Coach Education Resources
The Back Squat: A Somewhat Necessary Evil of Track and Field Training (And How to Fix It)
The squat—every athlete’s best friend and worst enemy. When done right, it builds explosive power, stability, and strength. When done wrong, it’s a fast track to imbalance, inefficiency, and potential injury. In this guide, we break down squat mechanics using a bottom-up approach, helping track and field coaches identify and correct common faults. From heels lifting to knees caving in, we provide practical cues and strategies to keep your athletes squatting safely and effectively. Whether you're coaching sprinters, jumpers, or throwers, this article will ensure their squats are working for them, not against them.
Plyometrics for Track and Field Coaches: A Practical Guide
Welcome to the wonderfully explosive world of plyometrics—a training tool that’s been around since Russian athletes were wearing tracksuits you could hear before you saw. Plyometrics, or “jump training,” is a must-have in any track and field coach’s toolbox. Whether you’re coaching sprinters, jumpers, throwers, or even endurance athletes, this form of high-intensity exercise bridges the gap between raw strength and sport-specific power.
Here’s your quick guide to implementing plyometric training with a pinch of practical advice.
Coaching in Hot Weather: Practical Strategies from the Community Brainstorm
In our January Community Brainstorm, experienced coaches from across the country shared their tried-and-tested strategies for keeping athletes safe while maintaining training quality. Their insights highlight key adjustments in training scheduling, hydration, cooling strategies, shade, and alternative session planning.
Find great practical strategies for adjusting training in hot conditions in this article.
Rethinking The Role of A- and B-Skips in Improving Sprinting Performance
Go to any track on any given day and the chances are you’re going to see athletes doing A-skips and B-skips at some point. But how well do these drills actually replicate the movements of maximal sprinting? This article will look into the results of an article examining the kinematic and spatiotemporal differences between sprinting and these popular drills, providing valuable insights for coaches aiming to maximise sprint performance.
Biomechanics of Elite Pole Vaulters
The presentation highlighted insights from a recent research paper relevant to the biomechanics of pole vaulting. The data-driven analysis offered fresh perspectives on improving key aspects of the approach run, take-off, and bar clearance phases.
Online Abuse Targeting Athletes: A Four-Year Study by World Athletics
Familiarise yourself with the findings of a four year study by World Athletics examining online abuse experienced by athletes and your role as a coach in managing this issue.
Pool Running : Maximising Adaptations Beyond Rehabilitation
This article explores key benefits, effective techniques, and tailored session plans for both sprinters and distance runners of pool running. Whether you're looking to maintain fitness, build resilience, or introduce low-impact conditioning, this comprehensive overview will show you how to integrate pool running seamlessly into your training programs.
Managing Difficult Parents - Advice from the Athletics Coaching Community
This article explores strategies for managing "overbearing" parents in athletics coaching, drawing on insights shared by experienced coaches during the December Community Brainstorm. From setting clear boundaries with a parent code of conduct to fostering trust through open communication, the article highlights practical ways to turn parental involvement into a positive force. It also addresses the importance of coach well-being, offering advice on balancing professional responsibilities with self-care. Whether you're a new coach or a seasoned mentor, these tips provide valuable guidance for creating a supportive and productive training environment.
The Pathway to the Top
Di Huxley shares her research on what it takes to help athletes progress from juniors to elite seniors. She emphasises how crucial it is to truly know your athlete—not just their physical abilities but also their psychological and developmental needs. It’s about building trust, aligning your coaching goals with their readiness, and being flexible enough to adapt. She shares examples of how this approach can either nurture an athlete’s talent or, unfortunately, push them away.
Nutrition and Physiology 101
The presentation focuses on optimising performance and recovery during the upcoming January Relay camp in preparation for future competitions like the World Relays.
Key topics include the importance of hydration, nutrition, and central nervous system (CNS) recovery. Practical strategies are outlined, such as tracking fluid loss through pre- and post-training weighing, prioritising recovery snacks and ice baths, and managing heat exposure during training in hot and humid conditions.
Endurance Edge Masterclass: Performance Psychology and Altitude Training
The Endurance Edge Conference brought together some of Australia's brightest endurance stars and high-performance experts for an evening of inspiration and practical insights. Held at the Victorian Institute of Sport at Lakeside Stadium, the event highlighted strategies for athletic success and fostered connections between elite athletes, coaches, and attendees.
Cold Water Immersion - Should it be Part of Your Coaching Toolkit?
Recovery is a cornerstone of performance, enabling athletes to train harder, recover faster, and reduce the risk of injury. Among the recovery strategies available, Cold Water Immersion (CWI) has become a popular choice in many sports, including track and field. But what does the evidence say, and how can coaches use this method effectively?
This article explores the benefits and considerations of incorporating CWI into a recovery protocol, drawing from insights provided by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
New Research Shows How Long, Hard and Often You Need to Stretch to Improve Your Flexibility
Static stretching is widely used to improve flexibility. But there are no clear recommendations on the optimal amount required. Our new research examined how long, how hard and how often you need to stretch to improve your flexibility – it’s probably less than you expect.
‘The Six Absolutes’ - Essential Tools for Your Coaching
One of the most effective tools I’ve come across in my coaching journey is the Six Absolutes. These principles, created by Dr. Greg Shepard, are the backbone of my approach to teaching technique on the track and in the gym. They’re simple enough to apply straight away, yet powerful enough to transform how athletes perform and avoid injuries.
The Functional Movement Screen
The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a tool for evaluating an athlete's functional movement patterns. In this article, we break down how the FMS works, assess its effectiveness in identifying movement inefficiencies and asymmetries, and why it may be a useful addition to your coaching toolkit.
Five Strategies for Balancing Coaching with a ‘Normal’ Life
Coaching track and field athletes is a rewarding yet demanding pursuit, often requiring a delicate balance between professional commitments, personal life, and the passion for coaching. In this article, we explore the wisdom and strategies of experienced coach Sandro Bisetto, who shares practical insights on time management, setting boundaries, aligning career goals, and maintaining strong family connections.
Muscular Strategy Shifts in Sprint Training: Implications for Training Cues and Exercises
The muscular strategy shifts identified by Dorn, Schache, and Pandy (2012) provide essential insights for sprint training, particularly for 100m and 200m sprinters. Coaches should focus on developing hip muscle strength and power to improve stride frequency and optimise sprint performance.
The Athlete Archetype Framework
A Totally Unscientific Way of Thinking About Different Athletes’ Needs and Motivations.
This guest article explores three ‘athlete archetypes’ and how the writer adapts their coaching style depending on the type of athlete they are working with.
Sharon Hannan: The Coach Who Built Communities, Not Just Champions
"It wasn’t just about athletics—it was about bringing people together, building relationships, and giving kids and families a place to belong."
Discover the driving influences behind one of Australia’s most successful athletics coaches of all time, Sharon Hannan.
The Norweigan Model of Lactate Threshold Training
The Norwegian model of lactate threshold training offers an intriguing approach for middle and long distance athletes. This model has been implemented successfully by some elite athletes, most notably in recent times Jackob Ingebrigtsen. The model emphasises moderating training intensity through lactate control and a unique method of blocking workouts.
This article will explore the training model and how it may be used by Australian coaches.