WAIS aims to produce champions by implementing programs which allow athletes to achieve excellence in their sport with support from their home environment.
Led by world class coaches, the WAIS sporting programs provide athletes with the services and support they need to achieve; along with all phases of training, preparation and competition.
WAIS programs are highly effective in achieving their outcomes, successfully developing emerging Western Australian talent, helping the individual’s endeavours towards Australian representation and strengthening Australian sport.
The WAIS Program of the Year award, recognises the sports programs which have been successful in achieving high performance and development outcomes over the voting period of 1 Oct 2015 – 30 Sep 2016.
The Challenge Podium Performance Centre provides a daily training environment for swimming athletes, centred around professionalism and continuous improvement.
Throughout 2016, the success of this program has been evident through podium finishes and an influx of personal best times being recorded by program athletes.
With a number of athletes engaging in the program, the WAIS Performance Enhancement Team staff have been able to offer both quality servicing and innovation in order to assist athlete development.
The Challenge Podium Performance Centre has also earned recognition through the national sporting body (SAL) highlighting the professionalism and character shown by Western Australian athletes, representing on national team duty.
The WAIS Cycling Program helped produce a medallist on the Australian Olympic Team for Rio, whilst also supporting several athletes onto Junior Track and Road World Championship Teams for Australia.
Led by coaches Clay Worthington and Andrew Jackson, the program has developed in a way which highly integrates the Performance Enhancement Team staff, with a number of service providers travelling to major domestic competitions to provide their services and expertise at critical times.
With a number of talented junior emerging athletes, the WAIS Cycling Program looks set to continue its strong legacy in the sport.
One of the most innovative programs at WAIS is the Netball Program, due to its block training approach which facilitates the involvement and input of athletes in designing training programs.
Through implementing this approach it has enabled the program to obtain higher athlete engagement whilst improving programming for all scholarship holders.
In 2016 the program fed to all levels of the sport, with athletes competing in the Western Sting’s bronze medal Australian Netball League campaign, the West Coast Fever’s final ANZ Championship season and the International Quad Series and Constellation Cup campaigns.
WAIS netball athletes were also involved in 17/U, 19/U, 21/U and senior international squads, highlighting its developmental capacity through to the top level.
This year the WAIS Men’s Water Polo Program made some major training improvements, achieved through the involvement of all Performance Enhancement Team staff.
The new world-leading practice has used the services of WAIS physiologists to introduce movement specific training and testing.
A prime example, is one element that enables goalkeepers to train in a fashion which replicates competition, using complex movement and energy systems.
The WAIS Men’s Water Polo Program has this year been represented on the Australian Olympic Team in Rio by three scholarship athletes and had ten athletes compete as part of the national championship winning UWA Torpedoes side.
At junior level, several athletes were involved at the National 18/U Championships including those who competed in the gold medal winning UWA City Beach Bears and bronze medal winning Melville Sharks teams.
WAIS Program of the Year Nominees:
- Challenge Podium Performance Centre (SWIMMING)
- Cycling
- Netball
- Water Polo (Men’s)
The WAIS Program of the Year will be announced on Saturday the 15th of October at the 2016 WAIS Annual Dinner at HBF Stadium.
– Annika Lee-Jones
