Kristie is a level 2 Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Kristie started her career working predominantly in musculoskeletal rehabilitation as an AEP and transitioned into high performance sport after completing a mentorship program with the ARU Women’s Rugby 7’s team. Kristie has worked with a variety of state, national and international athletes in high performance including soccer, rugby union, rugby 7’s, hockey, horse racing, swimming, athletics and netball. Kristie has presented at multiple conferences and for a number of professional organisations, including ASCA workshops and coaching courses, The National Sports Convention (Melbourne, 2018), South Australian Sports Medicine Association (Adelaide, 2019), and NSW Rugby League Coaching and Performance Conference (Sydney, 2020). Kristie is currently employed as an Associate Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, while also working on a consultancy basis for numerous sporting organisations.

Narelle Sibte is a Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCA Master – level 3) with over 20 years of experience in elite athlete development. She was on the UKSCA Board of Directors in its inaugural year and is currently Chair of the ASCA’s Women’s Advisory Committee. Narelle was also awarded the Bruce Walsh Memorial Award in November 2019 for services to the Australian strength and conditioning industry. Narelle has been successful in developing national and international level athletes in numerous team and individual sports including baseball, basketball, boxing, canoeing, hockey, tennis, triathlon, volleyball and water polo and has worked at both the Australian and English Institutes of Sport. Narelle has a keen interest in tennis and has previously held the roles of National Strength and Conditioning Manager at Tennis Australia and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). In these roles she co-ordinated the national network of S&C coaches and delivered programs to players ranging from Under 10’s to Grand Slam champions. Currently Narelle divides her time between coaching athletes, consulting to professional sports teams, and contributing to coaching texts such as “Physiological Assessment of Elite Athletes”, “Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance” and the “ITF Advanced Coaches Manual”.

QUOTES

“One of the keys of coaching is knowing when to coach and not to coach”

“Each internship or opportunity if not equal”

“For any internship, understanding what you are getting out of it before you commit is very important”

“Our industry is about networks and connections so the earlier you can start to make networks and connections in the sport you want to work, hopefully the faster you get an opportunity”

SHOWNOTES

1) Kristie and Narelle's experience and journey in strength & conditioning

2) Lessons learned from experiences in a number of different sports

3) How both Kristie and Narelle have changed their practice since starting coaching

4) Career development, the role of internships and when to do them in your career

5) Whether to develop your career in one sport or in multiple sports

6) What type of internship experience should you aim for? More observation or more practical?

7) Career pathways and longevity in strength and conditioning

8) The benefits of experience domestically versus internationally

9) Aligning your why’s with the why’s of any potential role

PEOPLE MENTIONED

Craig Twentyman

Dee Jennings

Adam Beard

Dean Benton

Julian Jones

Al Vermeil