There are over 20 full-time and part-time staff involved in NTIS operations. These professionals are organised into three sections with each section delivering highly specialised services whilst working in an integrated fashion to improve the performance of athletes. The main services and programs relating to these three sections are described in further detail as follows. High Performance Management High performance coaches recognise the benefits of various professional services used to maximise athletic performance.

The modern coach/athlete needs to effectively integrate skill, physical, mental and social components of development into a comprehensive program using experts from each specific area. At NTIS, coaches are assisted in this role with advice and leadership from professional staff experienced in skilled delivery of high performance athlete programs. NTIS Coach and Athlete Program staff have also developed a series of comprehensive strategies designed to develop, monitor and evaluate the integration of services to ensure athletes and related sport programs are continually moving forward.

These strategic development and advisory services are also available to clients of the NTIS Centre of Excellence of Coaching, Training and Research and can be adapted to suit the particular needs of overseas sporting groups and organisations.
 

• Elite
• Elite Development
• Junior Development

Elite scholarships are offered to the Territory's most outstanding athletes to enable them to realise their sporting potential.

Scholarships generally operate on a financial year basis. Currently there are almost 20 individual scholarship holders from both NTIS squad sports and other sports (Athletics, Judo, Motor Cross, Volleyball, Touch, Lawn Bowls).

The actual benefits received by an athlete are dependent on the ability of the athlete to meet the selection criteria, identified performance indicators and what funding is available. In addition to NTIS services, Individual athletes receive additional financial assistance to offset costs associated with high performance coaching, training, competition and equipment.


Performance Enhancement Services (PES)

The PES provides innovative and contemporary services accessible to coaches to improve athlete performance. The sport science, athlete welfare, sports medicine and strength and conditioning staff of the PES have both national and international experience in the preparation of athletes. They are most proficient in adapting high performance strategies used in elite programs for NT's developing elite athletes. The PES also incorporates the National Heat Training and Acclimatisation Centre and other applied sport science research and development activities.

The sport science facilities of the PES include a modern laboratory capable of all contemporary physiological assessment of athlete performance and an extensive range of field testing equipment.

The PES also operates a fully equipped weight training facility at the NTIS headquarters at Marrara. The facility has been purposefully developed so the needs of high performance athletes are accommodated.

Specifically, the major services of the PES include Physiological assessment that is both field and laboratory based. Biomechemical assessment primarily based on computer aided video assessment Strength and conditioning program development and athlete training services Talent identification of young athletes with potential Sport psychology including group and individual development for both coach and athlete Athlete Career Education and advice

Performance Enhancement Services staff provide a large number of contemporary services to coaches and athletes including physiological assessment

• Sport nutrition using specifically trained sport dieticians
• Coach education regarding strength, conditioning and sport science issues relating to athlete performance
• Coach advisory services based on scientific and medical assessment of athlete profile
• Sports medicine consultancy, treatment and screening of athletes
• Research, particularly into the effects of, and adaption to, a tropical environment with respect to training.

Athlete Career and Education (ACE)

A program of the PES that has a unique focus is the Athlete Career and Education program. It is part of a national program that operates throughout the Sports Institutes and Academies of Australia to enhance the personal development and performance of athletes by providing professional support in career, education and personal development. A range of services is available for athletes and parents of athletes to help facilitate an optimal environment for athlete development.

The National Heat Training and Acclimatisation Center: provides the facilities and expertise to enable visiting athletes to acclimatise and prepare for competition in the heat consults to external groups such as the Australian Army to minimise risks to the health and performance of persons engaged in physical activity in a tropical environment conducts research in collaboration with the NT University into the effects of heat on the body and investigates practical interventions to improve physical performance in hot conditions

Other services include Athlete conditioning services

For more information, please contact the Sports Coordinator at the NTIS on (08) 8922 6819.