In the competitive world of school sports, Toowoomba Grammar School has quietly revolutionised the approach to student-athlete development.

Our Athletic Development Program represents a paradigm shift in how schools nurture sporting talent—combining cutting-edge technology, evidence-based practices and a whole-person philosophy that prepares young men for success beyond the scoreboard.

The program isn't simply about creating better athletes; it's about developing resilient, adaptable young men who understand that true performance excellence requires both scientific precision and character development. By implementing age-appropriate training methodologies and sport-specific pathways, we ensure each student receives the right intervention at the right time in their athletic journey.

“What truly sets our approach apart is the seamless integration of modern sports science into daily practice. We offer four pathways: performance GPS sport for elite competition, GPS sport for those who love the game, a high performance academy for non-GPS athletes striving for excellence and a dedicated wellbeing and lifelong health pathway for developing those healthy habits.”
Mr Kabe Cicolini, Head of Sport

Our performance testing protocols, sophisticated load management systems and comprehensive wellbeing tracking create a data ecosystem that allows for truly individualised athletic development. Through athlete management software, GPS tracking during training and competition and interactive wellbeing dashboards, we've created an environment where decisions are driven by evidence rather than intuition alone.

Beyond our work with students, the department serves as a center for professional development and community engagement. Our partnerships with universities like UniSQ have established internship pathways, while our coach education workshops elevate sporting expertise throughout the region. These initiatives create a virtuous cycle of knowledge exchange that benefits our School community while building meaningful career pathways for the sports professionals of tomorrow.

At its core, our Athletic Development Program embodies TGS's commitment to excellence with purpose. By balancing high-performance aspirations with character building and long-term development principles, we prepare our students to represent themselves, their teams and their School with distinction wherever life takes them.

We're excited to share the story of one of the key team members behind this vision—a past student who has returned to lead our Athletic Development Program and whose journey exemplifies the very values we seek to instill in our students.

Feels like a homecoming

Coming back to Toowoomba Grammar School felt like a calling. I knew I could make a difference to the athletes coming through the ranks, driven by the deep-seated passion for sport that has defined my career.

With a lifelong commitment to sport, five years at university studying exercise science and experience working in a range of professional sports, from the NRL to combat sports, I believed I had a real opportunity to impact the athletes of tomorrow. After honing my youth development skills at schools in Brisbane, I saw an opportunity to return home and invest my time in the institution that moulded me into the man I am today.

Since returning to TGS in 2023, I’ve viewed this role as an opportunity to enhance athletic development within the School. Sport and cocurricular activities are the lifeblood of a student’s time at TGS and their impact on character and wellbeing is immeasurable. The chance to contribute to this environment has been both a privilege and a profound responsibility.

Mr Jackson Stone, Head of Athletic Development

My experience as a GPS athlete taught me many lessons, primarily about resilience and the process of achieving at any level. Although I never tasted gold at the GPS level or later in my athletic life, I’ve had the opportunity to rub shoulders with former Olympians like Debbie Wells (1976, 1980 and 1984), current Olympians like Matthew Denny (2016, 2020 and 2024) and a range of international and national level athletes.

These experiences gave me insight into the hardships of being elite in any endeavour, how to be resilient through challenges and how to bask in glory on the other side.

Since entering the athletic development field almost 10 years ago, my ethos has evolved significantly. As my experience as a coach and mentor grew, so did my understanding of the importance of fostering individuality and helping athletes grow as individuals rather than being carbon copies of someone else. This supported my growing philosophy of holistic development for athletes and, ultimately, the young men of TGS.

The Athletic Development Department aims to build on the concepts outlined in the Strategic Plan, giving boys the skills to access wellbeing for life. While my bias is towards physical wellbeing, I also wanted to invest in the boys’ mental and pastoral development. In order to achieve this, the four pillars of the Athletic Development Department were created:

  • Strength and Conditioning: Developing the boys physically to excel at sport and have physical literacy for life.
  • Sport Science: Monitoring students’ development and training to make them the best possible versions of themselves.
  • Injury Management: Assisting boys in transitioning from injury back onto the field or court as smoothly as possible.
  • Nutrition: Educating boys and families on how to best fuel themselves for success.

Although still early in my TGS career, I have had some incredible highlights. The capacity to work not only with the boys but also to help shape the direction of their development Schoolwide from Prep to Year 12 has made this role the most impactful of my career. Some examples include:

  • P–12 Athletic Development Strategy: One of my first tasks at the School was to guide the physical development of TGS men through an overarching strategy. This led to the creation of the TGS Long Term Athletic Development Model, which focuses on building physical literacy throughout a student’s Junior School tenure and then builds on this to allow them to excel in their sporting lives.
  • Student Athlete Management System (SAMS): I was passionate about developing a system that allowed Heads of Sport, myself and other key stakeholders to monitor and guide students throughout their athletic journeys. SAMS was born out of my own passion for preventing students from burning out through sport, as I had when I graduated from TGS. It enables TGS to collect, store and analyse student training, wellbeing, pastoral and performance data to reward, intervene and assist students where needed.

