High Performance & Athlete Development
Our high performance programs will support students to meet their true potential and enable them follow their dreams.
High Performance Program
Bishop Druitt College endeavours to transform student lives and to develop students who are world prepared. We envision that the High Performance Program will support students to meet their true potential and enable them to follow their dreams.
The program is designed to be supportive, flexible and responsive to individual student needs, and will help provide our students who are at elite levels in performance, composing, dance and sports to continue to strive at the highest level.
Students will benefit from a series of master classes and will be connected with our new coordinator and mentor, Nat Titcume, the three-time Olympic medallist from the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Program participants will also have contact with ambassadors experienced in high-level achievement and be presented with opportunities to further enhance their knowledge and skills in their chosen area of expertise. A flexible framework will focus on assisting our high performing students to meet the demands of their busy lives and schooling requirements, as well as providing access to mentors.
Inductees to the BDC High Performance Program have displayed an outstanding level of achievement in their chosen fields. Areas of expertise have included music, dance, modern pentathlon, football, swimming and rugby. Continued success requires dedication and commitment. The HPP is designed to work with these talented performers as we support them on their journey.
Athlete Development Program
Students who join our development program experience what is required for them to become an elite performer.
The ADP is specifically designed for currently emerging athletes, sports people and performers who need support and guidance through the next few crucial years of their development. In the program they will learn to navigate all the tools and resources available to make a life-long habit of ensuring the best possible outcomes in their chosen field, whether that is on the sporting pitch, ground or court, as an actor / artist, or in the music industry.
The ADP involves curriculum-based learning of the fundamental movement patterns required for strength and conditioning training, based on long-term athletic development models. The aim is that after their ADP education all students are capable of operating in a high performance training environment.
The life cycle of the BDC Athlete Development Program
Students will also be given interactive lessons and education sessions with dietitians, sports and performance psychologists, and current and former elite athletes from all fields. The program is completed during the school day and is coordinated by three-time Olympic medallist Nat Titcume.
The infographic above shows the life cycle of the ADP. By the time students are in Year 5 they are developmentally ready to immerse themselves in elite sport experiences and can apply to be in the Athlete Development and High Performance Program.
We want to find the hidden talent in order to support these students to develop their skills and further their athletic opportunities and potential, to be the best athlete possible. As they continue to grow and strengthen their bodies, students in the High Performance Program can consolidate their skills.
In year six, students learn to negotiate, prioritise and utilise their athletic abilities, and life skills to prepare them for decision-making at elite levels.
High Performance & Athlete Development
Sports Academy Programs
Our Academy programs prepare student athletes by creating a positive sporting environment and culture to encourage high expectations, teamwork, organisation, pressure-management and leadership development.
Basketball Academy
The Basketball Academy provides skills, tactical training, and opportunities for our students to participate in basketball competitions across the state, country and beyond, and to pursue the sport at the highest levels.
The Basketball Academy has been developed to create opportunities for BDC students to strive for excellence both on and off the court. It provides a performance environment for student athletes to gain high quality coaching experiences, and develop the on and off-court tools and personal qualities to achieve at the highest level in the game.
The BDC Basketball Academy takes a holistic approach to athlete development, encouraging athletes to strive for their personal best in all facets of their athletic and performance profile. The Academy provides opportunities for students to develop the on and off court skills, strategies, knowledge and personal and physical attributes to enable and inspire them to realise their individual potential.
The program aims to:
- Provide students with access to training and education that will maximise our athlete’s overall athletic and specific potential.
- Deliver a program that focuses on development in technical and tactical training, communication and leadership skills, injury prevention, and strength and conditioning.
- Foster an environment where student athletes have a deep sense of belonging, self-confidence, challenge, responsibility and personal achievement.
- Increase students’ exposure and access to the best training environments, coaching, resources, and pathways available on the Mid North Coast.
Football Academy
The Football Academy has been developed to create opportunities for players to follow their pathway in football, and complement Liverpool Football programs in developing their technical and tactical skills.
Within the academy, BDC students are provided the opportunity to strive for success both on and off the field. A performance environment is provided for student athletes to gain high quality coaching experience and uses a holistic approach to improving overall wellbeing and performance.
This is an elite training and coaching program developed for male and female student athletes that empower them to pursue their sporting dreams.
Key aims of our program are designed to suit individual needs and abilities, and to complement the future training and development of our student athletes.
