Coach Profile – Ian Thompson – Athletics Australia

We were incredibly lucky to meet with Ian and learn more about what has made him so successful in his coaching role.

„Champions do not appear spontaneously. They build and progress over time with patience and perseverance.“

Ian’s First Steps in the Sport

„As a school boy sprinter and thrower I was fascinated by athletics, however my career soon took over most of my time. Later as a parent with two young children I made that ever fatal mistake of asking the club manager “Where are all the coaches?”.

It wasn’t long after asking that fateful question that I found myself in the role of the club’s coach and found that I enjoyed the coaching process. This led me to become accredited and continue upskilling myself with further coach education.“

Ian has since become involved with club management, coach education, school competitions and has served as a Team Manager for State Associations.

Coaching Inspirations

Throughout Ian’s development he has been inspired and mentored by great Australian coaches including Sharon Hannan, Eric Brown, and Glynis Nunn-Cearns to name just a few.

Exposure over time with these fantastic international-level coaches has provided a broader perspective in coaching techniques and athlete development.

Current Coaching

Having retired in 2022 from the Police Service, Ian has now had the time to fully engage in athletics coaching.

He is actively involved in delivering coach education courses and clinics for Little Athletics Queensland and coaching at schools in the various inter-school competitions such as GPS, QGSSSA and AIC communities.

Always passionate about grass roots athlete development he is coaching at the Toowong Harriers Club, which caters for both Seniors and Little Athletics.

In a private capacity he is coaching at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, where he has a diverse group of youth, junior, and senior athletes in a wide range of events including triple jump, long jump, sprints and throws.

The squad is relatively new and is developing in experience and competitive capability. The guiding philosophy for the group is ‘Practice, Patience and Perseverance’. Champions are developed over time and the short-term goal of every athlete in the group is to stive for a personal best in competition.

„The moments make the journey worthwhile. A para-athlete achieving a result that people told them they could not achieve, the first athlete to achieve a gold medal, the first time standing at an international competition with a nervous athlete, and that time an athlete who just achieved a success took the time in their celebrations to come to you and say „Thanks Coach“.

Ian’s Advice for Developing Coaches

„Great athletes make for a great coaching experience. Never lose sight of the fact the athlete makes the coach, not the other way around.

Athletes are not machines working in isolation, don’t forget the group that comes with them. Parents, partners, friends, sports scientists, medical professionals and community values play a part in how well the athlete can be coached as an individual. Equally the many, often quite conflicting opinions of those parts need to be managed to ensure the best outcome for the athlete.

Athletes respond in different ways; some see, some hear, some do, some repeat and by exposing yourself to different teaching methods and ques used by different coaches you become a better teacher with the pedagogical framework.

I have really learnt that there are so many different and varied ways to achieve excellence in coaching – you just have to listen.“

Future Objectives

There is an old saying, It takes a village to raise a child.

Equally it takes a club to provide community, companionship and competition for an athlete. Being part of a club has been a rewarding experience for Ian and helped him form meaningful connections with athletes and other coaches.

After gaining so much from the mentors who supported him to reach his respected status in the sport, Ian has taken on the role of a mentor to the next generation of coaches, with several of his senior athletes currently in the process of learning the trade.

„Teach a new coach, mentor a new coach, encourage a new coach and in time you will take joy in watching their athletes succeed knowing you put them and their group on the right path.

The future of the sport rests in the new generation of coaches that you may play a small part in developing. Take time to give back to the sport you love.“

Athletics Australia would like to thank Ian Thompson for his time and continued contribution to the sport.

Athletics Australia