Coach the Coach 2009

Speakers at Coach the Coach 2009

Benjamin Barrington-Higgs

Ben is currently a lecturer for the School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University. Ben has been involved in playing and coaching sport at all levels for many years. He has worked with athletes from many different programs. These programs include athletics, basketball, swimming, tennis and badminton. He currently works with the Indonesian Ministry for Sport to provide coach education programs for their national coaches. He also trained as a lawyer and his area of interest in this field is sports law.

Dr Stephen Bird

Dr Bird is currently serving as Senior Advisor, Sports Science and Physical Preparation Department, Indonesian National Top-tier Athlete Program and is responsible for overseeing competition preparation for scheduled events by the Olympic Council of Asia, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a position he holds through the School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University.

The inaugural winner of the AAESS Medal and former recipient of the NSCA Graduate Research Award in the USA, Dr. Bird holds positions on the South African Medical Research Council Grants Review Board and Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Advisory Panel. As research consultant with Musashi, Dr. Bird�s research aims to improve our understanding of the physiological response(s) associated with supplementation strategies, following training. Dr Bird also consults for the Western Region Academy of Sport and is Head of Strength and Conditioning.

Dr Eric Drinkwater

Eric Drinkwater originally came to Australia from Canada eight years ago. He spent his first four years in Australia at the Australian Institute of Sport investigating the development of strength and fitness in basketball players, eventually earning a doctoral-level degree in Exercise Physiology from Victoria University in Melbourne. Since moving from Canberra to Bathurst four years ago, Eric has been a lecturer in the School of Human Movement Studies at Charles Sturt University teaching subjects in exercise program design, advanced fitness conditioning and sports coaching. He is an accredited coach for the New South Wales Weightlifting Association and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Most recently, Eric initiated the WRAS weightlifting squad and is now Head Coach of the program.

Dr Rob Duffield

Dr Rob Duffield is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Human Movement, Charles Sturt University. Rob’s research focus encompasses the area of applied sports science, specifically on topics relating to pre-cooling in the heat, post-exercise recovery strategies, ergogenic aids and sports performance. Rob has worked with a range of groups on collaborative research projects, including: Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW, Essendon Football Club, International Tennis Federation, AIS, Skins and Slazenger. Rob has also worked with the WRAS Triathlon squad for then provision of laboratory testing.

Sarah Feebrey

Sarah is currently undertaking an internship with the Western Region Academy of Sport as a level 1 Strength and Conditioning coach and is in her final year of an Exercise Science (Rehabilitation) degree at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst. Sarah has been involved with a variety of sports as an athlete, coach and strength and conditioning trainer for many years. She currently coaches for the WAS (Western Associated Schools) and AICES (Associated Independent Co-Educational Schools) U16 and opens teams and the All Saints College girls Hockey first XI.

Monique King

• Bachelor of Human Movement/Exercise Science and Rehabilitation
• Bachelor of Human Movement (Honours) First Class
• Certificate II in Fitness Instruction
• Austswim Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety
• Austswim Teacher of Infant Aquatics

Monique is currently completing her final year of a Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Physiology. Monique's main area of research is in the field of recovery from team sport exercise, specifically investigating the effects of cold water immersion used as a recovery strategy following intense exercise. In 2006 she completed a study on "The effects of recovery interventions on repeated high-intensity exercise in female netball players" for which she received first class honours. In addition to her own research, she has also been involved with several other research projects with her colleagues resulting in several peer-reviewed publications in International Journals. During this time she has also lectured for the School of Human Movement Studies at CSU in the areas of Sports Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Exercise for Special Populations, Functional Anatomy and Exercise for Cardio-Respiratory Health.

Monique's interest in sport goes much further than just research, as she has also participated in and been a coach for a variety of sports including netball, soccer, swimming and touch football.

Monique has been involved with WRAS Netball squad for many years, firstly as an athlete, then as a coach.

Alexis Lebedew

Alexis Lebedew is currently the Coordinator of the Performance Analysis Unit at the Australian Institute of Sport. This position involves the strategic development systems over the range of AIS sports, to help coaches observe, record and manage data with the view to improve athlete and team performance. The underlying philosophies that guide Performance Analysis at the AIS are, “Usability is more Important than Functionality”, and “Personalised Innovation”.
Prior to this he has worked as a volleyball and beach volleyball coach for national men's, women's and beach Senior programs as well as Youth and Junior men's teams. He coached at numerous World Championships and the 2000 Olympics. He also coached for three years in the United States collegiate system, various AVL teams including the 2005 champions and played volleyball and beach volleyball in national and state competitions. In 2006 he completed his Masters in Sports Coaching through the University of Queensland.

Professor Frank Marino

• Head of the School of Human Movement Studies at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
• Doctor of Philosophy from Charles Sturt University in 1998
• Master of Education from University Sydney in 1992
• Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Western Australia in 1987
• Professional member of the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science, the Physiological Societies of America and UK.

