The Illawarra Academy of Sport (IAS) has been providing emerging athletes a pathway to excellence since 1985. We are a not-for-profit organisation that provides sport-specific, performance support, and education programs to talented young athletes across the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven, and Wingecarribee. Approximately 250 male and female athletes aged 12 - 18 representing a range of sport disciplines are offered an IAS scholarship annually.
One of eleven operational regional academies, our role is to prepare talented young athletes for the rigours of elite sport. The Regional Academies are a recognised Olympic Training Centre, delivering services defined within the Talent pillar of the Australian Institute of Sport’s FTEM (Foundations | Talent | Elite | Mastery) Model.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, the strength and conditioning coaches will be responsible for monitoring and supervising gym sessions for young, talented athletes from a range of different sports and disciplines.
Coaches require specific knowledge of the strength and conditioning needs of developing athletes aged 12 - 18 over a broad and diverse range of sports.
Gym locations include Kiama, Shellharbour, and Wollongong.
Hours generally range from 6:00am - 7:30am, and 4:30 - 6:00pm on weekdays. Expectation of hours and availability will vary but could range from 2 - 10 hours per week. All coaches will be under the direction of the IAS Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, and all programming will be provided.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement a program that meets the needs of the athlete
- Capacity to oversee individualised gym-based sessions for squads and individuals as well as the capacity to conduct “field-based” sessions with squads, as required.
- Liaise with the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and the IAS team on the monitoring of the athletes progress and attendance
- Assist in the delivery of biannual testing procedures.
- Opportunity to work with NSWIS athletes where required.
Selection Criteria
- Previous experience working with young athletes / children and the various needs that are attached to this demographic
- Understanding of fundamental exercise prescription and applied anatomical knowledge
- Effective communication skills across a broad range of people including coaches, young athletes and exercise professionals
- Familiar with all considerations around weight-room safety
- Knowledge of long-term athletic development processes
- Ability to work independently and autonomously
- Ability to work as part of a small multi-disciplinary team.
- Adaptable and able to modify sessions reactively based around imposed constraints
- Capable of monitoring training programs for a high number of athletes concurrently
