Coaching course developed by leading Australian sporting bodies to safeguard young athletes

Three leading Australian sporting bodies - the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), and the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) - have united to launch an innovative eLearning course to equip coaches of junior high performance athletes with the tools they need to deliver safe, effective and athlete-centred coaching.

The sporting bodies co-developed the  ‘Safe and Effective Coaching of Young Athletes in High Performance Sport’ course following the 2022 WAIS Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Program review, which identified a critical gap in safeguarding education for coaches of young high performance athletes - both in Australia and globally.  

The course was successfully tested with coaches at WAIS and will now be made available nationwide.

WAIS Chief Executive Matt Fulton shared “at WAIS, we’ve listened closely to the experiences of former athletes and committed to meaningful change; this course is one part of a broader effort to improve how we deliver high performance.

“It’s been incredibly valuable to have our coaches involved in shaping its direction and driving positive outcomes in the development, wellbeing, and long-term success of young athletes.”

Designed for coaches working with young athletes navigating the complexities of physical, emotional and psychological development, the ‘Safe and Effective Coaching of Young Athletes in High Performance Sport’ course offers practical tools informed by the latest research and integrity trends. 

Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager of AIS Performance Matti Clements said it aligns with Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Win Well Strategy.

Clements noted “former and current athletes bravely shared their experiences, both at WAIS and other programs across the country, and told us more needs to be done to safeguard young athletes. We as a high performance system not only listened but acted.

“All Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports and sporting bodies are united in our vision to win well. Ensuring our coaches and athletes have the support and environment to succeed in both sport and in life is crucial to achieving that goal.”

SIA Chief Executive, Dr Sarah Benson added “we know that exceptional coaches are at the heart of any successful high performance sport program, and young athletes rely on their leadership, care and trust.

“In developing this course, it was important to consider all the unique challenges being faced by young athletes – such as their physical maturation, hormonal changes, and mental development and wellbeing – to provide coaches with the insights and tools necessary for safe and successful high performance programs.

“This course proactively supports coaches to bring out the best in junior athletes while also keeping sport safe for everyone, at all levels.”

The course is available through SIA’s eLearning platform.

Image. The Safe and Effective Coaching of Young Athletes in High Performance Sport has been designed by the AIS and SIA in partnership with WAIS. (from left: Michael Dobbin, Emma Lynch, James Fitzpatrick, Jessica Edwards, Paul Oliver, Matt Fulton, Matti Clements, Neill Potts, Amanda Simmonds, Carolyn Morrison) Credit: AIS