Athletics Coaching

In this episode, “Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Lumbar Bone Stress and Hamstring Injuries,” Kevin Craigie, Richard Saw and Cory Innes explore two of the most significant injury challenges in athletics: hamstring injuries and lumbar bone stress injuries. Led by Kevin Craigie , Australian Athletics’ High Performance Network Physiotherapy Lead, Richard Saw , Australian Athletics’ Chief Medical Off...

“Every time we find a weakness, we find a key to the next breakthrough.” In this coaching education session, Nicola Olyslagers shares a rare insight into the mindset behind world class performance. Nicola speaks openly about pressure, comparison, failure, confidence, athlete identity and the long term process of improvement. Through stories from major championships, tough training blocks and her r...

 In this episode we examine the physiology of ageing through the lens of Masters Athletics. We unpack the evidence on age-related changes in height, muscle mass, bone density and cardiovascular function, and explore how these influence performance in sprinting, distance running and field events.  Source: Physiology and Performance of Masters Athletes More importantly, we look at how structured tra...

This episode explores a holistic long-term development plan for adolescent sprinters aged 13-20, emphasising a holistic approach encompassing technical , physical , and psychological progression. Essential information for all coaches who work with 100m, 200m, 400m, sprinters and hurdlers. 

Source: Nutrition for Travel: From Jet Lag to Catering For your performance athletes, domestic and international travel presents a regular challenge, particularly when it's associated with competition pressure or the need to support specialized training, such as altitude or heat adaptation. This episode delves into how strategic nutrition and meticulous planning can mitigate common travel woe...

Why does feedback so often feel like a threat, not a gift? In this episode, we unpack the discomfort of honest feedback—why it stings, why we resist it, and how to make it work for you as a coach. Drawing from real-world coaching challenges, we break down the three common 'triggers' that derail feedback: Truth: when the content feels off Relationship : when it’s coming from 'them&ap...

Download the Communication and Engagement Guide Here Hey coaches, ever wonder how to make your track and field sessions truly inclusive and impactful for every athlete? Our latest episode dives into an incredible resource designed to help you do just that! We're talking about a comprehensive guide that provides essential communication and engagement strategies for assisting people living with...

Read the Full Study (Wu 2025) Here This episode investigates the benefits of an integrated training model for improving performance in 100m and 400m sprint events.  The study highlights that traditional training often separates strength, speed, and endurance, whereas a combined approach may yield superior results. Through a 12-week intervention with thirty trained sprinters, the research demonstra...

In this episode, we dive into six essential articles recently published by Australian Athletics—each packed with actionable insights for accredited coaches across all event groups. From resisted sprint training to cueing strategies, this episode offers a toolkit of proven practices to enhance coaching effectiveness, athlete performance, and long-term development.  Find the full articles at CoachAt...

Join us for a deep dive into the paper " An Integrative Definition of Coaching Effectiveness and Expertise " by Côté and Gilbert . Forget just focusing on finish times; this episode explores what truly makes a coach effective and an expert. Source:  An Integrative Definition of Coaching Effectiveness and Expertise We unpack the authors' groundbreaking definition, revealing the three...

This episode explores the impact of mental fatigue on athletes, particularly in track and field , and the crucial role coaches play in both mitigating fatigue and promoting recovery . Source:  Key Takeaways: 🔹 Mental fatigue affects performance : 96% of practitioners agree it has a major impact on training and competition. 🔹 Signs of mental fatigue : Decreased session quality, loss of focus, slo...

Source:  Successful Talent Development in Track and Field: Considering the Role of Environment  (Authored by Henriksen, Stambulova, and Rossler). What makes a track and field club a powerhouse for developing elite athletes? In this episode, we dive into a fascinating study on IFK Växjö, a Swedish club with a track record of producing top talent. Using a holistic ecological approach, the research u...

Source: Australian Athletics Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy As a coach, you play a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for young athletes. In this episode, the hosts break down the key takeaways from Australian Athletics' comprehensive safeguarding policy. From understanding how to handle physical touch, communicating with athletes online, and transportin...

This episode explores common errors in squat form, focusing on heel rise , knee collapse , hip/shoulder movement discrepancies , and spinal rounding . It outlines a bottom-up assessment method , progressing from feet to shoulders. The episode also provides both verbal and non-verbal correction strategies for each error, including using cues and physical adjustments like wall positioning and resist...

Source The Horizontal Jumps This episode introduces the general principles of the long jump and triple jump. It details the biomechanics and techniques involved in both events, highlighting key similarities and differences between the two disciplines. The importance of approach run and take-off in achieving optimal jump distance is emphasised. Training methodologies , including plyometrics and wei...

World Athletics commissioned a four-year study to analyse online abuse targeting its athletes across four major events. The study, using AI and human analysis, examined 1.4 million posts and comments across multiple platforms, revealing persistent themes of racism, sexism, and sexualised abuse. The research identified key trends, such as the disproportionate targeting of certain athletes and the i...

This episode discusses key AIS findings regarding the use of Cold Water Immersion (CWI) for athlete recovery, highlighting both potential benefits and important considerations. Sources Water Immersion Overview CWI - Is it Worth the Plunge? CWI may offer slight, short-term recovery benefits following endurance-focused exercise, potentially reducing the time needed for recovery during periods of int...

This Episode discusses the relationship between coach-athlete dynamics and burnout in young elite athletes. It examines how appraisals of the coach-athlete relationship correlate with and predict burnout symptoms, both generally and specifically related to sport. The research highlights the crucial role of the coach-athlete relationship in athletes’ mental well-being. Our AI hosts then discuss str...

This episode discusses the Speed and Agility guide, detailing various speed and plyometric training methods for athletes. It explains the mechanics of plyometrics, emphasising the stretch-shortening cycle and the importance of proper landing techniques to prevent injury, particularly ACL tears in females. The guide also covers speed and agility training, differentiating between various types of sp...

Effective sprint training requires an in-depth understanding of the physiological demands sprinters face as they accelerate and maintain high speeds. This deep dive will explore a study by Dorn, Schache, and Pandy (2012) highlighting the muscular strategy shifts that occur as sprinters increase their running speed. This article explores the findings of their study, discusses the key muscular adapt...

In this episode our AI hosts provide a comprehensive guide to the 400m hurdles. It's your Introduction to Coaching the 400m Hurdles Masterclass! We explore the technical and tactical aspects of the event, starting with a breakdown of the requirements for success and drills to help athletes develop them. The episode then details the mechanics of a successful hurdle clearance, emphasising the n...

This episode discusses Athletics Australia's "Strength for Sprinting" guide, exploring the concept of specificity in strength training and highlighting how different training parameters can influence the transfer of gym gains to sprinting performance. The article examines five key factors: velocity , muscle group , muscle action , direction of force , and joint angle , demonstrating...

Download the full guide with demonstration of the stretches and exercises here This conversation explores findings published in the journal Advances in Physical Education , examining the importance of hip mobility and flexibility for track and field athletes . The authors argue that restricted hip range of motion can lead to muscle imbalances and injuries, highlighting the prevalence of injuries i...

This episode discusses a paper by Wolfgang Ritzdorf, Director of the World High Jump Centre in Cologne, Germany, explaining his approach to coaching high jumpers.  He argues that coaches must first establish a technical model for their athletes, then assess whether their personal style hinders or helps them achieve key technical elements. Next, he emphasises the crucial role of reactive strength i...

Knowledge of muscle fibre types and how they can change is valuable for personalising training programs for different athletes’ goals. Understanding how different training modalities affect fibre type composition can help tailor programs for endurance, strength, power, or a combination of these qualities. This episode explores the different types of muscle fibres and how they adapt to the training...