Athlete Induction Manual

Vision:

To be recognised across the South West Sydney region as the leader in quality sports program delivery and to be acknowledged as a progressive, well managed organisation.

Mission:

To provide high quality, community focused, talented athlete and coach identification and development programs, which assist athletes and coaches to successfully realise their sporting potential.

Acknowledgement of Country

The land on which the South West Sydney Academy of Sport is located, and where our athletes train and compete is the traditional land of the Dharawal people.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport acknowledges the Traditional owners of Country and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Contact The Academy:

South West Sydney Academy of Sport

2/298 Queen St, Campbelltown NSW 2560 PO Box 307

Macarthur Square, NSW 2560

Ph: 02 4627 7622

Email: sport@swsas.org.au

Web: www.swsas.org.au

Facebook: @SouthWestSydneyAcademyofSport

Instagram: @southwestsydneyacademyofsport

Linkedin: @south-west-sydney-academy-of-sport

XPS Network:

On behalf of the Academy’s Board of Management, I would like to formally welcome you to the South West Sydney Academy of Sport.

John Boultbee, former Director of the Australian Institute of Sport once stated that, “There are three elements required for an athlete to achieve success – talent, commitment, and opportunity.”

You have been invited to accept an Academy scholarship because you have been identified as having the talent to achieve in your chosen sport.

The Academy offers high-level coaching in a state-based program, and access to services such as sport science testing, career guidance, sport psychology, and personal development programs.

Your natural talents, combined with the opportunity the Academy is offering you, are only as good as the commitment you choose to make to the program. As with any opportunity, it is your choice as to how you will make use of it. Talented athletes are plentiful in Australia. Success in sport, as in life, does not always come to the most talented athlete. Often a highly dedicated athlete will outperform a more naturally gifted athlete.

The focus of all here at the Academy is to help you become the best athlete you can be. Over the next twelve months, the Academy program and its support staff will do all that they possibly can to assist you to achieve your goals. You should consider the Academy as a ‘steppingstone’ to taking on new challenges that will inevitably be a part of your sporting future.

Congratulations on your achievements so far, all the best for your continued success, and welcome to the South West Sydney Academy of Sport.

Mr. Peter Campbell Chairman, Board of Management South West Sydney Academy of Sport

Vision, Mission and Acknowledgement of Country

Academy Contact Information

Welcome About the Academy

Where do we service?

What is an Academy Scholarship?

Why do we exist?

The NSW F.T.E.M Model

The Athlete Lifecycle

Sport Program Framework

Individual Skill Development

Sports Education

Strength and Conditioning

Performance Opportunities

Wellbeing and Athlete Support

Sport Integrity Australia

Policies and Procedures

Athlete Code of Conduct

Academy Expectations and Values

Additional Resources

About the Academy

Following a number of annual submissions by Campbelltown City Council, on behalf of Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly Councils, in 1997, the then Department of Sport and Recreation conducted a review into regional academies and identified a need to provide talent development opportunities to athletes in the South West Sydney region.

From the review it was clear that talent development opportunities for athletes living in these areas could be enhanced through the establishment of a Regional Academy.

The South West Sydney Academy was formed in 1997 and was operated by the Department of Sport and Recreation, until we became an autonomous organisation in 2002.

Catchment Area

The Academy offers scholarships to athletes who reside, attend school, or are registered with sporting organisations in the Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool, and Wollondilly Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Office Location

The Academy Administration Centre is located at 2/298 Queen St, Campbelltown.

The Academy provides an administrative service from this location, with the majority of squad sessions occurring at local sporting grounds and venues throughout the Academy catchment area.

This decentralised approach allows athletes from the region access to train within their own club and association environments, and promotes the Academy pathway to our community’s club level athletes.

The Regional Academies of Sport were developed by regional communities in recognition of the need to provide training and development opportunities for talented young athletes. The first regional Academy was established in the Illawarra region in 1985.

Regional Academies of Sport, together with community sporting clubs, state and national sporting organisations have played an increasingly significant role in supporting the development of talented athletes across NSW.

NSW that host an young pre-elite male their chosen sport.

