2022 Staff
Cameron Oke, Head Coach
Sophie Uden, Coach
Ben Phillips, Manager

2022 Athletes
Angus Behnke
Hunter Behnke
Sudney Chittenden
Luke Nixon
Alexis Phillips
Elsie Russell
Rhys Thomas
Edmund Thompson
Georgia Thompson

Southern Sports Academy Cycling Squad will meet on a scheduled bases for training sessions beginning in November 2021 and progressing into 2022 to receive the most professional coaching available in the area.

The program will provide recognition and motivation to identified emerging talented athletes competing in the U15-U19 age categories with a stated goal to achieve state team representation and ultimately NSWIS selection.

The program will provide coaching, training, competition and facilities to improve athlete development with a view to:
– develop the skill level of athletes which will enhance their opportunities for selection into the NSW track/road teams
– increase the level of success of those athletes at competition and events
– prepare athletes to a level where their transition to an NSWIS scholarship is ‘seamless’ in terms of programs or pathways
– provide coach development opportunities for SSA coaches and other suitable support personnel.

In addition to the quality coaching, all scholarship holders in the Academy are also exposed to a range of workshops from our specialist consultants including workshops relating to Sports Psychology, Nutrition, Recovery, Athletic Development as well as receiving Strength and Conditioning training that is specific to their sport with complimentary gym membership.

The Southern Sports Academy understands there is a great deal more to being an outstanding athlete than what happens solely on the sporting field. To this end, the Academy provides professional tuition for its athletes on Personal Development related issues. Topics that are covered include (but are not restricted to) Leadership Skills, Goal Setting, Expectations and Obligations of the Professional Athlete, Responsible Use of Social Media, Time Management and Media Skills.

All this adds up to the Southern Sports Academy leading the way in terms of providing valuable development opportunities for junior athletes in the Southern NSW region.

To be eligible for the Academy Cycling Program, athletes must be:

• In one of the target groups for age (ie, U15’s – born in 2008 & 2009, U17’s – born in 2006 & 2007 and U19’s – born in 2004 & 2005)
• Committed to progressing to higher representation within the sport of Cycling;
• Currently residing within the SSA regional catchment.

An athlete levy will apply to athletes selected into the program and this will be advised at the time of selection.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits are subject to pending Government Covid Restrictions

• Athletes will be provided a minimum of 20 hours face to face coaching which can be delivered in a number of ways Eg camps, evening training sessions, skill days, group rides etc
• Induction and Leadership day
• Muscular skeletal Screening and Athletic Development programming
• Workshops focussing on Sports Psychology, Strength and Conditioning and Sports Medicine. Workshops relating to
athlete personal development will also be offered during the scholarship period
• Gym membership (dependant on partnerships within your local town)
• Online and face-to-face education relating to athlete personal development
• Annual presentation evening (sit down dinner)
• Southern Sports Academy uniform

A program levy will be applicable to successful athletes.  Also an athlete uniform ordered though our online clothing supplier Puma is required for new athletes.

Athlete levies are subsidised by minimum $100 worth or raffle ticket sales by athletes.

*SSA Cycling athletes are eligible for the NSW Government Active Kids $100 voucher to contribute to the above levy.

SSA apparel is ordered separately for first time athletes.

*Scholarships are not in the form of a monetary sum but enable the athlete to participate in Academy development programs at a greatly reduced rate.