South West Sydney Academy of Sport will host its first coaching conference next month. The Coach Connect conference will be held at the Wests League Club Leumeah on Sunday, February 9.
Targeting local South West Sydney community sports coaches, the conference will feature special guest presenters and explore the topic of “coaching for long term success’’.
Made possible by the renewed partnership with the academy’s coach education program partners, Qube Holdings, and the 3D Institute, along with the support of Wests Group Macarthur, the conference will include presentations and open discussions on coaching athletes both in and outside of the training arena.
“Ensuring long term success as a coach is not just about teaching the Xs and Os, but in mapping out the (wh)Y’s”, says Stephen Craig, academy sport operations manager.
“Achieving long-term success was far more than just winning or losing,’’ he said.
Key elements to be presented throughout the day-conference include dealing with issues and strategies surrounding motivation, coach and athlete self-awareness, value and purpose, along with education in growing in your reason for coaching, and building strong united teams.
The academy is looking forward to engaging with not just its own coach and support staff, but those of neighbouring regional academies, Illawarra and Western Sydney.
What’s more, the conference will be open to all community, club and representative level coaches from within the sporting clubs of South Western Sydney.
“Whether you are new to coaching, considering becoming a coach, or have been coaching for a long time, coaching for long-term success is definitely a topic to be explored,’’ says Craig.
“Any coach, whether head, assistant or trainee from the age of 16 up would greatly benefit from the conference’s immersive dive into coaching across multiple dimensions within the performance sport pathway.’’
One such coach who is looking forward to the conference is Emily Paulic, pictured at right, who after three years as an athlete, is now making the transition to an apprentice coach within the academy’s basketball program.
“The best part about the academy is that with all the knowledge that I have gained, I can not only pay my knowledge back to the Academy but I can also give that knowledge to my local basketball club and the future generation of players who are coming through our programs,’’ she said.
“The academy’s education programs have taught me so much on and off the court, I have been able to gain more confidence whilst on the court and learned to become a better leader – which will help me become a better coach.”
“Sport is more than just winning games or medals, it is about coaching and impacting the lives of the athletes within the team. Sport is a family.”
Further information on the Coach Connect conference is available on the Academy’s website swsas.org.au/coachconnect