Regional Academies provide critical opportunities for young sports people to access quality support and development opportunities, in a holistic environment – opportunities that would not otherwise be available.

Regional Academies assist young sports people overcome barriers to technical, educational, and personal development by providing localised programs, access to learning resources and camps and competitions. Regional Academy development programs have a strong and sustained record of producing sporting and community leaders across NSW.

In 2005, the South West Sydney Academy of Sport partnered with eight other regional Academies as a foundation member of Regional Academies of Sport incorporated (RASi). The goal of RASi is to collaboratively present a range of corporate partnership benefits and opportunities to its member Academy sponsors.

It also allows the sharing of a vast array of intellectual and information resources across the Academy network when facilitating sports program planning.

This collaborative venture culminated in the creation of the ClubsNSW “Your Local Club” Academy Games which presents not only a highly attractive vehicle to gain brand awareness and reach within the sporting and general community, but in creating opportunities with events and inter-Academy competition.

What is an Academy Scholarship?

Or a more common question athlete ask, "Why am I here at the Academy?"

Scholarships are not in the form of financial support, but in the form of high-quality individual sport specific skill development, and sports and lifestyle education.

They exist to PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY.

Each athlete's position (scholarship) within their sport program is significantly offset by the financial support of a number of key Academy Corporate Partners, supporters, and sponsors.

Whilst athletes pay a "levy" to participate in the Academy sport program, as well as additional fees for camps or uniform, these levies cover a relatively small cost of the coaching, education, fitness programming, sport science testing and performance opportunities that make up each sporting program.

It is in these key areas that the Regional Academies of Sport has identified can be the difference in competing at a high level and achieving success within your chosen sport.

The Academy is very fortunate to have a number of key partners who's aim is to assist the Academy to operate its sport programs for the talent identified athletes of the South West Sydney region, as economically as possible, whilst maintaining a high standard of service delivery across all our sporting programs.

Why do we exist?

Our Why, or reason for existing is an Academy can be found not only in our Vision and Mission statements, but in our principle roles and core values.

In summary, our underlying aim of each of our Sport Programs is to;

Provide a high-quality, athlete-centred, community-based sports skill development and sports education program to regional athletes of South West Sydney.

These sport programs are then implemented by high-quality coaches, sport trainers and support staff; whilst being directed and driven by highquality administration staff; who are in turn supported by strong governance and proactive management.

Academy programs are: Athlete-Centred, Coach-Assisted

Generic Program Structure

The majority of sporting programs conducted at the South West Sydney Academy of Sport are also conducted at other Academies which have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between RASi member Academies and the State Sporting Organisation. (SSO)

This allows a uniformed approach to talent identification and athlete education across the Academies, which in turn allows events such as the ClubsNSW “Your Local Club” Academy Games to be conducted on a level playing field.

An MoU will often exist between the SSO, SWSAS and the Regional Academies of Sport (RASi).

It is this MoU that sets out the guidelines for the sport program across all Regional Academies, to ensure that all athletes are afforded the same individual skill development opportunities. It is often the sports that have an MoU that will compete at the Regional Academy Games.

This MoU enables each SWSAS program to form an accredited and identified part in the respective sports state athlete development pathway.

The MoU also outlines the SSO’s expectations for the Academy program in terms of content, sports science, strength and conditioning elements, as well as identified sports education topics to cover.

Academy’s may have programs that are not a part of RASi.

These programs most often exist to meet a regional sporting need and are operated in partnership between the respective Academy and the State Sporting Organisation.

Academy programs as such have been identified as forming an integral part of sports state talent development pathway.

The focus of the programs is on athlete development, rather than achieving results. Academy coaches strive to assist each individual person to become a well-rounded athlete by developing their sport specific techniques and strategies on and off the field of play.

As a part of the Australian Institute of Sport Winning Edge Strategy (20122022), the F.T.E.M (Foundations | Talent | Elite | Mastery) Model was developed to identify elite pathways in Australian sport.

The NSW Office of Sport, who are the principal partners of the Regional Academies of Sport, as a part of its “Future Champions Strategy” (2019-2023) further developed the FTEM model specifically for its NSW Sporting pathway.