Ultimately, my goal is to make a difference in the lives of young men, giving them the tools to build their own wellbeing framework. Whether as members of a high-performance team or weekend warriors flying around the Noosa Triathlon, I hope my influence on TGS boys allows them to be physically active and confident in any physical activity they pursue.

“Reflecting on my journey, I am reminded of the profound impact that dedicated mentorship and a supportive environment can have on young athletes. It is my hope that through my work at TGS, I can inspire the next generation to not only achieve their athletic goals but also develop the resilience, character and lifelong love for physical activity that will serve them well beyond their school years.”
— Mr Jackson Stone, Head of Athletic Development

Latest Blog

Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Streamline Success

Education is a transformative journey where the path we choose exerts a profound influence on our ultimate success. A streamed class is like an express locomotive: swift, efficient, and filled with eager passengers zooming towards their educational destination. Meanwhile, an unstreamed class resembles a motley group of hikers who accidentally wandered onto the wrong trail, stumbling and bickering as they struggle to find their way. Imagine the express locomotive of streamed classes, full of…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Reducing Stress: the Key to a Peaceful Life

Have you ever felt the soul-crushing burden of stress dragging your life through the mud? Ever had your precious time dwindled away at the hands of stress, while you are left powerless and alone? Well all this pain and anguish can be resolved in an instant; and all it takes is a change in the way we think. This alteration in brain chemistry is defined as mindfulness, the ability to obtain momentary awareness and recognition of our thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is the key to defeating…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Gaining Ground with a Growth Mindset

I have seen the posters. I have sat the assemblies. I have watched the ads telling us about growth mindsets and how to develop one, and I'm sure you have too. But what we don't do is apply it to ourselves to help benefit our lives, however, there is no reason to blame yourself. The growth mindset is a deep topic that has many layers to it and is extremely important to have today. While we might blame other things on our weaknesses, it all links back to one thing – our mindset. To benefit our…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Sleeping Away the Mental Health Crisis

Two in five. That’s how many young Australians between the ages of 16 and 24 have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months (ABS, 2022). Let that sink in. Think of your closest five mates. Odds are that two of them are suffering right now from a crippling mental illness. According to recent studies conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia is witnessing an unprecedented rise in mental health issues among its youth, leaving them vulnerable and struggling (Headspace,…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Time for a Wake Up Call

Did you know that one in five 12–17-year-olds average over 8 hours of screen time a day? That means that in a 14-hour day, 57% of their waking hours involve looking at a screen! This madness is contributing to a very significant problem all teenagers face - sleep deprivation. It is killing us. We are becoming walking zombies rather than happy, growing lads. However, we can end this treacherous technological tyranny by putting down our screens before bed. Stop and think for a second. How much…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Breaking the Stigma

Strangling you in chains. Smothering you in despair. Anxiety and depression can be mighty beasts to break free from. Unfortunately, the state of traditional masculinity is reinforcing these chains. Mental health is a major threat to the well-being of men. This cage constructs barriers and borders which limit their ability to thrive in the modern world. Traditional Masculinity refers to a set of societal expectations foregrounded through the centuries by gender roles, stereotypes and beliefs.…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

The Power of Gratitude

“What do you say mate?” your mum nudges you as the waitress hands you your dinosaur nuggets. “Thank you.” You have always been told to use good manners, and to say thank you, but what does thank you actually mean? Is it just two meaningless words uttered with monotonous regularity, or is it a tool that can alleviate mental health issues generating happiness and a sense of wellbeing? Gratitude is the sunlight that lights up those dark days. The ability to be grateful is at the core of personal…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

The Silent Epidemic: Unveiling the Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

“Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary laborer and heals hurt minds.” William Shakespeare (Macbeth, 1606) Heart Disease, Cancer, and Alzheimer's. Three life-threatening diseases. Three diseases all linked to lack of sleep. According to Dr. Okorie from the children’s health division of Stanford University, “7 out of 10 high school students are falling short of… (sleep) on school nights.” The Bulk of American teens are not getting…

Read More
Student Contribution
/
Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Tik Tok - From Fun to Fear

Social media platforms have ingrained themselves into our daily lives in a time when technology is constantly evolving and drawing millions of users with seductive features and never-ending streams of captivating content. Among these, TikTok has become a worldwide phenomenon, captivating users with its viral challenges and short-form films. Underneath the fun and inventiveness however, there is growing concern about the risks connected to TikTok and other social media platforms. TikTok's…

Read More