Swimming is Australia’s highest participation sport and is an activity that is synonymous with the Australian way of life. Swimming offers participants both important life skills and a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and ability levels.
Swimming NSW (SNSW) is the peak body for the sport in NSW. Swimming NSW also includes the ACT as an area with ACT government jurisdictional oversight. We aim to be the number one swimming state in Australia in performance and participation.
We understand that our members have many dreams about what they want to achieve in our sport, but they all share our passion for swimming and that is why it is our Mission to provide opportunities and pathways to enable everyone to enjoy swimming and develop the potential of all participants.
ROLE PURPOSE
Swimming NSW, the NSW Institute Sport (NSWIS), and Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) partner to bring a high performance coaching program to the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC). Swimming NSW provides a team of coaches that deliver athlete pathways from mini squad through to national open programs.
The National Age Coach (SOPAC) will be responsible for managing and coordinating the daily and seasonal coaching programs for the National Age Performance Squad in consultation with the technical direction set by the SOPAC Head Age Group Coach. It is vital that all coaches within the SOPAC squad program pathway understand their role to develop and progress swimmers along the Performance Centre pathway.
To be successful in this role, you will have age group performance coaching experience and a demonstrated track record of building a successful club culture and achieving results.
This is a rare opportunity to work at one of Australia’s highest profile Olympic sporting facilities and to become a valued member of the Swimming NSW team.
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
The National Age Coach (SOPAC) will:
- Manage and coordinate the daily and seasonal coaching programs for the National Age Performance Squad.
- Develop athletes in accordance with the technical direction set by the Head Age Group Coach.
- Prepare the program’s talented age-group swimmers for podium success at National Championships.
- Provide the Head Age Group Coach with regular reports of talent identification and performance identification for swimmers in the Performance Centre and in the local Area.
- Assist with the delivery of services and resources for identified swimmers to enhance performance in the areas of technical, psychological, health and life skills, in consultation with the Head Age Group Coach.
- Assist the Head Age Group Coach to monitor progression of swimmers through the squad program and work with SOPAC’s Learn to Swim program to identify talented swimmers and encourage participation in the squad program.
- Backfill for the Head Age Group Coach during periods of leave and / or travel with state and national teams.
- Provide a safe and inclusive environment by embedding best practice coaching techniques and adhering to SNSW and Swimming Australia policies.
- Attend identified competition and professional development opportunities as identified by the SOPAC Head Coach and the CEO of Swimming NSW and support the delivery of Swimming NSW Performance & Pathways programs and initiatives.
- Develop positive relationships with all program partners, program and club coaches, and the local swimming community.
Essential
- Minimum Swimming Australia Development Coach (or equivalent) / SCTA Bronze Recognition Coach
- Current SCTA Member
- Current CPR & First Aid certifications
- NSW Working with Children Check (or equivalent)
- Proven ability to develop national age-group level swimmers
- Experience in creating a squad program that focusses on technical excellence and appropriate skill acquisition for developing swimmers
- Well-developed ability to plan, coordinate athlete training schedules, camps, competition, testing and athlete progress benchmarks
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written and an advanced ability to communicate to a wide variety of audiences
- Advanced decision-making, leadership & influencing skills
Desirable
- Swimming Australia Advanced Coach / SCTA Silver Recognition Coach
- Proven negotiation, facilitation and problem-solving skills
- Proven ability to prioritise and organise individual workload and achieve outcomes within agreed timeframes
- Well versed in operational decision making