The NSW FTEM model includes an identified six drivers for high performance success at each FTEM level used specifically within the NSW sporting pathway. The NSW FTEM is not predicted on chronological age but is aimed at best practice and holistic approach to the athlete’s development ensuring the ‘right support at the right time’. (Future Champions Strategy – FTEM NSW, Weissensteiner, J.R / NSW Office of Sport)

The Regional Academies of Sport are recognised as holding a valuable place within the NSW Sporting landscape, providing a crucial and direct link from foundational to Pre-Elite athlete development.

The inclusion in this pathway, clearly identified in the “Future Champions Strategy” by the Office of Sport, identifies the Regional Academy network as one of the key delivery partners in the implementation of the strategy, and its blueprint for high performance success in key areas of;

Pathway Leadership and intelligence

Coaching Empowering Athletes

Competition, and Performance Environments

Because of this crucial step in the pathway, Regional Academies operate primarily in the Talent identification section (T1-4) of the FTEM pathway. This is due primarily to our unique focus and ability to deliver varying aspects of an athlete’s lifecycle in a semi-elite and high-performance environment above the community sport level.

Compliance with the FTEM model framework allows Regional Academies to remain vital in the high-performance pathways of the State Sporting Organisations that support the Academy programs.

Each Academy sport program should therefore be conducted to a minimum level consistent with the following FTEM Model levels T1-T3;

T1 - Talent Identification through Assessments of an athlete’s initial talent potential

T2 - Confirmation of an athlete’s future high performance potential

T3 - Development of strategies to further progression of athlete into performance pathways.

Some Academy sport programs may have the opportunity to work within the T4 area (transition to Elite Sport Pathways) with athletes in their final year of the program, within the Wests Future Stars program, or as one of the NSWIS Ready / RAS Talent Radar athletes.

Because of this multi-level approach to sport programs, the South West Sydney Academy of Sport subscribes to a three-tiered approach when conducting its sport programs.

This has further been strengthened by the development of an Academy Athlete Lifecycle as a visual approach to the Athlete development pathway from local club and representative teams, through to State and National representation.

Athlete Lifecycle

Underpinning this multi-level approach to the Athlete Development Pathway are the four principal role's of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport, which are;

To facilitate the personal development of talent identified junior athletes in the South West Sydney region

Provide individual athletes with access to specialist support services including coaching, sports science and sports medicine

Identify, engage and support development of high performance coaches at the local level

Provide a clear, high quality development pathway, for local talent identified athletes to progress through junior development pathways to State and National representation

With this in mind, the South West Sydney Academy of Sport identified five core components in the holistic development of a member of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport, or lifecycle, that is relevant to both athletes and, coach and support staff within the Academy.

The components of the lifecycle themselves form the foundation building blocks for the Academy Sport Program Framework, which in turn strengthens the Academy’s position within the NSW FTEM model.

Talent Identification

Entering into the lifecycle from within our local community, via their respective local club or representative teams, our athletes undertake a sporting trial or nomination interview process that identifies that they have sporting potential and "talent".

Successful athletes, having met the requirements and eligibility criteria of their chosen sport program, are then offered an annual scholarship with the Academy. Athletes then experience each of the five core components within the sport program framework during their scholarship period.

It is then envisaged that the athletes will then depart (or graduate from) the Academy either as an athlete within their sports high-performance pathway (approx. 40% per year), or return to their local community club, team or environment with enhanced leadership and life skills.

This results in a key outcome of the lifecycle, being one not just based on the athletic performance of a person, but in their character, identity, and value as a community citizen.

Each of the five components are included in the structure of each sport program through use of the Academy Sport Program Framework as its guiding document.

The Sport Program Framework

Using the Athlete Lifecycle at its foundation, the South West Sydney Academy of Sport has grouped the desired components and elements of the NSW Office of Sport FTEM model into the five areas of a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete’s lifecycle to provide a sport program framework.

These five areas are;

Individual Skill Development Targeted Sports Education

Sports Science / Strength and Conditioning

Performance Opportunities

Wellbeing and Support Services

The level of detail provided in the framework provides the leaders of our sport programs, our coach and support staff, a clear structural framework to develop and implement their sport program outlines.

