What is the Individual Coach Development Plan (ICDP)?

The Individual Coach Development Plan (ICDP) program is a comprehensive, system-wide initiative designed to enhance the capabilities of individual coaches.

Developed by the AIS, the ICDP program provides National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), National Sporting Organisations for People with Disability (NSODs) and the National Institute Network (NIN) with a unified and consistent approach to coach development.

It is founded upon the AIS HP Coach Framework and supported by the HP Coach Capability Framework.

The step-by-step process helps identify a coach’s strengths and highlights opportunities for development, supported by actionable plans that are in alignment with sports overall strategic objectives.

Specific tools and resources have been created, including an online platform to house plans, track progress, identify developmental themes to support more efficient and effective resource allocation and planning and reporting.

The ICDP program is integral to the HP2032+ vision, recognising world class coaching as a principal enabler of change and success for athletes, teams, and programs.

For Sports Organisations

Investing in the ICDP program enhances your HP coaches’ capabilities, ensuring sustainable high performance, efficient resource allocation, and a culture of continuous learning, ultimately driving innovation and excellence within your organisation.

The AIS HPCD team plays a supporting role in the implantation of ICDPs including facilitation training and supporting communities of practice for coach development leads.

It's important to note that the ICDP focuses on coach development and is not intended as a performance management tool. Therefore, the AIS recommends that direct line managers should not facilitate the ICDP.

For sports without an internal coach development lead or a role dedicated to coach development, a network of experienced and independent facilitators skilled in the AIS ICDP process can be accessed.

We recommend engaging an independent ICDP facilitator from the AIS facilitator network.

We have developed a step-by-step guide to facilitating and developing ICDPs.

We have also developed a set of conversation cards that are available through HP Coach Development Workshops.

For coaches

AIS ICDP Coach Guide

The ICDP program offers coaches personalised growth plans, clarity, and support, helping you identify strengths and set development plans to enhance your professional performance and career pathways.

It is recommended that the Coach Guide is provided to coaches before beginning the process.

For more information, please contact the AIS HP Coach Development team hpcoachdevelopment@ausport.gov.