The VIS Triathlon program is a collaborative program between the VIS, Triathlon Victoria and Triathlon Australia. The VIS is committed to the ongoing development and support of Victorian triathletes. As part of the national State Institute of Sport (SIS)/State Academy of Sport (SAS) network, the VIS fully supports the direction of the National High Performance program. The principle goal of the VIS Triathlon program is to place Victorian athletes competing in draft legal Olympic Distance triathlon and ITU Junior into National Squads and Teams. The VIS Triathlon program is an elite level program. The VIS acknowledges that State level racing is a very important part of an athlete’s preparation and development. However, the focus of the program is high level performance at National and International level.
Athlete Pathway
Primary support offered by the VIS will be focused on athletes currently targeted by the Triathlon Australia High Performance Program in the following tiers. • Gold - athletes who have won medals at Beijing and can win medals at World Championships/Olympic Games up until 2012 • Silver - athletes who are believed have the potential to move into Gold tier or be on the edge of that system, hopefully by 2012 (These athletes will need to have project teams around them to ensure they reach their potential) • Bronze - athletes who are capable of reaching Gold Tier by 2016 or beyond A selection panel comprising Victorian Institute of Sport, Triathlon Australia (TA) National Performance Director and a Triathlon Victoria (TV) representative will select athletes based on recent and past performance and/or potential of each athlete to fall into one of the three tiers listed above. The squad will be formally reviewed on 31 December 2009 and will be re-selected in April 2010. The following criteria under-pins the selection process: • VIS will select a maximum of 10 full scholarship athletes in the squad. This number may be made up of uneven numbers of males and females • If a selected squad member is examined to be injured or ill subsequent to selection, their continued status as a squad member will be re-assessed by the VIS Triathlon Head Coach in conjunction with the VIS service providers • If the VIS Head Coach believes an athlete’s performance and/or attitude is declining at anytime throughout the squad period for any reason, they may be removed from the squad after consultation and endorsement by VIS Services/Management • The selection policy is also available on TV and TA websites Objective Measures (Note: This is NOT an automatic selection criterion) • 2008/2009 Triathlon Series Individual events top 3 PHILOSOPHY The Victorian Institute of Sport Triathlon program works closely with Triathlon Australia, Triathlon Victoria, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the other SIS/SAS Triathlon Programs in Qld and NSW to ensure that the athlete pathway for elite Triathletes is one that will maximise the opportunities for national and international success. ELIGIBILITY • International Triathlon Union (ITU) Junior athletes must be a member of the TV Junior Development Program for a minimum of 6 months prior to selection • Athletes must be current financial members of Triathlon Victoria and retain this membership at all times during the scholarship period • Athletes must be Australian citizens or residents • Athletes must be eligible to the ITU Junior and Under 23 category or part of the AIS program. Professional athletes who are not part of the AIS will be selected based on absolute discretion SELECTION CRITERIA Selection to the team is a 3 stage process: • Athlete must complete the 2009/2010 VIS Triathlon Program application available from www.vis.org.au or www.trivic.org.au and return it to the VIS by the due date. This application will be available Wednesday, 1 April 2009 and close Wednesday, 8 April 2009 • The VIS Triathlon Selection Committee will prepare a short list of athletes to be considered • Final selection of the team will be at the absolute discretion of the VIS Triathlon Selection Committee VIS Selection Committee 2009/2010: Jonathan Hall, VIS Head Coach Triathlon Jarrod Evans, VIS Satellite Coach Marty Aitken, VIS Performance Manager Gavin O Sullivan, TVDP Manager Michael Flynn, Triathlon Australia National Performance Director 1. VIS Full Scholarship VIS Full Scholarships will be offered to athletes who are selected by the panel as a result of being named under the three Tiers outlined above in the introduction. Automatic selection will occur if an athlete is awarded an AIS Scholarship for 2009/2010. If necessary, absolute discretion may be used by the VIS Triathlon Squad Selection Panel to select additional athletes. 2. VIS Part Scholarship VIS Part Scholarships may be offered to athletes at the discretion of the VIS Triathlon Squad Selection Panel. SQUAD BENEFITS VIS Full Scholarship athletes will receive: • Quality coaching and financial assistance to selected competitions • National and International standard competition opportunities • Sports Medicine, Physical Preparation and Sport Science Services as required • Athlete Career & Education (ACE) and/or vocational support ATHLETE CONTRACT 1. VIS Scholarship Athletes will be expected to: • Enter into a VIS Scholarship Athlete Agreement with the VIS including both VIS and VIS Program sponsorship agreements. This includes ASADA regulations • Adhere to the directions of the VIS Head Coach at all times • Maintain the standards and values of the VIS Triathlon program • Adhere to the directions of the VIS Head Coach and Satellite coach at training camps • Attend weekly team or individual training sessions. These sessions will be clearly communicated to the athlete and their coach well in advance so they can be structured into the athletes broader training program • Provide a written training and “well being” report every fortnight • Provide input and feedback to the VIS Head Coach as required and outlined • Attend quarterly performance reviews with the VIS Head Coach and the athlete’s satellite coach • Travel with the team and stay in the designated team accommodation for all nominated National Series events • Attend the National AIS/SIS/SAS camp when invited by TA high performance program • Attend ACE seminars or sessions when appropriate • Wear the designated VIS race uniform and equipment at all events • Wear the VIS Triathlon Team clothing to training, official team functions and at competitions • Generally conduct themselves in a manner that would be expected of a high performance VIS athlete • If an athlete works with a personal coach, the coach needs to be a current accredited and insured NCAS Level 2 Triathlon Coach • Attend the annual Squad Induction Meeting • 1 x Medical Screening per annum • 1 x Physiotherapy Screenings per annum • 1 x Individual Athlete Review All selected athletes will be expected to illustrate high level of commitment to the VIS Team and the sport. • VIS Triathlon Program supporters are CBD Cycles, 2XU Clothing, Events Worldwide, Edge Racing Wheels and Supersprint 2. All Squad Members must complete and sign the VIS Athlete agreement before their scholarships take effect. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SQUAD Applications for the 2009/2010 VIS Scholarship Triathlon Program are closed. All applicants will be informed by post before the end of April 2009. Successful applicants will begin their scholarship contracts starting on 1 May 2009 through to 30 April 2010 with a formal review in December 2009. For further information, please contact Jonathan Hall, VIS Triathlon Head Coach on (03) 9425 0000 or email jonathan.hall@vis.org.au. Alternatively, you may contact Timothy Lai, VIS Performance Coordinator on (03) 9425 0000 or email timothy.lai@vis.org.au
Training Program
Athletes within the program compete over a variety of distances from Sprint Distance to Olympic Distance. As such, the training program varies from athlete to athlete. The program is decentralised in its structure where athletes work day-to-day with the VIS Head Coach, VIS Satellite Coach or their individual coaches, with the VIS acting as the conduit for high performance support.
Competition Program
In addition to major local events such as the Gatorade Triathlon Series, VIS triathletes compete in: - Australian Triathlon Series - ITU World Cup / World Championships - ITU Continental Cups
Training Venues
VIS Gym facility - Physical preparation Swim training at various locations including; Xavier College Kew, Haileybury College, Keysborough, MSAC and Melbourne Grammar Cycle training utilises bayside routes to the Mornington Peninsula, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Dandenong Ranges and the Kinglake Ranges Run training utilises the network of trails around Melbourne