Included within the framework are targeted topics and key focus areas for our current and future program curriculum, as are required learning, program implementation guidelines and the key target outcomes for each component.

This framework also provides a detailed outline for discussion with State Sporting Organisations, program partners, and fellow Regional Academies to assist in the streamlining and inclusion of new and improved programs within the Academy family.

Whilst the minimum time on each component is often derived from the MoU, an average program will contain a minimum of 82 Hours "athlete to coach contact" per program, which may should include 75% focused on sport specific practical skills based training and performance, and the remaining 25% of the athletes time within the Academy spent in lecture based training environments.

Individual Skill Development - 20 Hours

Sport Specific field / on-court training to develop and correct athletes fundamental skill and sport specific movement and performance knowledge.

Targeted Sports Education - 10 hours

Sport Education lectures or practical workshop sessions where the focus is on the athletes education within a sporting environment and not on skill development.

Sport Science / Strength and Conditioning - 20 hours

Made up of at least 8 hours education based, for example 3 hours theory and 5 hours practical correct technique demonstrations, plus the addition of at least 12 hours of "At Home" strength and conditioning programming.

Performance Opportunities - 24 hours

Minimum of 3 x Camp-based performance opportunities, including Academy Games, Day in the Life or other Performance-based day/overnight camp.

Wellbeing and Support Services - 8 hours

Lectures, practical workshops, visits or one-on-one sessions with the Academy well-being team where focus is on the athlete as a Person, and not on Performance.

Individual Skill Development

Targets

Min. 20 Contact Hours

Regular skills-focused training sessions. eg 10 x 2hr sessions or similar

Implement an Individual Athlete Performance Plan (IAPP), focusing on individual skill development in a team/squad environment whilst providing athletes with performance goals across technical, tactical, physiological, and psychological aspects of their sport.

Implement an Athlete (Team) Skill Development Program, focusing on the overall team development within the sport program squad.

Performance Outcomes

Athletes exposed to regular high-performance training sessions and environment that compliment or are in addition to their own club / representative commitments.

Athletes progress in skill development through SSO pathway skill sets and acquisition to a level able to be selected into the NSW State performance pathway within their sport and/or meet the skill acquisition targets derived in the MoU.

Athletes gain increased skill development to play at a higher, and competitive level within their local club or representative sporting team. Athletes gain skill correction and development in correct technique, including biomechanical, to assist the athlete progress in their performance pathway

Athletes gain increased individual and team performance understanding, and the ability to show leadership within their respective sporting environments.

Athletes gain knowledge and develop an understanding of "Load Management" and development of their overall training program.

Sports Education

Targets

Min. 10 Contact Hours

Regular 'classroom' education sessions.

eg 10 x 1hr lectures or practical workshops

Participation in Academy Athlete Induction Session.

Inclusion of Parent Education throughout either the induction or the sport program sessions.

Completion of Sports Integrity Australia Anti-Doping and Integrity in Sport Online courses.

Participation and completion in a number of varied and engaging Athlete Education Sessions either online or in face-to-face workshops, of which some may involve assessment tasks.

Performance Outcomes

Athletes undertake a dedicated and focused sports education program, supportive of their holistic development by providing additional skills that will assist them both inside and outside of competition.

Athletes progress in educational understanding of topics whilst an Academy athlete and gain additional knowledge to increase the athletes opportunity of progressing through the high performance pathway; or in their ability to ‘give back’ to their local sporting community.

Athletes assisted to reach their vocational, educational, and personal goals.

Strength and Conditioning

Targets

Min 8 Contact Hours + 12hr Home Program

Regular exposure to a Strength and Conditioning program

3hrs Theory, plus 5hrs practical education

Min 12hr Home program eg 1hr per week x 12 week home program

Undertake Sports Science Testing and Functional Movement Screening relative to the athletes sport, in line with State sporting testing protocols or requirements.

Participate in, Theory of Strength and Conditioning, including terminology, safe practices, and sport specific elements.

Participate and remain engaged in some form of home / structured Athlete Monitoring System (AMS), which may include access to personalised Strength and Conditioning programs, load management or other athlete reporting.

Performance Outcomes

Athletes participate in an ongoing Strength and Conditioning program as a part of their program, and in addition to any regular skill development or training program.

Athletes progress through a staged Strength and Conditioning program and gain appropriate knowledge of proper mechanics, the fundamental “why” of a strength and conditioning program, and terminology before progressing to a higher level or gym program.

Athlete performance data is captured to show progression as well as provide NSWIS/SSO data on the performance of Academy Athletes.

Identification of future athlete development needs and performance standards within the NSW F.T.E.M development pathway.

Performance

Targets

Min. 24 Contact Hours

Opportunities

Min 4 x 6hr opportunities to showcase athletes learned sport specific skills through day or overnight performance camps.

Participation in Regional Academy Games event in sports conducted by RASi and/or;

Participation in Inter-Academy events and/or;

Participation in Inter/Intra-Academy skills development camps and Talent identification Days.

Performance Outcomes

Provide an opportunity for athletes to participate against similar or higher quality level athletes within the high-performance pathway, as a part of an Academy squad.

Provide a focus on individual sporting excellence within a team environment, including opportunities to experience and perform under pressure.

Provide additional opportunities for high level competition to assist athletes’ preparation for State / National trials, selection, and programs. Provide exposure to the high performance pathways and professional league teams training and performance environments.

Wellbeing and Athlete Support

Targets

Min. 8 Contact Hours

Regular access to wellbeing and support network

eg 4 x 1hr sessions with wellbeing presenter as a part of sport program, 4 x 1hr "maintenance phase" check ins during athletes

Representative sporting season.

Access to a dedicated Wellbeing and Support service network, including service providers as they are required.

Participation and engagement in undertaking wellness surveys throughout the program.

Engagement in activities that promote value and worth in recognising the person above and beyond their athletic performance.

Engagement in activities that promote increased motivation and success as a result of the ongoing promotion of a safe and supportive training and competition environment.

Engagement in additional leadership and communication skills.

Performance Outcomes

Development of athletes who are supported in all aspects of their holistic growth, with their value placed on them as a person, and not purely on their performance.

Identification of athletes potential outside of sport, including leadership skills and wellbeing personal development

Valued long-term life skills growth, and as a community citizen and not just a talented athlete.

Confirmation of an athletes progression in skill and performance ability from Academy athlete to representative level athlete.

Sport Integrity Australia

Prior to August 1999 state legislation allowed that only athletes in state teams or higher could be drug tested. In August 1999 the legislation was changed so that any athlete in a Regional Academy program can be drug tested. In July 2020, what was the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), became known as Sports Integrity Australia, bringing the education and enforcement surrounding the use of Supplements, Child Protection, Sports Wagering, Anti-Doping and Match Fixing under one body.

In 2013, four SWSAS athletes were officially drug tested by then ASADA, at an unannounced visit to a SWSAS training session.

The Drugs in Sport athlete education session is a compulsory session for all Academy squads and athletes to attend. Parents are invited and encouraged to also attend this session.

This session will be provided to athletes as early in the program as possible so that athletes have an understanding of;

The effects drugs have on their body

Permissible and non-permissible drugs

How to check if a drug is on their sport’s banned list

Drug testing procedures

Their rights and responsibilities, if selected for a drug test

Each athlete and parent must complete the parental consent form contained within the Athlete Scholarship Agreement, permitting the athlete to be drug tested (if selected for a test). Athletes who choose not to complete the form and are selected for a test will be considered to have refused the test and can face an automatic two year ban from their sport

As discussed in the Drugs in Sport session, it is the athlete’s personal responsibility to inform their doctor / pharmacist that they are an athlete to make sure that the medication / antibiotics they are taking are not on their sports banned substances list.

Athletes are asked to advise the Academy administration centre as soon as possible, through the medical forms, if the athlete is taking any permanent medication that may or may not be on the sports banned list. Such items may include products that are used for medicinal reasons, or certain types of asthmatic, flu prevention, growth aids or arthritic drugs.

Any athlete that is taking a banned substance for medicinal reasons may still participate within the Academy, as long as the medication is declared to Sport Integrity Australia and after approval from the State Sporting Organisation and Academy CEO.

Any athlete who is found to be taking an illegal substance whether for medicinal or other reasons and has not declared it to Sport Integrity Australia is liable, if drug tested, for their actions. Athletes may also be suspended or asked to withdraw from the Academy program.

The website of Sport Integrity Australia is: http://www.sportintegrity.gov.au

SPORTS INTEGRITY HOTLINE: 13 000 27232

Policies and Procedures

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport has many varying policies that athletes and parents should familiarise themselves with that deal with the procedures, requirements and expectations around being an athlete of the South West Sydney Academy of Sport.

The key policy document of note for Athletes, Parents and Coaching staff centre around Child Protection and Safeguarding, and through a core 'Supervision and Discipline of Minors' Policy.

This policy summarises the Academy's position on a number of key policy including;

child protection, duty of care, working with children checks, travel, supervision, accommodation and overnight camp activities, uniform and clothing, injured athletes, codes of behaviour, communication, disciplinary measures, injury and illness, and reporting.

Additional major policies include and cover topics such as,

Codes of Conduct - Athlete, Coach and Parent

Athlete Eligibility

Anti-Doping (Sport Integrity)

Athlete Selection

Athlete Attendance (and communication of approved absences)

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Social Media

These policy documents can be accessed in PDF file format from the Academy’s website, or by contacting the Academy Office.

Athlete Code of Conduct

Contribute to a safe sporting environment and respectful culture which is accepting of individual differences and free from all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment.

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow athletes, coaches and Academy staff.

Abide by the rules and respect the decision of the referee / umpire / judge; making all appeals through the formal process and respecting the final decision.

Conduct myself in a professional manner relating to personal behaviour, social responsibility, ethical standards, language, manner, temper and punctuality when in competition, traveling and at other official functions as directed by my coach

Comply with the training and service requirements of my sport as set by my coach.

Work equally hard for myself and my team.

Be honest with my coach and the Academy concerning illness and injury and my ability to train fully within the program requirements.

Be aware of the appropriateness of public comment. Check with my coach, or Academy Staff before making comment to the media on matters relating to South West Sydney Academy of Sport.

Wear the South West Sydney Academy of Sport uniform in a clean and neat way when in competition, traveling and at other official functions as directed by my coach

Care for the equipment provided to me as part of my program Scholarship.

Cooperate with coaches and Academy staff in the development of programs, to adequately prepare me for competition, at a higher level.

Athlete Expectations: Living Our Values

The Academy has a number of expectations of its athletes.

These expectations can easily be grouped into the Academy's four core values of Commitment, Opportunity, Respect and Integrity.

By living out the values of the Academy, Athletes will not only meet the expectations and requirements of being an Academy athlete, but maximise their time and opportunities within the Academy sport program.

COMMITMENT OPPORTUNITY RESPECT INTEGRITY

Commitment

Athlete Agreement

Attendance

Responsibility

Injury Management

Athlete Journal

Opportunity

Academy Events

Exposure Development

Overnight Camps and Tours

Respect Integrity

Communication App

Communication Process

Accountability

Performance Opportunities

Professional Conduct

Image, Branding and Identity

Academy Uniform and Dress Code

Social Media

Official Academy Channels

Professionalism

Athlete Agreement - Your Contract

The Athlete Agreement is effectively a "contract" between the athlete (including parent and guardian) and the Academy whereby you, the athlete, agree to abide by the expectations and requirements of the Academy and its sporting program.

This includes the requirement to;

Complete the required Sports Anti-Doping / Sport Integrity Training

Download and Join the approved Communication App

Pay the Athlete Levy

Complete the Athlete Agreement

Adhere to your Athlete Code of Conduct

Attendance

Attendance is expected to the entirety of your program

100% attendance expectation - Unless participating in a recognised school event, or training/competing at a higher level - ie State or National Team.

(Note that your local club team is NOT a higher level of competition)

Academy is an agreed step in the State Sporting Organisation's High Performance Pathway, and athlete attendance and progress is reported.

Athletes who miss a session without an excuse or unaccepatble excuse will receive a warning. After two instances the Academy may withdraw the athlete scholarship.

