Exercise science interns show they’ve got what it takes to be sports coaches

Exercise science interns at the North Coast Academy of Sports showed what the job of sports coach is like when Southern Cross University hosted a group of high school students doing Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) for the Higher School Certificate.

The interns, who are third year Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and Master of Exercise Science students, are part of the North Coast Academy of Sport (NCAS) testing team who delivered the Sport and Exercise Science High Schools Program to 35 year 11 St John’s College Woodlawn students this week (Thursday August 7).

The one-day Sport and Exercise Science High Schools Program, designed by the University’s School of Health and Human Sciences and the NCAS, gives students an opportunity to observe and experience current technology in the assessment of athletic performance.

Dr Cathy Avila, a lecturer in exercise biochemistry at SCU, said the program complemented the students’ PDHPE curriculum and would specifically address course outcomes.

“The students study exercise science in a theoretical way at school. With our hands-on program, they will get the opportunity for experiential learning around the syllabus and evaluate ‘real-life’ testing of an athlete.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to cover relevant material,” said Dr Avila.

The program was overseen by the NCAS supervising staff and implemented by the NCAS sports testing team.

The NCAS athlete through his paces was 15-year-old local rower George Edwards, who made the single skulls semi-finals at last year’s NSW state championships.

John Kincade, NCAS executive director, said the Academy, based at the University’s Lismore campus, was part of a network of regional sport academies that aimed to assist talented junior athletes achieve success at regional, state, national and international level.

“The Sports and Exercise Science High Schools Program is a great example of collaboration between the School of Health and Human Sciences and the Academy, providing SCU interns with experience in working with sub-elite athletes and programs.

“Many of our interns go on to gain credible positions within the sports industry due in no small part to this hands-on experience.”

The Sport and Exercise Science High Schools Program includes:

• 1st stage: Students gain hands on experience of performance assessment in the sport and exercise science gymnasium at Southern Cross University;
• 2nd stage: Held in the exercise physiology lab and focuses on an individual sub-elite athlete from the North Coast Academy of Sport Program (NCAS). Data from the testing sessions is later analysed with input from an experienced coach. Students then participate in designing a training program for the young athlete. Testing results will be recorded and a digital copy provided to the teacher for further analysis and consideration in class
• 3rd stage: A tour of the teaching and research facilities in sport and exercise science, including current research.

Photo: NCAS rower George Edwards (on rowing machine) undergoing lactate testing by NCAS interns Chloe Lane (middle) and Mitch Harvey (left), with St John College Woodlawn students Teagan Hopkins and Kalle Jarvela (far right) looking on.