PATHWAYS FOR ELITE ATHLETES AT KNOX (PEAK)

INTRODUCTION

Knox Grammar School has established the 'Pathways for Elite Athletes at Knox' (PEAK) Program to support high performing student-athletes who aspire to have a career in elite sport. Through PEAK, we aim to develop healthy, resilient and capable students by supporting the holistic wellbeing of each individual, while assisting them to achieve their academic and sporting potential. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The PEAK Program is designed to assist state and national level youth athletes currently attending, or planning to attend, Knox Grammar School. PEAK will play an important role in educating and preparing student-athletes for the expectations and demands of professional sport by providing one-on-one mentoring for students currently in elite programs and pathways.

BENEFITS AND SERVICES Each PEAK student-athlete will have an Individual Performance Plan (IPP) tailored to their needs and the demands of their sport. This may include support with: • The student's academic studies. • External program/pathways benchmarks. • Goal-setting specific to their sport. • Their holistic development in line with the Knox Total Fitness model.

PEAK student-athletes will be assisted with academic planning and support from their mentors when participating in national or international events that require an extended period away from school. Knox has developed relationships with relevant national or state sporting bodies to ensure the PEAK Program complements the student-athlete's external program. Individual Mentoring – Personalised one-on-one mentoring by PEAK mentors, with international and elite domestic level playing and coaching experience. Keynote speakers – including current elite athletes and coaches, through Knox's partnership with NSW Institute of Sport, as well as subject matter experts, such as nutritionists, psychologists and biomechanists. Workshops – facilitated small group sessions with peers to further enhance each student-athlete’s skills and learning capabilities. Outside the normal Knox Grammar School fees for academic and co-curricular activities, there will be no additional costs for any PEAK athlete-student directly involved in a PEAK activity. FACILITIES

Student-athletes participating in the PEAK Program have access to Knox Grammar School's outstanding sports facilities including:

KNOX 1 OVAL Knox’s premier Rugby ground. This facility has the capacity to host international quality teams for both daytime and night matches.

CURAGUL OVAL Located at North Turramurra, Curagul is Knox’s premier Football and Cricket venue. With six turf cricket nets for training, a multi-purpose function room and covered outdoor viewing area overlooking the ground, Curagul is widely regarded as one of the premier CAS grounds.

LAWSON PHYSICAL EDUCATION CENTRE The Lawson Centre is an indoor facility located inside school grounds. It comprises two basketball courts, a state of the art gym/weights and rehabilitation centre, four squash courts as well as four interactive learning spaces.

GREAT HALL AND AQUATIC CENTRE This superb facility offers a 50m indoor swimming/water polo pool, a learn to swim area as well as three full sized basketball courts.

GILLESPIE FIELD Located near Warrawee Station, this multi-purpose facility contains three rugby/football fields in winter, as well as three turf centre wickets and two artificial grass centre wickets in summer for cricket. It also has seven lanes of full-length artificial grass cricket nets for training. Gillespie Field also has a three lane, 90m synthetic running track, long jump pit and throwing cage.

TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS An outstanding facility of four top level synthetic, floodlit courts located inside school grounds.

PREP SCHOOL Has two multi-purpose playing fields and four multi-purpose courts ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION Core Criteria: Individual student-athlete or member of a team who demonstrates potential for: • Pathway into a professional sporting career. • Pathway into representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games, Olympic or Paralympic Games. • Pathway into a scholarships at a tertiary institution (domestic and international).

All potential PEAK candidates must meet the Knox Grammar School Code of Conduct Policy in order to be considered for selection and retention in the program. PEAK ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

PEAK Eligibility Criteria table below - the set criteria is in alignment with the Australian Sports Commission Foundations, Talent, Elite and Mastery (FTEM) framework

Level Tier 1 sports Tier 2 Junior Academy (Year 7 & 8) – Team Sports – State Team Selection (Club or Team Sports – National Team Selection (Club or Demonstration of Potential (T1) School) School) * Not including if part of a merit, train-on or * Not including if part of a merit, train-on or Middle Academy (Year 9 & 10) reserves squad reserves squad – Talent Verification (T2) Individual Sports – State Champion (Club or Individual Sports – Top 3 at National School) in an event/discipline OR top 3 at Championships (Club or School) National Championships (Club or School) Senior Academy (Year 11 & 12) * Not including if part of a team – Achieving/Specialisation (T3) * Not including if part of a team

Tier 1 Sports include those in the top 15 highest participated sports in Australia (according to AusPlay’s Children’s Participation in Organised Physical Activity Data). Namely: Athletics (Track & Field/Cross Country), Australian Rules, Basketball, Cricket, Cycling, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Martial Arts, Rugby Union, Rugby League, Surf Lifesaving, Swimming, Tennis, Touch Football Tier 2 sports include those not in the top 15 highest participated sports in Australia (according to AusPlay’s Children’s Participation in Organised Physical Activity Data) To be eligible, students need to have met the eligibility criteria within the 12 month period leading up to the application deadline. Students will only be considered if they have met the eligibility criteria more than 12 months from the application deadline if there has not been an opportunity to meet the criteria within the previous 12 months. Eg. if state/national championships are only held every two years or if state/national team age groups are not offered in every age group.

Important notes • ‘Eligibility’ does not necessarily guarantee a position in the PEAK Program. This will be dependent on the number of positions available and student-athletes will need to gain the necessary recommendation from the relevant Director of Sport and the Head of Knox Sports and Aquatics Academy. • To be eligible, school sport choice must be reflective of the sport you are selected for in the PEAK Program. Alternative arrangements can be made in discussion with the Chair of the PEAK Committee.

