Development Academy

Development Academy
The Southern Athletic Club Development Academy aims to provide a fun, safe environment for event specific training of all athletic events for all athletes from local Little Athletics centres and for school athletes looking to try track and field for the first time or to prepare for their school and district athletics carnivals. By creating an exciting age-appropriate training program, Southern Athletic Club will improve athletes’ technical skills and performance.

When and Where
Every Monday and Wednesday evening from 4:00-5:30 at Christies Beach High Scholl. The Development Academy trains year round – winter & summer and during school holidays.

Structure
Sessions begin with a joint warm up the athletes then split into event-specific groups (middle / long distance, sprints, throws, high jump and horizontal jumps). Athletes are encouraged to train across multiple events (with our head coach being a multiple state decathlon champion) so, for example, an athlete may train in sprints one week then long jump the next.

Athletes may progress to Southern Athletic Club’s senior training squads depending on their commitment to training and aptitude.

During winter all athletes will undertake a general program including strength and conditioning, plyometrics and fitness (alongside a cross country program for the distance runners).

Costs
Athletes can attend two Development Academy training sessions for free on a come-and-try basis. Thereafter, there will be a charge of $25 per athlete each month payable at the start of each month (or $10 per session on a pay-as-you-go basis) to contribute to venue hire costs and coaches’ expenses.

Development Academy athletes are required to join Southern Athletic Club if they wish to continue training after their two come’n’try sessions. Basic athlete membership is $60 per year, which includes personal accident insurance and a host of other benefits. Check out our membership page for full details and information regarding additional membership types that include Athletics SA competition fees. Eligible school aged athletes can use Sports Vouchers used to cover membership fee and either 1 month of academy fees or a club singlet.

All enquiries to Jason on info@southernac.org.au or 0401 033 297.

Coaches
Southern AC has assembled a panel of coaches that is a mix of experienced coaching heads with younger athlete coaches who will grow and develop their coaching skills whilst the Academy develops. We are also looking to bring on board former athletes or parents of athletes from our local Little Athletics centres to become involved in coaching. Southern Athletic Club will support them in gaining coaching accreditation while they work with existing coaches and are mentored by Jason Stevens.

Head Coach / Mentor – Jason Stevens
IAAF level 3 Sprint, Hurdle and Relays Coach
AA level 2 Advanced Middle/Long Distance and Throws Coach
AA level 2 Intermediate Recreational Running Coach
IAAF Kids Athletics Coach

Jason is a life Member of Southern AC and has been part of the club since joining in 1990. During his competition career Jason started out as a junior 400-1500m runner who competed and trained mainly to maintain his fitness for basketball. At 19 Jason retired from basketball and started training seriously for the decathlon under one of the state most experienced and qualified coaches – Barb Stephens. Over the next decade Jason won numerous State titles including 4 Open Decathlon titles and represented the state at national level. Jason was also fortunate enough to compete and train in New Zealand and Germany. For the last 10 years Jason has been coaching at Southern Athletic Club (8 as head coach) as well as being a state team coach / manager and Athletics SA’s junior state throws coach.

Sprints Coach – Hayden Moore
Hayden is an accomplished sprinter and pole vaulter and an accredited Level 1 Community Athletics Coach
Hayden’s athletics journey began at the age of 13 when he started athletics training. That training led into a year of Little Athletics then he also started training with Southern Sharks. Hayden is a sprinter and pole vaulter who has represented the state in both of these event groups at national level. He also has a personal training accreditation. Hayden says “After I started training with Southern Athletic Club my times started improving and Jason encouraged me to start taking our training group for warm-ups and this helped me realise that I wanted to be a coach.”

Throws Coach – Mark Secomb
AA Level 1 and Community Athletics Coach; Mark will be doing his Level 2 Club Coach accreditation this year
Mark is the current throws coach at Southern Athletic Club. He has been competing in athletics for 21 years and has been coaching for the last 4 years at both Southern Athletic Club and South Coast LAC. Mark joined the Southern Sharks in 2006 when he wanted to learn more about the techniques of the throwing events. Mark says “I enjoy coaching anyone who wants to learn and improve their technique”.

High Jump Coach – Morgan Blackwell
Morgan is an accomplished high jumper and an accredited Level 1 Community Athletics Coach
Morgan started Little Athletics when she was 8 years old because of a love for being active. She competed up to U17’s which gave her a great understanding and appreciation for all event groups. Morgan joined Southern Athletic Club in 2012 which allowed her to compete against other athletes of all ages and abilities each weekend. As well as competing, Morgan has now started coaching junior athletes in the Development Academy, specialising in high jump, as well as high school volleyball. Morgan is currently studying a bachelor of education and health science with a goal of becoming a physical education teacher.

Horizontal Jumps Coach – Trish McHendrie
AA Level 2 Advanced Jumps Coach
Trish is an all-round athlete, coach & official. Having been involved with Little, Senior & Masters athletes for over 15 years. She is a Level 2 Advanced ATFCA & AA Coach in Jumps & Sprints and has coached many athletes to State & National levels. She has competed as a Masters athlete in Long & Triple Jump and won gold in Triple Jump at a National Championships. Jumping has been her passion for many years. She currently teach school athletic programs to promote our sport. She loves watching kids do their best at events and particular the younger athletes when they give you a great big smile when they succeed. She loves coaching and watching athletes achieve their best.