Program Description

Athletics ACT (AACT) is excited to again be running the Target Talent Program (TTP). Through the engagement of technical coaching experts and sport industry professionals, AACT TTP is the early identification element of Athletics Australia’s High-Performance Department and aims to build upon your current skills and aid in your continued pursuit of success in both sport and life.

The purpose of the TTP is to:                                                     

• To be the early identification element of AA’s High-Performance Department
  • Encourage the best young athletes in the State by inviting them to be part of a State Level squad and participate in development opportunities;
  • Encourage and develop the best local coaches through recognizing them as State Coaches;
  • To create meaningful contacts in the off-season between the best young athletes in their State, their personal coaches and the AACT TTP State coaching team;
  • By identifying and engaging the ACT’s best junior athletes and coaches through development education opportunities, the AACT TTP aims to encourage both athletes and coaches to achieve their potential and to progress through the AA High Performance Pathway, in a fun, encouraging and engaging environment.

The TTP aims to encourage athletes and coaches to achieve their potential and to represent Australia at youth and senior levels.

What’s new in 2021?

• National event group coach/es attending most, if not all AACT TTP sessions.

• Development of a national testing framework which will allow for a collection of data across a national testing battery, specific to each event/event group, which will assist in developing evidence-based benchmarks to aid the identification of athletes with future potential once this data range reaches sufficient depth. Additionally, the data collected will be utilised to assist athletes and coaches in identifying their key areas for improvement.

• Continued roll-out of Athletics Australia led athlete-specific education which will include event specific nutrition and strength & conditioning education, mental health and wellbeing, sleep and recovery, training load & injury prevention, dealing with setbacks and “On the Couch” open discussions with elite athletes and coaches, just to name a few.

• Coach-specific education sessions, built around themes related to effective coaching

• A two (2) day training camp hosted at Sydney Olympic Park in conjunction with the Athletics NSW TTP Program with event specific training, practical education sessions being held in conjunction with education and development opportunities for personal coaches

Program Handbook including selection criteria, dates and associated costs

Click here to access the AACT Program Handbook

State Coach application information

Click here to access information regarding State Coach application information

Key Contact

For more information about the 2020 AACT TTP please contact:

Matthew Wade – Senior Participation & Development Officer

development@actlaa.org.au