Developing Champions

Champion (noun)

a personal example of excellence or achievement

Partnership

The department in partnership with the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) have created a life-skills program for sub-elite athletes. The Developing Champions program is designed to assist the development of aspiring young athletes to gain personal development skills with the support of the Personal Excellence Program at WAIS.

Personal excellence

The primary objective of the WAIS Personal Excellence program is to contribute to the personal development and performance of WA’s high performance athletes by assisting them to achieve a balance in sport and life without compromising on excellence. The Developing Champions program has been designed to create a strong link with the Personal Excellence program objectives.

Program information

High performance athletes need to consistently strive to be champions in all areas of life – not just their sporting pursuits. A well-rounded, balanced and capable individual makes for a more successful, happy athlete able to cope with the demanding challenges of life as a high performance athlete. The Developing Champions program aims to assist young aspiring athletes to engage in healthy behaviours and make positive decisions which will enable them to successfully enter and then progress along the high performance pathway.

Program objective

To achieve positive behaviour change in targeted athletes by developing:

• Interpersonal and personal life skills
• Ability to apply these skills within different contexts.

Program

The program is delivered with State Sporting Associations to identified athletes through either face to face workshops, online learning modules, or a combination of both.

It also supports the parents and coaches of these athletes through an additional, complementary workshop.

Program model

Workshop/eLearning program

• Foundations for my success:
  • integrity in sport;
  • managing change;
  • performing in life and sport.
• Communication:
  • negotiating family, education and work;
  • respecting team, sport and officials.
• Nutrition:
  • fueling my body;
  • recovery;
  • supplements, drugs and ASADA protocols.
• Performance psychology:
  • mental awareness;
  • mental skills;
  • mental strength.
    
• Supporting my athlete:
  • coaches and parents;
  • pathways;
  • funding.

Intensive servicing program

For specially selected athletes who have completed the workshop/eLearning program:

• Mentoring with a WAIS athlete
• Specialist workshops 
• Additional resources
• Ongoing support.

More information

For more information on Developing Champions.

Western Australian Institute of Sport

WAIS Athlete Education Officer
High Performance Service Centre
McGillivray Road
Mt Claremont WA 6910
Telephone 61 8 9387 8166
Email Amanda Schonfeld