Nineteen performance coaches elevated to the next level

Nineteen high performance pathway coaches are set to take their career to the next level after being appointed into the AIS Elevate Coach Program.

Forming part of the workshop the coaches were given challenges to solve to encourage outside the box thinking.

Now in its sixth edition, the program focuses on supporting and developing coaches who work with athletes categorised as emerging, developing and podium potential.

The program kicked off last month with a three-day face-to-face workshop on the Gold Coast which saw the coaches undertake team building activities and challenges.

WAIS Hockey Coach Alistair Hockey has recently returned from coaching at the elite level in the UK and is excited to be back on home soil and diving into a new challenge.

“It’s great you know, I don’t think you can ever have enough knowledge, being able to network with other coaches and other sports and learn from some of the best brains in the country is a fantastic opportunity.”

Laryssa Biesenthal who has coached rowing at three Olympic Games echoed this.

“As coaches there’s always something more to learn, there’s always a new advancement, there’s always a new way of doing things.”

“We ask athletes every day to have a growth mindset and to try new things so being involved in this program gives me the opportunity to also stretch my mind and learn.”

Following the first workshop the coaches will now undertake a bespoke 16-week online program which touches on topics such as personal values, coaching philosophies, effective stakeholder management and holistic athlete development.

The AIS will also work closely with each coach to individualise their learning outcomes and tailor the program based on their needs – an approach Wheelchair Basketball Coach Nick Such welcomes.

“It’s very easy to get pigeonholed in your own environment when you’ve been there for quite some time so I think this program will both validate what we as coaches know but also challenge our knowledge and our expectations in our own sport and at the end of the day that will make us a better coach for our athletes.”

AIS Performance Pathways Manager and program lead Graham Turner said: “The coaches will also focus on a particular theme or an interest of theirs and take a deep dive while we support them with generating change for themselves and their athletes.

“The highlight of the program is when the coaches come back together at the AIS to share how they’ve applied their learning and the impact it’s had on their coaching practice and their athletes.”

The program is delivered in partnership with La Trobe University and the University of Sydney.

AIS Elevate Coach Program cohort six:

• Larissa Markovina, Taekwondo
• Laryssa Biesenthal, Rowing
• Jo Clark, Water polo
• George Logothetis, Para Table Tennis
• Jessica Whitfort, Netball
• Graham Winston, Para Archery
• Amanda Ament, Archery
• Arthur Voulgaris, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
• Will Stoyles, Skateboarding
• Jessica Haintz, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
• Ross Young, Triathlon
• Shane McDonald, Basketball
• Lyn Gilroy, Trampoline Gymnastics
• Nick Such, Wheelchair Basketball
• Theresa (Marty) Stolberg, Athletics
• Alex Clarke, Swimming
• Alistair Addison, Hockey
• Jerry Moraitis, Taekwondo
• Rhian Jamieson, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics