ATHLETICS NSW
PERFORMANCE & PATHWAYS PLAN
Performance and Pathways
The need for the NSW (and Australian) sporting sector to better support the talent pathway underpinning high performance has been well documented for several decades. In 2023 Athletics NSW recognised the need to establish an integrated Performance and Pathways department, to nurture talent and create a structured pathway for up-and-coming athletes and coaches in all events to bridge the gap between grassroots and elite level performance.
Building on the existing State Team program, central to this strategy is the creation of a cohesive Team NSW culture, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for athletes and coaches alike. While the newly established Centre of Excellence is the shop window of the Performance and Pathways Plan leveraging and aligning support from NSWIS with the AA High Performance pathway system, complementing the existing model and enhance the value proposition for NSW athletes and coaches.
Centre of Excellence (COE)
Athletics NSW recognised that athletes and coaches face numerous challenges beyond physical performance, such as financial pressures, educational and training demands, high expectations, and the need for adequate resources and support.
As a result, Athletics NSW successfully acquired Precision Athletica, a private sports institute located at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre, which is now fully operational and has been rebranded as the Centre of Excellence. This acquisition will assist to bridge gaps within the NSW talent pathway, providing vital support to both club and state-level athletes, as well as NSWIS athletes.
Operating under a membership-based model providing access to facilities, Sports Science Sports Medicine (SSSM) services and equipment, the new business unit offers comprehensive programs, including Strength and Conditioning (S&C), Dietetics, Exercise Physiology and testing services, aiding both able-bodied and para-athletes and their coaches in reaching their full potential.
Moreover, this strategic move has firmly established the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre (SOPAC) as the home of Athletics in NSW, will introduce new revenue streams, and enhance the professionalism and growth capacity of Athletics NSW and their Performance and Pathways.
