Highly qualified specialists

Our Physical Performance Coaches (PPCs) are highly qualified, meeting the following strict criteria to work at UniSC: 

• Degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Strength and Conditioning, Human Movement or similar
• Current member of the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) Professional Coaching Accreditation Scheme (PCAS) at the Professional level (ASCA-PL2) or higher *
• ASCA Level 2 Coaching Accreditation **
• Current first aid and CPR training

Younger coaches, working towards these standards, are supervised by a coach who already meets these standards.

* Refer to Professional L2 Accreditation

** Refer to ASCA Coaching Accreditation Framework

World-class facilities and teams

PPCs work with high-performance squads including the QAS Swimming Hub and UniSC Spartans high-performance swimming team, the Australian Cycling Academy, UniSC Youth Academy, and support the University's High Performance Student Athletes (HPSAs) who come from a range of sporting disciplines.

Squads and athletes have access to nationally accredited facilities, academics, and research.

High-performance sporting facilities include: 

• 50-metre Olympic pool
• 25-metre covered pool including a range of high-tech video cameras (underwater and overhead)
• 450-metre² high-performance lifting facility
• SwimEx Professional Hydrotherapy Pool
• Contrast (hot and cold) therapeutic recovery plunge pools
• 400-metre tartan Olympic running track and field
• Multiple sporting fields and ovals
• A range of experts in sports science, biomechanics, physiology, nutrition and psychology
• Research labs and equipment for screening and testing of physical performance measures

Research in Physical Performance

Research projects are a constant part of the high-performance sports environment, with the outcomes helping to improve performance and providing coaches with further information to develop their programs.

Many of our PPCs are completing their postgraduate studies using our high-performance squads and athletes in their research.

This includes:  

Swimming

• Warm-up strategies and impact on swimming performance
• Physical performance profiling in Paralympic swimmers
• Velocity metrics as a means of determining performance
• Movement streams for swimming athleticism 

Cycling

• Training load management in cycling
• Performance measures to assist in determining athlete wellness

Various sports

• Determining and comparing sports-specific performance profiles and training loads in high-performance athletes

Practical experience

UniSC offers opportunities for work placements or ASCA practical coaching hours in our high-performance programs.

If you are a student or coach looking for practical experience, we welcome your email enquiry.

You will need to provide evidence of the following:  

• Current first aid and CPR training, 
• Working with children check (WWCC), and
• Work placement agreement or ASCA practical logbook completion.

These are essential if you are to attend a high performance squad session.

Contact

Adam Robertshaw
PPC Practical Hours Coordinator
Email: arobert7@usc.edu.au