Athletic Development Program
Structured Skills Development
The St Peters Athletic Development Program (ADP) is designed to help our young athletes improve sport-specific strength and skills over the long term. The program is run through the College's Health & Wellbeing Centre (Gymnasium) and includes both individual and team training sessions. All students are able to take part in the ADP, regardless of what sport they play or their level of experience—the focus of the program is on movement efficiency, regardless of what type of an athlete the student is. Safety and support are key. The St Peters Athletic Performance and Development Coordinator currently oversees a team of experienced coaches to ensure the structure of the program is maintained. The team are committed to ensuring the development, understanding and maximum benefits achieved from the ADP are consistent over time.
Training Sessions
ADP training sessions are designed to suit various levels of fitness and will meet specific requirements for athletes throughout their sporting journey. Young or inexperienced students do an age-appropriate program, while athletes training for the Olympics can do a tailor-made program for their elite level. Most training sessions take place in the weights gym, below the College Gymnasium*. The facilities within the gym are first-rate and designed to improve student fitness levels.
All students are assessed prior to commencing the ADP. This assessment is made to gauge their existing abilities and determine their sporting goals. Experienced staff then design a program around these goals. They teach the students proper techniques and talk to them about their expectations and responsibilities in relation to the program. After discussing the program in detail, the student has the accountability to perform their program in the gym under careful supervision.
ADP training sessions take place before and after school, five days a week (Monday to Friday). The timetable can accommodate particular sports during their training seasons but, on the whole, training times are:
- Mornings — 6:30 to 7:30am
- Afternoons — 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Collaboration
Our athletes proudly represent St Peters in a wide range of sports. The level of conditioning and fitness obtained through the ADP helps students to compete at the higher levels, including in QGSSSA or AIC competitions. ADP staff are mindful to collaborate with outside coaches and coordinators to ensure that the training of higher level student athletes can stay in sync. When a student is competing at a higher level, it is essential that they progress and develop the right way.
Programming & Outcomes
The focus of the ADP is to develop long-term skills and training discipline among young St Peters athletes. Training begins from the junior levels with the goal of embedding good habits in movement patterns. Ultimately, these habits will continue to develop over time so that, by the time students reach Years 11 and 12, they will have developed into better athletes.
Team-work programs consists of phases of training which follow a four to five week cycle (depending on the goals of the athletes). Programs for higher level athletes are quickly changed to stimulate and challenge them, whereas programs for younger athletes are altered in small, yet significant ways. By implementing these changes, skills are improved and opportunities can open up. For example, a C or D-level player, who has a passion for a sport and wants to improve, can take part in the ADP and potentially make an A team, a Firsts team or an Open team in the future. Likewise, an elite-level athlete can improve their skills enough to see them performing at senior representative levels, both locally and globally.
