YOUNG ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

6-WEEK PROGRAM STARTS OCTOBER 2025

The Young Athlete Development Program is designed for school-aged athletes (Year 7 – 10) of all skill levels and sporting backgrounds. This program focuses on key areas of personal and athletic development, providing valuable insights to support growth across all sports. It’s the perfect starting point for young athletes looking to build a strong foundation for their sporting journey.

Open to both boys and girls, the program welcomes beginners and experienced athletes alike. Participants will explore their sporting pathways, develop essential life skills, and build a growth mindset, setting them up for long-term success in sport and beyond.

Held at UniActive Wollongong Campus, this program equips young athletes with the tools, knowledge, and confidence they need to reach their full potential – both now and in the future.

The child participant must submit the following information to join the program, including:
Current Sporting Achievements
Future Goals
Reasons for wanting to join

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

The child applicant must submit the following information to join the program:

  • What are your current sporting achievements or highlights that you are most proud of?
  • What goals do you have for your future in sport?
  • Why would you like to join the Young Athlete Development Program?
MINDSET CONTENT DELIVERED:
  • Building a Growth Mindset
  • Improving my Mental Toughness
  • Fuelling My Body for Performance
  • Optimising My Physical Wellbeing
  • Goal Setting
  • Putting it All Together

This program provides an introduction to athlete training, open to all young people who are eager to enhance their skills and unlock their full potential, regardless of their sport. The Young Athlete Development Program offers similar content for younger age groups, serving as an introduction to our high-performance program.

Program Starts Tuesday 28th October (Girls) & 30th Thursday October (Boys)

SCHEDULE

Each week, the program includes a Strength & Conditioning session and a Holistic Health & Resilience Training session. Training days are Tuesdays for girls and Thursdays for boys.

WEEK
CONTENT DELIVERED
One
  • Strength And Conditioning Training
  • Building a Growth Mindset
Two
  • Strength And Conditioning Training
  • Improving My Mental Toughness
Three
  • Strength And Conditioning Training
  • Fuelling My Body for Performance
Four
  • Strength And Conditioning Training
  • Optimising My Physical Wellbeing
Five
  • Strength And Conditioning Training
  • Goal Setting
Six
  • Strength And Conditioning Training
  • Putting it All Together

MEET YOUR COACHES

CLAIRE RAYNER - GIRLS COACH

Claire is a former elite middle and long-distance runner with a passion for high performance and helping junior athletes reach their full potential through a balanced, healthy approach. She holds a Bachelor in Exercise Science, a Master’s in PDHPE, and a Level 2 Athletics Australia Coaching certification. With over 25 years of experience, Claire brings a wealth of expertise in athlete development. Her coaching focuses on holistic wellbeing, ensuring athletes not only achieve their sporting goals but also develop self-awareness, resilience, and a growth mindset—setting them up for success in both sport and life.

SAM BURFORD - BOYS COACH

Sam is passionate about developing young athletes across all areas of fitness and sport. With years of experience in football as both a player and coach, he brings a deep understanding of athletic development. He holds a Bachelor of Exercise Science, Cert III & IV in Fitness, a C-Level Coaching License, and a Technical Lifting Certificate. With five years of personal training experience and four years of coaching expertise, Sam designs programs that enhance fitness, strength, and conditioning while tailoring training to be sport specific. His approach ensures athletes understand their bodies and the purpose behind each exercise, helping them achieve optimal performance in their sport

FAQs

WHAT IS THE COST?

The program is $175 per child for 6 weeks.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN EACH SESSION?

Each session is 1.5 hours in length. Each session will have a 40-minute Strength & Conditioning component and a 40-minute Holistic Health and Resilience Training component. There will be a 10-minute break between components.

WHERE IS THE PROGRAM HELD?

The program will be at the UniActive Sports Hub (Building 9) at the University of Wollongong.

Please note this location is subject to change during UOW Graduation and/or exams.

WHAT ARE THE TIME, DAYS, AND DATES OF THE PROGRAM?
  • Sessions run from 4:30PM – 6PM
  • Sessions run for 6 consecutive weeks
  • Girls will be on Tuesdays
    • Tuesday 28 October
    • Tuesday 4 November
    • Tuesday 11 November
    • Tuesday 18 November
    • Tuesday 25 November
    • Tuesday 2nd December
  • Boys will be on Thursdays
    • Thursday 30 October
    • Thursday 6 November
    • Thursday 13 November
    • Thursday 20 November
    • Thursday 27 November
    • Thursday 4 December

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Contact uniactive@uow.edu.au for additional information.