APPLICATION AND REAPPLICATION PROCESS As outlined on the previous page, there are three levels to the PEAK Program. 1. Junior Academy - Year 7 and 8 students. 2. Middle Academy - Year 9 and 10 students. 3. Senior Academy - Year 11 and 12 students. Importantly, the school will remain committed to the PEAK student-athlete for a minimum two-year period, even if they are omitted from their external state or national program (subject to Knox Code of Conduct Policy) Students will need to REAPPLY for continuation in PEAK at the end of the two year period. This WILL NOT be an automatic process.

APPLICATION TIMELINES The PEAK program has two application windows to account for different sports. • For the Semester 1 intake, applications close on the last school day of the previous year • For the Semester 2 intake, applications close on the last school day of Term 2

Students commencing at School the following year or not currently atending the School are welcome to apply. Reapplications for PEAK must be received from student-athletes as they complete Year 8 and then Year 10. • Reapplications must be received by December 1st at 5pm.

To apply, please visit www.knox.nsw.edu.au/PEAK or email [email protected]. OUR PEAK MENTORS

Cam Blades Cam is currently the Head Coach of Rugby at Knox Grammar School. Cam has been coaching for more than 30 years and involved in High-Performance sport both as a player and a coach for the past 25 years. As a player, Cam played for the Wallabies, NSW Waratahs and Gordon Highlanders over an eight-year professional career. Cam is a Level 4 qualified Rugby Union coach, having previously held coaching roles as a NSW Waratahs Assistant Coach, Australia U/20s Assistant Coach, National Program Coach (Set Piece) - Rugby Australia, Set Piece and Contact Coach for the Australian Men's and Women's 7s program and Head Coach of Southern Districts (Shute Shield). Cam will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the students he mentors. Ian Butler Ian commenced at Knox in 2014 after calling time on his cricket career. He has coached the Knox 1st XI and was Director of Cricket before moving into his current role as Sportsmaster. Having played over 250 games at the top level including 53 international caps for New Zealand, Ian experienced the highs and lows of professional sport. His experience will be invaluable for students dealing with injuries, psychological pressures in sport and putting together personal development plans in their pursuit towards becoming the best person and athlete they can be.

Harrison Fotopoulos Harrison represented NSW in three sports while at school – Australian Rules Football, basketball and swimming. Upon completing high school, Harrison attended Jacksonville State University, Alabama where he played basketball as a walk on. Harrison is currently the Head of Development and Head of Strength and Conditioning for Basketball at Knox. Harrison’s experience as a dual-sport athlete, as well as in athletic development, will ensure students are able to effectively manage the physical loads associated with competing in high level sport.

Kai Lammert Kai is a former professional footballer from Germany (VFL Osnabrueck) who started his professional coaching career in 2000. He is currently the Head Coach of the Pararoos, as well as the Head Coach of Football at Knox Kai currently holds an UEFA B and FFA A License and has been to 3 IFCPF (International Federation of Cerebal Palsy Football) World Cups. In his two years as Head Coach of the Football NSW State team (U16 & U14), Kai has helped shape the careers of numerous Socceroos, A-League and players currently plying their trade overseas. Having personally dealt with numerous challenges as a player, including performance pressures, injury, and selection policies, Kai has experienced both the highs and lows of professional sport. Ellie Manou Ellie attended the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where she also played in the WNBL while still at school. Upon completing her schooling, Ellie moved to the United States to play college basketball for the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA. Ellie returned to Australia in 2009 to play in the WNBL with the (2009/10 and 2012/13), (2010/11) and Fire (2011/12). Ellie is the Director of Basketball at Knox and also has a Degree in Psychology. Ellie’s experience competing at the professional level while still at school will be vital in ensuring PEAK students effectively balance work, school and extra-curricular activities.

Anthony Stuart Anthony is a former Australian representative cricketer who played state level cricket for both NSW and ACT. As a Cricket Australia Level III coach he is currently the Head Coach of the Cricket program at Knox Grammar School. Anthony has held previous coaching roles in New Zealand with NZ 'A' and Cricket Wellington as well as High-Performance roles at Cricket NSW across both the Men's and Youth Programs. Having been an elite player and coach since the mid-1990s, Anthony has extensive experience in mentoring athletes to achieve at high- performing level as well as understanding the personal attributes required from an athlete entering a professional sporting environment. Matt Dinham (Australian U19 XCO Team Member and 7th at the 2017 UCI Cross-Country World Championships , 2nd U19 Overall Australian XCO Series "The staff at Knox Grammar School have always been accommodating with my study, sport and travel commitments, whether it be competing domestically in the Mountain Bike National Series and various road cycling races, or the host of international events that I have attended throughout my schooling. I have been able to manage my assessment schedule with the support of the Director of Studies and I have gained valuable experience from training and competing in the school mountain bike program. I feel that I have been given the opportunity to simultaneously succeed in both academic and sporting pursuits during my time at Knox."

Braeden Campbell (OKG19), Sydney Swans “The PEAK program broadened my knowledge about the importance of preparation before games and how it can positively influence my performance. There was a lot of work on resilience, mindfulness and reflection that I was able to add to my repertoire. More than anything, PEAK helped me to achieve balance in my final years at Knox in terms of managing my studies, training and travel associated with my sport.”

Nick Frost (OKG17), Australian Schoolboys Rugby, Canterbury Crusaders and ACT Brumbies "Knox gifted me with the opportunity to develop my sport under world class coaching and facilities. The off-field support that I received was second to none, whether that was from coaches, strength and conditioning staff or sports mentors, they all combined to provide a platform for young athletes to excel at a high level. The environment and culture that Knox possesses truly provided me with the tools for me to be the best I can be."

CRICOS Provider Code: 00399E, published 3/3/21

Knox Grammar School | [email protected] | www.knox.nsw.edu.au | Sydney, Australia A Uniting Church day school for boys K-12 with boarding in Years 7-12