Level 4 High Performance Coach
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⚠️ The structure and requirements of the Level 4 High Performance Coach accreditation have changed for the 2025 program.
Please ensure that you are familiar with the new requirements prior to applying.
Overview
The Level 4 High Performance Coach accreditation is designed for coaches working with high performance athletes who are targeting major international competitions.
Entry to the Level 4 High Performance accreditation is by application only.
The primary objective of a High Performance Coach is to prepare athletes for successful performances at international competitions. This is achieved through effective coordination of high performance support services, collaborating with athlete representatives, and implementing best-practice coaching principles for elite athletes.
This accreditation is aimed at current and future Personal Coaches to NASS supported athletes.
Course Structure
Level 4 High Performance Coach candidates are expected to attend and complete all of the following requirements.
▶️ 2025 High Performance Mentoring Program
Take part in the 2025 Mentoring Program.
▶️ Attend the World Athletics High Performance Academy
The World Athletics Level III is a globally recognised program which combines traditional athletics education with an academic institution that contributes with its scientific expertise. It operates through the principles of connecting excellence, community and the sharing of international best practice at the highest level.
The World Athletics Level III will be held on-site over 7 full consecutive days.
🗓️ 2025 Course Dates: TBD - Tentative July 13 to July 19 at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia (Brisbane) campus.
▶️ Athlete Diary
Document and systematically track an athlete's development over a 12-month period. This task will assess your capacity to implement long-term planning, make data-driven decisions, and adjust training approaches to optimise performance, with a focus on how your coaching strategies have influenced their development..
▶️ Produce an Evidence-Based Report
Create an evidence-based report that showcases your ability to integrate research, best practices, and personal coaching experience into a cohesive analysis.
▶️ Attain an ASCA Level 1 Accreditation
Attain a minimum of Level 1 accreditation with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association.
▶️ Mental Performance in Competition (MPC) for Coaches Program
Attend the online Mental Performance in Competition for Coaches program and complete all requirements associated with the course.
🗓️ 2025 Course Dates: July 20 at the University of Queensland, St. Lucia (Brisbane) campus.
▶️ Create an Individual Coach Development Plan (ICDP)
Towards the completion of the Level 4 program, reflect on your learning journey, identify areas where you have grown, and recognise areas where further development is needed. Your ICDP should outline specific goals, strategies, and resources that will support your ongoing development as a high-performance coach after the completion of the 2025 program.
▶️ Eating Disorder for Sport Workshop
Attend the Eating Disorder for Sport course.
🗓️ 2025 Course Dates: Perth - Tentative: April 9 4:30pm - 8:30pm Online
🛑 Up to Date with all Performance Health and Athlete Wellbeing Requirements
Complete all required Performance Health and Athlete Protection modules. These are self-paced courses that can be completed at any time over the program.
Selection Requirements
To be eligible for the Level 4 High Performance Coach accreditation, a coach must fulfil the following criteria:
Hold the Level 3 Performance Coach accreditation for a minimum of 24 months.
Be the current primary personal coach to an athlete who has been selected for a major international competition* within the last two years.
Be up-to-date with the mandatory, ongoing compliance modules through Athletics Australia and Sport Integrity Australia.
Be in good standing and a current member of their State / Territory Athletics Association.
* Including but not limited to, the World Athletics U20 Championships, World Para-Athletics Championships, World Athletics Championships, Paralympic Games, Olympic Games, World Athletics Indoor Championships, World Athletics Cross Country Championships, World Athletics Road Running Championships, or World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
Application Process
Online interviews with candidates who meet the Level 4 criteria will be conducted between 5-18th December.
If successful, confirm your acceptance into the program by 15 January.
Desirable Criteria
Coaches who can identify how they meet the desirable criteria of a High Performance coach will be prioritised for acceptance into the program.
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High level knowledge in athletics specific domains (including best practice approaches and principles from connected disciplines).
A high level of athletics specific technical, tactical, physical, and psychological models and appropriateness of their application across diverse learning and in-competition situations.
Ability to teach technical and performance models to athletes in their event.
Comprehensive knowledge of effective athlete and coach development methods, including knowledge of modern approaches in teaching and learning across the lifespan.
Understanding of progressive performance levels required for developing future HP athletes as demonstrated through the implementation of short & long-term plans that support and monitor individual progression and performance.
Ability to conduct a thorough planning and performance review process with individual athletes.
Demonstrated abilities to understand what it takes for their athletes to win (WITTW).
Ability to articulate medal, finalist & semi-finalist average standards in their event at major championships.
Tertiary level knowledge in sports science/medicine, sports coaching or a related field that demonstrates integration of best practice approaches and principles from connected disciplines.
Broad knowledge of communication methods and personality attributes that drive and influence performance behaviours (individual and social) of pre-elite & senior elite level athlete.
An understanding of integrity duty of care, anti-doping and match fixing implications for athletes and coaches. An understanding of the ethical requirements and professional behavioural expectations as stipulated by AA/AIS/SIA.
Understanding of holistic coach well-being practices (e.g., maintain physical and mental health fitness, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, stress management).
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Ability to manage and communicate with a diverse group of athletes, Sport Science & Sports Medicine (SSSM) and support staff in the benchmark events sport context.
Demonstrated ability to have a positive impact on decisions made by governing bodies, sport administrators and other key stakeholders (domestically and internationally) that benefit elite athletes’ progress and results.
Proven ability to create a high functioning/successful and sustainable ‘team’ culture within national, state or club teams and personal training squad environments.
Commitment to continuous self-directed learning and personal & professional growth.
Proven ability to mentor other coaches and/or has the skills and training to mentor.