Attendance includes

Training

Strength and Conditioning Program

Fitness Testing

Education Sessions

All Academy Events

Responsibility

The key Responsibility for your Academy scholarship is on you, the ATHLETE (Not the Parent)

Know your program schedule - Date, Time, Location

Be On Time, if not Early, to your training session

Habits created now will follow you through your sporting journey

Injury Management

Athletes who miss a training session due to illness or injury may be required to present the Academy with a medical certificate before being allowed to return to training.

Manage any injuries appropriately and professionally Attend training sessions even if injured as the opportunity to learn across the sport is important

Athlete Journal

Each athlete will be provided with an Athlete Journal, and may also be provided with a sport-specific program manual or handouts throughout their program.

This Athlete Journal is an important document and will be required to be taken to each Academy session.

This Journal may include information on goal setting and time management activities, individual athlete performance plans, as well as wellbeing and performance tracking for you to maintain a record of your progression and performance within the Academy program.

A notebook section will also allow you to keep notes during education sessions and activities.

Opportunity

Academy Events

Attend the Civic Reception in your Local Government Area

Be available for promotional activities within your sport and region

Attend performance opportunities such as the Regional Academy Games, Inter-Academy Competition, Overnight Camps or Tours

Attend the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner

Exposure

As an Academy athlete, you will gain Exposure to quality regional academy competition, and media - be aware of the appropriateness of public comments and behaviour, as your actions (including body language) reflect on you, your squad mates, your sport, your Academy and your region.

Exposure to Media and higher level competition

Please COMMUNICATE your performance results and opportunities with the Academy Office.

We cannot promote you if we don't know about you.

Development

This is an opportunity for you to develop. It is not an entitlement.

Not every athlete is fortunate enough to receive this opportunity.

Use the opportunity to challenge your skills and performance within your sport, and aim to achieve the next level in your sporting pathway.

Overnight Camps and Tours

The Academy preference is to travel and stay as a squad.

Accommodation and most meals are provided for all athletes.

Additional camp levies will be advised - set costs cover transport, accommodation, meals and any entry fees. (These costs are heavily subsidised across all programs)

Communication App

The Academy has a dedicated communication and Athlete Monitoring System (AMS), XPS Network that it utilises to manage athlete sport programs.

This app allows athletes, coaches, parents, support and administration staff to securely manage athlete information, and provide appropriate methods of communication.

These features include,

Squad Chat

Program Calendar

Important Documents

Online (App) Notifications

Email

Current Sport Science Testing, and Wellbeing and support services

Occasionally the Academy may send an SMS for late changes, however the majority of communication will be done via the XPS Network, or by email.

Under NO circumstances are Academy members to maintain or use any other forms of communication apps, including but not limited to Facebook Messenger Groups, Instagram Chats, SnapChats, TikToks, Twitter or any other separate squad communications without the express written permission of the Academy CEO.

Communication Process Accountability

Athletes and Parents - the first step is for the ATHLETE to contact via the XPS Network Squad Chat, then email / call the Squad Manager.

If Parents feel the need to communicate with coaching staff, please email the Academy Office or Squad Manager. Out of respect to our coaching staff and their role within the Academy sport program, please do not approach the coaching staff whilst they are training, or within half an hour either side of a training session or performance environment.

Parents - there is a Parent Code of Conduct. Any breach of this code by you, may result in your athlete being removed from the program.

The Academy is a step in your sports high performance athlete development pathway. Therefore, most often than not, the Academy will demand the same high level of accountability as do state level performance programs.

This prepares you for the next step in your journey.

This means that You have the responsibility to be accountable for your own actions, and hold your squad mates accountable as well.

Performance Opportunities

Note that these are opportunities to perform the skills attained whilst an Academy athlete, NOT to compete in tournaments or competition to win medals or trophies, or hold a win at all cost mentality.

The Academy philosophy therefore is to equalise performance time (opportunity) as often as possible.

The Athletes holistic development and exposure to a performance experience is our fundamental outcome and success. Should a team win a tournament or competition, this should be as a by-product of the successful holistic development of the entire squad.