This includes:
- Technical and tactical skill development and training.
- Game awareness and analysis.
- Football specific fitness and conditioning.
- Mental and game day preparation.
- Matches and enrichment opportunities throughout the year.
Golf Academy
Golf is a sport for life.
In the BDC Golf Academy we aim to develop structures that provide genuine competition at a range of levels to support development and growth.
The Golf Academy has been developed to create opportunities for BDC students to strive for success both on and off the course. It provides a performance environment for student athletes to gain high quality coaching experiences, and uses a holistic approach to improving overall wellbeing and performance.
Key aims of our program are to:
- Promote a healthy outdoor lifestyle whilst providing the skills in golf that students can build upon as they continue to play throughout their lives.
- To deliver a program that focuses on development of skills and competitive experience.
- Provide an authentic competitive environment based on personal best.
- Foster an environment where student athletes have a deep sense of belonging, self-confidence, challenge, responsibility and personal achievement.
- Develop students to compete in a range of competitive situations beyond the BDC Golf Academy.
Netball Academy
The Netball Academy is centred around providing training, education and opportunities that will inspire our talented regional athletes to pursue netball at the highest levels, and realise their dreams on and off court whatever their chosen field may be.
A passionate and highly experienced netball player and coach, BDC teacher and Netball Academy coordinator, Meegan Bruggemann, played for the Queensland Firebirds for five years, was selected in Australian Underage Teams and captained the Queensland Fusion Australian Netball League team. Meegan’s dream is to ensure local sports people are provided with opportunities to hone their skills and develop the on and off-court tools and personal qualities to enable them to achieve at the highest levels in their chosen sport.
The BDC Netball Academy program takes a holistic approach to athlete development. Students are provided with opportunities to strive for their personal best in all facets of their athletic and performance profile. The Academy endeavours to provide opportunities for students to develop the on and off court skills, strategies, knowledge, and personal and physical attributes, to enable and inspire them to pursue their chosen sport at the highest levels.
Key aims of our program are to:
- Provide students with access to training and education that will maximise our athletes’ overall athletic and sport specific potential.
- To deliver a program that focuses on development in the following key areas; technical and tactical training, communication and leadership skills, injury prevention and strength and conditioning,
- Provide students with off court education to give our students the mental edge on their opponents including sport psychology and organisational skills.
- Increase students’ exposure and access to the best training environments, coaching, resources and pathways available.
- Foster an environment where student athletes have a deep sense of belonging, self-confidence, challenge, responsibility and personal achievement.
AFL Academy
The AFL Academy is designed to provide training, education, and elite opportunities to inspire our talented regional athletes to reach their full potential, both on and off the field, while nurturing their broader development and aspirations in any chosen career path.
At the helm of the program is Head Coach Luke Matthews, a passionate and highly qualified AFL coach. Luke brings a wealth of experience to the Academy, holding both AFL coaching qualifications and credentials as a qualified strength and conditioning trainer. In addition to leading the BDC AFL Academy, Luke works closely with the Sydney Swans Academy and the Mid North Coast Academies, ensuring our students have exposure to high-level training, networks, and development pathways.
The AFL Academy takes a holistic approach to athlete development. Students are supported to strive for excellence in every area of their athletic and personal profile. The Academy is committed to equipping young footballers with the technical skills, physical capacity, mental toughness, and leadership qualities required to thrive in high-performance environments.
Key aims of our program are to:
- Provide students with access to expert training and education that maximises athletic and AFL-specific potential.
- Deliver a development program that includes technical and tactical training, communication and leadership development, injury prevention, and strength and conditioning.
- Offer off-field education and tools including sport psychology, performance mindset, and time management to give our athletes the edge.
- Connect students with elite training environments, coaching, and pathways, including links to professional academies and talent identification programs.
- Create a culture of belonging and excellence, where students grow in confidence, resilience, accountability, and personal achievement.
Sports Academy's
As a BDC Alumni and professional rugby player, I’m proud to be an ambassador for the BDC Rugby Academy. This exciting program is a fantastic opportunity for school-aged players in the Coffs Coast region to incorporate rugby skill development into their education, with access to top-class rugby coaching and elite athlete development staff. What you focus on grows, and this program is an opportunity for developing rugby players to grow their game, and set themselves up for future success.
Jack Winchester
Western Force player, BDC Alumni & Rugby Academy Ambassador
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