Frank's main area of focus in research is related to understanding the mechanisms of fatigue during prolonged exercise. In particular, the relationship between the control of body temperature and central (Central Nervous System) fatigue.

Over the past 10 years he has received over $200K in funding to pursue his research. In 2000, Frank was awarded the 'Faculty of Education Research Excellence Award' and in 2003 the Vice Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence for his efforts in the sports science field.

In his role as Head of School, Frank oversees many other research projects in addition to his own and consequently is one of the leading minds in Australia in the area of sports science and its future. Frank is also an integral member of the Board of Directors as Deputy Chair for the WRAS, setting up a 'Sports Science Team' to benefit athletes of the Academy and students and lecturers of the School of Human Movement Studies.

Rebecca Neale

Rebecca is a sports scientist who worked at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation for seven years and is currently a Senior Project Officer at NSW Sport and Recreation. During her time with the Academy, she worked in both the Sport Education and Sport Science Units and was involved in the delivery of sport education and sport science services to the Regional Academies of Sport.

She has worked with a range of sports including soccer, rugby union, netball and alpine sports. Rebecca's work has developed juniors as well as professional/elite athletes. With a background in coach education, Rebecca places a strong emphasis on providing coaches not only with drills and activities, but with a complete system for best practise teaching of sport speed and agility.

Ryan Nelson

Ryan is a level 1 certified Strength and Conditioning coach and holds a level 3 and 4 certificate in Fitness. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Rehabilitation) at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst. Ryan is also one of two Strength and Conditioning coaches for the Western Region Academy of Sport and is responsible for designing programs and conducting sessions with over 60 athletes. In addition to this, Ryan has played and coached AFL for many years.

Barry Palm

Barry Palm is an educational consultant specialising in helping students with learning and performance difficulties.
He has been directly involved in education for over 25 years and uses his experience to communicate with children, parents, athletes and coaches. Barry has actively consulted to various National and State Sporting organisations over the past decade including Netball, Rugby Union, Rugby League and Sailing.

Paul Penna

Paul Penna is a recognised Sport Psychologist, having worked with many of Australia’s top sports people and teams. Paul is the Sport Psychologist for the Australia Swim Team. He worked on the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team, the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Team, as well as the 2004, 2005 and 2007 World Swimming Championship Teams.
Paul has developed a successful business, Focus Performance Psychology, which assists individuals and teams to obtain peak performances. His clients include professional athletes and sporting teams, motor sport athletes, corporate executives and teams, performers and aspiring champions.
Paul was the Senior Sport Psychologist at the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) during 2006-07. He commenced working at the institute in 2001 and was principally focused on assisting athletes and programs perform on the highest level possible, whether that was at State, National, Commonwealth Games, World Championships or Olympics and Paralympics.
Paul is a fully Registered Psychologist with specialise tertiary training in sport psychology and over 15 years of experience competing, coaching and working within many different levels of sport.

Professional Appointments

• Swimming Australia - Team Psychologist, National Sport Psychology Coordinator & member of Sports Science Advisory Group
• Bowls Australia - Team Psychologist & National Sport Psychology Coordinator
• Golf Australia - Member of the High Performance Advisory Group

Melissa Skein

• Bachelor of Human Movement (Exercise Science and Rehabilitation)
• Bachelor of Exercise Science (Honours) (First Class)
• Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AAESS)
• Certificate III in Fitness
• Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Royal Lifesaving First Aid Certificate

Mel's research examines the effects of external factors on pacing strategies and intermittent-sprint (team sport) performance. In 2007 Mel completed her Honours, examining "The Effect of Fluid Ingestion on Pacing Strategies and Free-Paced Intermittent-Sprint Performance in the Heat", from which she was awarded First Class Honours. She is currently completing her PhD thesis which examines the effect of sleep deprivation, additional muscle mass, and alterations in core temperature on pacing strategies and intermittent-sprint performance. Mel has also being involved with several other research projects and has experience in teaching in School of Human Movement Studies at CSU in the areas of Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Exercise in Cardiorespiratory Health, Growth Development and Ageing and Functional Anatomy. Mel's also has a personal interest in sport and exercise, particularly involved in golf, netball, and tennis, playing and coaching at various representative levels.

Simon Woinarski

Simon holds a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education), a Masters of Exercise and Sports Science and is a Level 2 Coach (Australian Football).

Simon has had 9 years experience as a Secondary School Physical Education Teacher. Simon has also worked in Sport Development for 8 years with Tennis NSW and the AFL (NSW/ACT). Simon managed the Talented Player Pathway Programs in NSW for the AFL (NSW/ACT) for 3 years and worked for a year with NSWIS in Sports Program Management.

Simon currently works for NSW Sport and Recreation where he manages the Sport Education Unit which delivers general principles of coaching and general principles of officiating courses as well, as other programs, to support all sports in NSW in the delivery their Coaching and Officiating Accreditation programs.

Who spoke at Coach the Coach 2007?

Go to the 2007 conference section of this website and browse the list of speaker profiles.