Advancements in 2021

The Academy’s mission is to provide emerging athletes of the Illawarra the maximum opportunity for success and development through excellence in athlete programs and associated support services. During the 2020-21 period we continued to improve opportunities for athletes and coaches.

COACH DEVELOPMENT

One of the most effective ways to influence the direction of an athlete is through the coach and the IAS is committed to providing the best opportunities to the coaches to enable their development through the support of QUBE Ports.

The QUBE Ports Coach Development program enabled one of Australia’s most respected Skills Acquisitionists, Derek Panchuk to visit the IAS to observe coaches and provide immediate feedback, followed up with a debrief and survey.

IAS Coaching staff completed the Mental Health Response Training Course with the Mental Health Movement, preparing participants with awareness, education, training and resources. Robinson crossed to Olympians Ellen Perez and Kieran Woolley, and Paralympians Brett Stibners and Jasmine Greenwood. Valued IAS sponsors revealed the 2021 award winners, culminating to the announcement of the prestigious DRB Group Tobin Family Award. Huge thank you to Atmosphere Productions for producing the event.

The IAS was fortunate to be featured on national television in January 2021 when Channel 7’s Sunrise weather broadcast live from the IAS at the University of Wollongong. Current and former IAS athletes were featured in seven live crosses.

The Academy’s social media continued to grow in engagement and content variety. Our Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter followers grew by 44%, becaming the most followed Regional Academy.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

COMMUNICATIONS

In a regional academies first, the IAS streamed the annual Awards Night live online, drawing in over 4000 views. Host Tim In 2020-21 the IAS was able to offer individualised training on a user pay basis for athletes that required a higher level of service and more advanced programming. The IAS continued to provide strength and conditioning services for the UOW Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Program and local NSWIS athletes, including Olympian Sarah Carli and Paralympian Brett Stibners.

The increase of S&C services, also saw an increase in staff. The IAS recruited an additional ten strength and conditioning casual staff and one part-time physical performance coach.

VOLLEYBALL

For the first time in our 36-year history, the Illawarra Academy of Sport was excited to welcome a Volleyball Program in a midyear intake. The Volleyball program came to fruition as part of the Volleyball NSW partnership with the NSW Regional Academies of Sport, as an official part of the volleyball performance pathway.

38 budding athletes were selected but unfortunately were only able to participate in physical testing and one on-court session before the COVID lockdown put a pause on the program. During lockdown athletes continued to participate in virtual volleyball sessions on Zoom, at home strength and conditioning and education sessions.

The IAS has always put the athletes’ needs

first and foremost, and 2020 saw the

initiation of a team of Captains, assigned

from each program, to represent the athlete

body. Leadership development is a major

component of the IAS Scholarship, as