“Getting a concussion was one of the most difficult times ... but the Athletic Development department gave me all of the right steps to get back on track and here I am now. I'm ready to play basketball again going into the next season. ”Elijah, Year 12
The TGS Athletic Development Department is a cornerstone of the School’s commitment to holistic student growth, fostering excellence in physical performance, wellbeing and personal development.
Led by our Head of Athletic Development, our program combines evidence-based training methods and sport science technology to support all students across Years 5-12 in various GPS and school sports.
The department offers structured development programs tailored by age and sport, including performance testing, load monitoring, wellbeing tracking and injury prevention strategies. Through the implementation of systems such as athlete management software, GPS tracking and wellbeing dashboards, TGS ensures that each athlete’s development is both data-informed and individualised.
The department also facilitates professional learning through university internships, coach education workshops and collaborative partnerships with tertiary institutions such as UniSQ. This not only strengthens coaching quality across the region but also builds career pathways and future-readiness for students and aspiring professionals alike.
With a focus on long-term athlete development, character building and sustainable high performance, the department plays a pivotal role in preparing boys to represent themselves, their teams and their School with distinction—on and off the field.
Strength and Conditioning Pathways
Performance Pathways
Students identified as part of a Junior Emerging, Emerging or Firsts Program receive full Athletic Development support throughout their journey.
Athletic Development Program
Students who contribute towards GPS sport can access targeted support including programs to build their capacity for their given sport.
High Performance Academy
Our High Performance Academy is aimed at bridging the gap between the Performance Pathways to non-GPS sporting students. Students receive direct mentorship with Athletic Development support including strength and conditioning, sport science, injury management and support services.
Physical Literacy Program
This holistic program is aimed at providing opportunities for boys to improve their physical literacy and build their capacity for lifelong wellbeing. Opportunities within this program include the General Access Gym and Friday afternoon P-4 Physical Literacy Program.
“I dislocated and fractured my kneecap playing cricket. I was introduced to Dave, a rehab specialist at TGS, who has been helping me navigate the process and get back to sport as quick as possible. I'm getting better than what I was before with the weights I'm lifting and the help from Dave, it's been just awesome.”Ed, Year 11
Meet the team
Four Pillars of Athletic Development at TGS
Our Athletic Development Program is built upon four foundational pillars that collectively support the long-term development, wellbeing and performance of every student-athlete. These pillars reflect a commitment to excellence, safety and holistic growth across all levels of participation and performance.
1. Strength and Conditioning
Our structured strength and conditioning pathway develops essential physical qualities for sport and life. Age-appropriate training builds strength, power, speed, mobility and endurance through gym and field sessions that emphasise proper technique and smart progression. We support athletes from foundational movement skills through elite competition preparation.
2. Sport Science and Data Analytics
We harness leading sport science technologies to enhance performance and inform training decisions through GPS tracking, performance testing, MyVert jump load monitoring, and wellbeing and training load dashboards. Regular data analysis helps us identify trends, manage risk and individualise programming enabling evidence-based coaching that maximises progress while protecting athlete health.
3. Injury Prevention and Management
Our systematic injury approach prioritises prevention through screening, monitoring, education and prehabilitation. When injuries occur, our 5-Stage Return to Play Plan guides recovery from diagnosis to full training reintegration with appropriate medical clearance and progressive reconditioning. Our Athletic Development team coordinates comprehensive care with health professionals, families and coaches throughout the process.
4. Athlete Support Services
Our Athlete Support Services builds comprehensive foundations through mindset development, nutrition education and wellbeing support. Students receive workshops and mentoring on resilience, emotional regulation, focus and self-leadership, plus practical nutrition guidance for performance and recovery. Regular wellbeing check-ins and referral pathways ensure we develop well-rounded young men prepared for school, sport and life's demands.
“With the help of the Athletic Development department, I've progressed as a player and a person. One of my first gym sessions was daunting and I didn't think I was strong enough. With the support of my teammates and the TGS strength and conditioning program I was able to get the job done and now I can achieve more than I ever thought possible.”Ben, Year 12
Technology and Innovation
At TGS, we embrace technology and innovation as essential drivers of performance, wellbeing and long-term athletic development. Our program integrates cutting-edge systems and methodologies to ensure training is informed, individualised, and future-focused.
Our Student Athlete Management System (SAMS) centralises wellbeing data, training loads, performance testing and injury history. enabling our coaching and support staff to track trends, identify concerns early and implement proactive interventions that support both performance and student welfare.
Our GPS tracking system, powered by Catapult, provides real-time and post-session analysis of running loads, sprint efforts, high-speed distances and positional heatmaps. These insights inform game-day strategies, recovery protocols and conditioning plans tailored to positional demands and individual needs.
For indoor-based sports such as volleyball and basketball, we utilise MyVert — a wearable technology that tracks jump count, jump load and peak height. This data enables us to monitor explosive output, manage fatigue and refine jump-based training programs, especially in athletes with high neuromuscular demands.
Our planning model is structured around the Quadrant Method, which organises each athlete’s weekly and seasonal exposure to four key training domains: skill development, physical preparation, recovery/regeneration and competition. This approach provides a clear framework for workload balance, ensures alignment across departments and supports the long-term progression of student-athletes.
By embedding these technologies and frameworks into our daily practices, we create a dynamic, data-informed environment that prepares athletes not only for peak performance at School, but also for the demands of elite-level sport and beyond.
Enrolment Enquiry
Interested to learn more about TGS and our Athletic Development program? Reach out to the Enrolments team via the form below.
