Some of Australia’s leading coaches and sports administrators have provided inspiring advice and revealing insights as part of the Australian Sports Commission’s Coaching, Officiating and Club Development workshop held in Melbourne recently.

Keynote addresses from National Rugby League CEO and Australian Sports Commission Board member David Gallop, Swimming Australia’s Head Coach Alan Thompson and Ford Australia Sponsorship Manager Nick Cummins, explored the best practice and latest trends in coaching, official education and club development.

The workshop provided a great networking opportunity for the 155 delegates from 39 sports to share their ideas and expertise in one productive forum. It also helped to identify synergies between coaching and officiating, and club development.

Thompson presented a revealing insight into his experiences of coaching at the Olympic level. Participants were treated to an in-depth analysis of the factors behind swimming’s success at international level, particularly at the Beijing Olympic Games. 

He touched on how leading sports such as swimming will need to work hard to adapt to the pressures of the economic downturn in order to remain successful. 

Gallop talked about the challenges and demands faced by sports administrators in helping to effectively manage their sport. He used the ongoing review into rugby league to illustrate the responsibility all sports have to improve delivery from grassroots to high performance.

Cummins presented delegates with useful comparisons from the automotive industry about delivering a national product at a local level, including the challenges involved.

Delegates, including Tara Steel from Touch Football Australia, left impressed with this year’s workshop.

‘The workshop included a great range of topics. The opportunity to network and build relationships with other sports and the Australian Sports Commission staff was invaluable. I look forward to next year,’ she said.

The Coaching, Officiating and Club Development workshop is an annual event hosted by the Australian Sports Commission.