Strength & Conditioning Report

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

REPORT 2021

Although 2020/21 presented challenges to session delivery, the IAS continued to provide a comprehensive strength and conditioning service which supported the long-term athletic development of all scholarship holders.

To ensure a strong foundation was established for both present and future physical development, each IAS athlete had access to three sport specific strength programs designed for varying levels of experience. Successful progression to each phase of programming was determined by movement competency tests and consistent attendance at gym sessions.

The attendance at weekly strength and conditioning sessions was extremely pleasing and continues to grow each year. Around 190, or 70% of IAS athletes either fully or partially progressed through all available strength training programs.

While our sport specific strength programs provide a strong foundation for physical development, they are generic in nature and are not designed to take into account individual characteristics such as injury history, testing results or personal goals. To address this, in 2020/21 we were able to offer an individualised training option for athletes that required a higher level of service and more advanced programming.

Unfortunately, gym access was once again restricted for a period of the scholarship season. In response, bodyweight-based strength programs and conditioning drills were delivered remotely through a series of online videos.

Further strength and conditioning support was provided this year through the recruitment of Brad Genova as a parttime Performance Coach. Additionally, a further ten Performance Coaches were employed by the IAS to assist on a casual basis. The recruitment of these coaches strengthened the delivery of strength and conditioning sessions in regions outside the Wollongong area, ensuring all IAS athletes are provided with the same opportunities for supervised strength and conditioning sessions.

Additionally, the IAS continued its partnership with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) which primarily involved delivering strength and conditioning sessions for NSWIS athletes based in the Illawarra, including Olympian Sarah Carli and Paralympian Brett Stibners. This partnership helps strengthen pathway opportunities for our athletes and provides direct access to world class physical performance expertise.

We look forward to continuing to improve the provision of strength and conditioning to our athletes in 2021/22.

Thanks to the local councils for providing gym access to the athletes, and to Northy Gym and Ocean Fitness Shellharbour for providing facilities to conduct weekly supervised sessions.

MITCH NIELSEN HEAD OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE