New Year, Big Initiatives
Welcome back to the Centre of Excellence and welcome to what is shaping up to be an exciting year ahead. We hope you, your coaches, and your families were able to enjoy some time to rest, reset, and spend quality time together over the break, while also staying connected to training where possible. We are looking forward to another great year of learning, development, and progression.
As we begin the year, our focus remains firmly on long-term athlete development and the importance of consistency throughout the entire training year. Our aim is to provide a supportive, positive environment that helps athletes develop at the right pace and progress through the NSW Athletics pathway in a way that supports both performance and wellbeing.
Over the off-season, our team took the opportunity to reflect on the past year, review our programs, and continue refining how we support athletes and coaches. Just like training, meaningful improvement comes from regular reflection and smart adjustments. This has guided our planning for 2026 and ensures that the services and programs delivered through the Centre of Excellence continue to evolve alongside the needs of the NSW Athletics community.
Projects in 2026
This year also brings several exciting initiatives. The Grow to Gold PhD project, delivered in partnership with the University of Sydney, will focus on strengthening athlete pathways and supporting coach education through applied research that directly informs practice.
We are also launching the Pathway Academy, which is designed to support developing athletes across the NSW performance pathway, with clear progression into the Australian Athletics Pathway Programs and national high-performance environments.
In addition, the Pathway Academy Talent Program will support, and invite identified under-20 athletes who are not yet part of the Pathway Transition Program (PTP – Australian Athletics), helping prepare them for future selection and successful transition into senior high-performance settings.
Alongside these pathway initiatives, the Centre of Excellence continues to offer programs and services that are accessible to athletes at any stage and at any time. Performance testing is available year-round and provides athletes and coaches with valuable insights into physical qualities such as strength, power, speed, and movement. This information helps guide training decisions and track development over time. We also offer the Performance Development Program, which provides structured strength and conditioning support, education, and monitoring to help athletes build robust foundations, improve performance, and stay consistent throughout the year. Our Junior Development Program is perfectly suited for kids from the age of 10 until 14 years. This introductory program has already helped many junior athletes gain a strong early foundation by becoming familiar with the gym environment, receiving training that is adjusted to their biological age rather than chronological age to better match growth and maturation, and developing in a fun, dynamic environment that supports participation across all sports.
We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to working closely with athletes, coaches, and families throughout 2026. Together, we will continue building a strong, connected, and supportive pathway that helps athletes develop the skills, physical qualities, and habits needed for long-term success in athletics.