Strong understanding of the circumstances and parameters of appropriate coach-athlete transitions.
Costs
Participants will be expected to cover their own costs over the course of the program. These may include:
Tuition Fee for the World Athletics High Performance Academy Course (estimated $699)
Travel and Accommodation for the World Athletics High Performance Academy Course (estimated $700-1400)
ASCA Level 1 (estimated $550)
Additional Program Information
2025 High Performance Mentoring Program
Australian Athletics has a group of highly qualified and experienced coaches who have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to develop junior talent through to elite senior international levels. These coaches have also shown that they have the knowledge of ‘what it takes to win’ on the world stage. The mentoring program aims to capture this collective expertise for the benefit of our developing high-performance coaches and their athletes. The program is aimed at system and personal coaches for the 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane Olympic cycles.
This is the fourth intake of the Coach Mentoring Program. It will run for twelve months with each mentee being assigned a single mentor. It will begin with a 90-minute training session conducted online.
The mentor/mentee matches will be mutually agreed with a formal arrangement clearly specifying the roles of each participant. Athletics Australia will provide mentor and mentee guides.
Mentor Dick Telford with mentee Steve Fabris.
Mentee Requirements
Participate in the online mentor/mentee training session:
🗓️ Date: TBD (Early 2025)
⏰ Time: TBD
Collaborate with your mentor to establish a 12-month coach development plan with agreed targets and timelines:
📅 Regular bi-monthly meetings with specific coach education objectives.
👥 Spending time together in each other’s daily training environments, competitions, or other relevant settings.
📝 Provide Athletics Australia with a written outline of this plan.
Attend the monthly online Town Hall meetings conducted by Athletics Australia:
📢 May involve presenting at one of these meetings.
Participate in an evaluation process at the end of the 12 months:
🖋️ Submit a written reflection of the program (template provided).
✔️ Mentors will assess the level of participation and commitment of each mentee.
Adhere to Athletics Australia’s quality coaching and ethical practices.
Athlete Tracking and Performance Analysis
Demonstrate your ability to monitor and analyse the training, progression, and performance of a high-performance track and field athlete, by systematically tracking an athlete's training and development over a 12-month period. This task will assess your capacity to implement long-term planning, make data-driven decisions, and adjust training approaches to optimise performance for the athlete with the potential to reach a major international event.
Select a high-performance track and field athlete who you currently coach or have coached in the past. Over the 12 month period of the Level 4 program, you will document the athlete’s training, progression, and performance, with a focus on how your coaching strategies have influenced their development.
The analysis should include the following:
Athlete Profile
Provide a brief overview of the athlete, including their event(s), previous performance history, strengths, and areas for improvement. Outline the athlete's short-term and long-term goals.Training Plan Overview
Detail the annual training plan, including phases (e.g., preparation, competition), key objectives, and expected outcomes. Explain the rationale behind your training approach, referencing relevant performance models and coaching methodologies.Tracking and Monitoring
Describe the methods and tools used to track the athlete’s training loads, physical condition, technical skills, and psychological readiness. Include regular performance assessments, such as test results, competition outcomes, and any relevant biometrics.Progression and Adaptation
Analyse the athlete's progression throughout the year, highlighting key milestones and any challenges encountered. Discuss how you adapted the training plan in response to the athlete’s needs, performance data, or unexpected circumstances (e.g., injury, illness).Performance Review
Provide a detailed evaluation of the athlete's performance in major competitions, assessing the effectiveness of the training plan. Compare the athlete’s performance against their goals and discuss the factors that contributed to their successes or areas where improvement is needed.Conclusion and Recommendations
Summarise the key learnings from the 12-month period and how these will inform future coaching decisions. Offer recommendations for the athlete’s continued development and potential areas for further training focus.
Evidence-Based Report
To demonstrate your deep understanding of a specific topic relevant to high-performance coaching, you are required to create an evidence-based report that showcases your ability to integrate research, best practices, and personal coaching experience into a cohesive analysis.
Select a topic within the domain of high-performance coaching that is of particular interest or relevance to your current coaching practice. Your report should be grounded in current research and literature, and it should demonstrate your ability to critically analyse information, draw meaningful conclusions, and apply this knowledge to real-world coaching scenarios.
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Clearly define the topic and its relevance to high-performance coaching.
Provide an overview of the key issues or questions that your report will address.
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Summarise and critique the existing research and best practices related to your chosen topic.
Identify gaps or areas of controversy in the literature.
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Discuss how the insights from your research can be applied to high-performance coaching.
Provide examples of how you have, or plan to, incorporate these insights into your coaching practice.
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Summarise your key findings and their implications for high-performance coaching.
Suggest areas for further research or professional development.
Individual Coach Development Plan
To ensure continued growth and excellence in your coaching career, you are required to create an Individual Coach Development Plan (ICDP) that identifies your future development needs following the completion of the Level 4 High Performance Coach program. This plan will serve as a strategic guide for your ongoing professional development, helping you to stay at the forefront of high-performance coaching. Your plan should include the following sections.
Self-Assessment
Conduct a thorough self-assessment of your current coaching competencies, reflecting on the skills and knowledge you have gained during the Level 4 program.
Identify your strengths as a coach and areas where you believe further development is needed.
Development Goals
Set clear, specific, and measurable goals for your continued development as a high-performance coach.
Ensure that these goals align with your coaching philosophy, career aspirations, and the needs of the athletes you coach.
Strategies for Development
Outline the strategies you will use to achieve your development goals. These may include further education, mentorship, attending workshops or conferences, engaging in reflective practice, or pursuing advanced certifications.
Identify any new skills or knowledge areas you need to acquire and how you plan to address them.
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