Read the Full Study (Wu 2025) Here

This episode investigates the benefits of an integrated training model for improving performance in 100m and 400m sprint events.

The study highlights that traditional training often separates strength, speed, and endurance, whereas a combined approach may yield superior results. Through a 12-week intervention with thirty trained sprinters, the research demonstrates that an integrated training plan showed significant enhancements in sprint times, acceleration, and stride mechanics compared to a control group using traditional methods.

In this episode, we dive into six essential articles recently published by Australian Athletics—each packed with actionable insights for accredited coaches across all event groups. From resisted sprint training to cueing strategies, this episode offers a toolkit of proven practices to enhance coaching effectiveness, athlete performance, and long-term development.

Find the full articles at CoachAthletics.com.au

00:00 – 11:38
Best Practices for Resisted Sprint Training
Explore how to optimise sleds, hills, bands, and more to target acceleration and maximum velocity. Learn how to tailor load, distance, reps, and recovery for different phases of the season and why resisted and unresisted sprinting should complement—not compete with—each other.

11:39 – 12:48
Reflecting After a Major Competition
Use the “Good, Better, How” framework to reflect on your recent coaching at the Australian Athletics Championships. A practical tool to drive continuous improvement.

12:50 – 15:48
Planning for Youth Athletes
Understand the five foundational principles (Progressive Overload, Specificity, Variety, Planned Recovery, and Individualisation), athlete monitoring, and long-term development. Align your training plans with both the training age and biological maturity of young athletes.

15:50 – 17:58
What All Coaches Need to Know About Hamstrings
Find out why most hamstring injuries occur mid-air, not on contact, and how eccentric strength, pelvic control, and trunk stability are key to performance and injury prevention.

18:00 – 20:31
Lessons from the World’s Best Distance Runners
Discover why 80% of elite training is low intensity, how individualised periodisation trumps one-size-fits-all plans, and why managing load with precision is a competitive edge.

20:31 – 22:49
Attentional Focus: Your Secret Coaching Tool
Shift your cueing from internal to external focus to enhance learning and execution. This segment offers examples of metaphors, timing, and cue design to embed new skills more effectively.

22:49 – End
Reflection Question
What’s one principle from today’s episode that you could test in your very next training session?

Join us for a deep dive into the paper "An Integrative Definition of Coaching Effectiveness and Expertise" by Côté and Gilbert . Forget just focusing on finish times; this episode explores what truly makes a coach effective and an expert.

Source: An Integrative Definition of Coaching Effectiveness and Expertise

We unpack the authors' groundbreaking definition, revealing the three essential pillars of coaching success: coaches' knowledge, encompassing not just your understanding of drills and training programmes (professional knowledge), but also your ability to connect with athletes (interpersonal knowledge) and reflect on your own practice (intrapersonal knowledge).

Finally, discover how effective coaching goes beyond performance outcomes to shape athletes' competence, confidence, connection, and character – the four crucial 'C's that lead to holistic development both on and off the track.