting input from family, over-competition and even javelins crushed in transit. What emerged clearly was Grant’s commitment to adaptability, honest dialogue and mutual respect.
Principles That Guide Practice
Grant’s presentation concluded with core philosophies grounded in lived experience:
Coaching is problem-solving: Know your content, but be led by the athlete’s context.
Relationships are everything: Build trust and stay connected—even through setbacks.
Stay open-minded: The coach must evolve just as much as the athlete.
Reflection is a tool: Mistakes are inevitable; learning from them is optional but vital.
Planning matters: Grant developed a system to track throwing session loads (low/medium/high), demonstrating how structured review improves outcomes.
Mentoring multiplies growth: Don’t just have mentors—be one.
Simple works: Avoid overcomplicating. In competition, a few clear cues are better than many fuzzy ones.
Grant now coaches para-athletes and supports developing coaches, embodying his belief that experience should serve all levels of the sport. His talk reminded us that coaching is not just technical, it’s deeply human, endlessly evolving and always worth reflecting on.
Take a moment to reflect on each of the questions below. Jot down your honest thoughts, experiences and actions. Tap each prompt to explore how Grant approached these challenges in his own coaching journey.
