Level 2 Development Coach

🏃‍♀️ The Development Coach accreditation program is the entry point for all coaches working with club-level Track and Field athletes aged 12 years and above.
Please ensure that you are familiar with the course structure prior to registering.

Program Overview

The Level 2 Development Coach accreditation is designed for coaches interested in working with athletes aged 12+ years old, and/or want to be involved in the Introduction to Training and Training I (General) stages of development (outlined in Australian Athletics’ Training and Competition Guidelines for Children and Adults).

The primary objective of a Development Coach is to teach athletes the technical model of Track and Field events and develop biomotor abilities.
Development Coaches offer structured, coach-led practices, designed to improve performance and prepare athletes for local, regional, and state level competitions.
This accreditation is primarily aimed at Club Coaches, Secondary Teachers, Little Athletics Coaches, Private Athletics Squad Coaches, Masters Coaches, and Senior Athletes.

Program Curriculum

How You Coach: Self-reflection, your approach to coaching, and how you communicate with your athletes and your team.

Who You Coach: Understand the stages of adolesence, long-term athlete development, coaching para-athletes, and unique considerations of coaching Masters athletes.

What You Coach: Explore functional movement training, plyometrics, and flexibility and mobility training to develop the physical capacity of your athletes.

How You Plan: Develop your understanding of the principles of training, the energy systems, and periodization to design effective season plans.

Event-Group Coaching Electives: Gain the event-specific coaching skills that are relevant for your training , including technical model, training drills, biomechanics, and planning considerations for each event of Track and Field.

Performance Health Electives: Earn 25 CPD points by completing relevant elective modules to your training environment, focussed on athlete health and wellbeing.

Teaching Hours

Facilitated Learning: 16 hours
Online Learning: 12 hours
Assessment: 2 hours

Course Structure

Start by registering for the Level 2 Development Coach Program here. Once registered, work through the following two components of the accreditation.

Step 1

Online Modules (Self-Paced)

Complete the following online modules:

- Development Coach - Core Skills and assessments.
- Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Induction online course.

- At least two Event Group Elective modules.
- Earn at least 25 CPD Points in Performance Health Elective modules.

Step 2

Facilitated Learning Course

Attend the following face-to-face sessions:

- Part 1: Attend a full day face-to-face course
- Part 2: Attend a full day face-to-face course
OR
5 x 90 minute, live webinar sessions (over several weeks)

Tap the tiles below for more detailed information about the Level 2 Development Coach Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Part 1: Core Modules
- How you Coach - Your Approach to Coaching
- Who you Coach - Coaching Adolescents, Coaching Para-Athletes
- What you Coach - Introduction to Conditioning and Plyometrics, Functional Movement Training, Flexibility and Mobility
- How you Plan - The Principles of Training, The Energy systems, Planning and Periodization
Part 2: Event Group Modules
Learners to complete at least TWO of the following modules:
- Coaching Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays
- Coaching Distance
- Coaching Jumps
- Coaching Throws
- Coaching Race Walking
- Combined Events (Heptathlon/Decathlon)
Part 3: Performance Health Electives
Learners to obtain at least 25 CPD points in elective modules such as:
- Bone Health for Athletes
- Nutrition, Hydration, and Energy Availability
- Coaching Female Athletes
- Athlete Wellbeing and Mental Health
- Illness and Injury Prevention
To earn your Level 2 Development Coach badge, here’s what you need:
- Age: Must be 16 or older.
That's it! No special skills or prior knowledge needed!
To achieve the Level 2 Development Coach accreditation, you must complete the following two assessment tasks:
- A planning assignment.
- A practical coaching assessment, signed off by an approved assessor.
These assessments are submitted online via the Athletics Learning Centre.
The cost of the Level 2 Development Coach accreditation is determined by the State/Territory Athletics Association, so it may vary slightly depending on your location.
Generally, the course costs around $360, which includes both the practical course and online modules. Plus, if this is your first coaching accreditation, you’ll also get one year of complimentary coaching membership and insurance.
For more detailed pricing information, please contact your local Athletics State Association.
The Level 2 Development Coach course includes both online and face-to-face components, with some flexibility available for the facilitated learning (in-person) sessions.
See the details below:
- Facilitated Learning (Part 1): Full day face-to-face session
- Facilitated Learning (Part 2): Full day face to face session OR 5 x live, online sessions
- Online modules: Self-paced, online only
- Assessment: Self-paced, online only
If you choose to complete Part 2 of the facilitated learning sessions online, you will need to attend five live, 1-hour sessions. Attendance and active participation in these sessions is required. These sessions will not be recorded.
The online modules and the assessment can be completed at your own pace.

“The online modules are a great innovation allowing, myself to move back and forth to reveiw information. This allowed for consolidation and understanding as I could move through easily undertsood concepts and revision of concepts that I did not understand fully. I will continue to revisit the modules to assist with coaching in the future.”

Development Coach Progression Pathway

Your Level 2 Development Coach accreditation is just one step in your coach education journey. At the completion of the Level 2 Development Coach accreditation, coaches can choose to specialise in coaching club-level athletes and/or progress to coaching athletes at a higher performance level.