When you do have the opportunity to perform, you must respect the Academy and Coaches decisions, and that of the Officials and fellow competitors.

Professional Conduct

Professional Conduct is all about communication, education, and promotion.

Professional conduct may also involve:

Conducting yourself in a professional manner at all times, but especially when representing the Academy.

Wearing your full Academy uniform (and not parts of it) at all official events and during photo shoots and public appearances

Knowing who contributes financially to the Academy, appreciating their generosity, and how they are helping you

Understanding the difference between this Academy, other regional Academies, the NSW Institute of Sport, and the Australian Institute of Sport

Attending functions or promotional activities on behalf of the Academy

Being Social Media aware, and

Being Proud of Who and What you represent

Image, Branding & Identity

Wear your uniform with pride, clean and tidy - including footwear, and headwear.

Be conscious of your speech, language and manner of presentation to fellow squad mates and others who may be around you. There may be a sponsor or potential sponsor or state coach / selector watching you.

Academy Uniform and Dress Code

Non Academy Uniform is Not to be worn to training sessions, Civic Receptions or any Academy Event.

Every Athlete is provided with a Walkout Polo, Walkout Shorts, Tracksuit Jacket and Tracksuit Pants. This uniform is to be worn at all Official Engagements, Education Sessions, Civic Receptions and when representing the Academy. (You may also be required to wear this uniform when travelling to and from events as a group)

All programs have some form of training or performance uniform.

Some programs will require the performance uniform to be worn for training. The Academy Gym Tee (Grey t-shirt) or Tracksuit is to be worn as a warmup top over the playing uniform, and trackpants or walkout shorts over any gym shorts.

Optional Academy Items such as Hoodies may be worn to Training or travelling, but should NOT be worn to Official functions.

Exceptions -

The Annual Athlete Graduation and Sports Awards Dinner

It is the Academy's Celebration of your Experience, it is your opportunity to dress to impress.

Dress Code is Smart-Casual for athletes, (Semi-Formal for Parents and VIPS). Further information on the event dress code can be found on the Academy Website.

After consultation with the Academy, squad coach and support staff may also allow athletes to be 'out of uniform' when required for themed events that may coincide with an Academy camp or tour, as well as relaxing the dress code whilst in a camp environment.

Social Media

The Academy takes the use of social media very seriously, and all members should ensure they read the relevant policies, as well as understand any additional guidelines as outlined herein.

The Academy strongly requests that coaches, support staff members, volunteers and employees refrain from having Academy athletes under 18 years of age, as personal Facebook, Instagram, or other social media, friends, contacts or followers; irrespective if the athlete maintains a 'public athlete profile' or not.

The Academy does allow athletes to follow Academy coach and support staff who maintain a professional/sporting business profile; however discourages the return following of Academy athletes 'public athlete profiles' if under 16 years of age, and any Academy athletes 'personal' profile if under 18 years of age.

To clarify, a 'public athlete profile' is one maintained by a professional athlete that may be maintained by a third-party such as a parent, sponsor or agent and explicitly contains content related to the athletes position as such, and is not linked in any way to their private or personal profile. A 'public athlete profile' may still be set to private and not publicly available.

Official Academy Channels

These exist to promote the Athlete's use of a 'public athlete profile' as separate to a Private Profile, however reinforce Academy policies as far as following, return following, friending, or adding of contacts.

We encourage you to follow the OFFICIAL SWSAS Social Media Channels and "tag" the Academy in your posts and/or stories.

Note that the Academy does not "follow back" private profiles on Instagram.

Professionalism

When you post remember who you are a representative of. Are you wearing Academy Uniform in your post - is it the full and correct uniform? What are you doing in that uniform? What else is in your social media portfolio?

Whenever possible, the Academy provide ongoing social media training and education. This may include the use of third-party social media and cyber-crime experts who will view athletes social media accounts in order to provide appropriate training and education on this topic relevant to the Academy. It should however be known that the information sought is based on already publicly available profiles and social media accounts.

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Instagram @southwestsydneyacademyofsport

Linkedin @south-west-sydney-academy-of-sport

Tag us #wearesouthwestsydney

SWSAS Does not use Twitter or Tic Tok and does not intend to.