FIG Academy Program – Licence and Academy Staff

Relevant to: ALL coaches Advanced Level and above plus Club administrators and managers. This article gives some insight into what is required to gain the FIG Academy Licence, which is the course used for the requirements of an Advanced Silver Coach Accreditation and introduces the community to the Australian experts who deliver the academy program.
      

About the Academy Programs and Licence

A FIG Level 2 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Academy Program was delivered at the Australian Institute of Sport this week by Gymnastics Australia, utilising for the first time the licence which was granted by FIG in December 2015. Australia is the second country after South Africa (the pilot country) to be granted a FIG license for the delivery of Level 1 and 2 programs. The FIG licence is granted to a country who can successfully demonstrate capacity to deliver the FIG program using local experts for course delivery. Following the FIG 2 Academy Program for Women’s and Men’s Artistic Gymnastics and Acrobatics in December, the licence was awarded for these three Gymsports. It is hoped that the licence for Aerobics, Rhythmic and Trampoline will be gained later in the year. 

To gain the licence Gymnastics Australia, and in particular the Industry Training and Accreditation Team must ensure the highest calibre of course presenters, top of the range facilities and outstanding administrative and course coordination skills. Undoubtedly it is the wealth of academic and technical expertise in the gymnastics community which sets Australia apart. The high results in the December FIG 2 Academy Program were a direct result of the calibre of course presenter.  

Hardy Fink the Director of FIG Education and Academy Programs was quoted as saying; “the examination results for the participants averaged the highest of any previous Academy.”

To find out more about the December MAG, WAG and ACR FIG Academy open the article on the FIG website.

Australian FIG Academy Presenters

Australian FIG academy Presenters who delivered the FIG 2 courses in December 2015 and January 2016 are listed below. Head to the webpage to read the presenter profiles.

Men’s Artistic Gymnastics
• Sergeui Chinkar – Head Coach NCE Canberra 
• John Curtin – GA High Performance Manager for Men’s Gymnastics & NCE Program Manager
• Vladimir Vatkin – Head Coach NCE Canberra
• Sean Wilson – Queensland High Performance Centre Head Coach

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
• Michelle De Highden – Education Manager Gymnastics Australia 
• Tim Lees – Director Myoskills Sports Consultancy, deliverer of multiple MAG and WAG FIG Academy programs worldwide
• Peggy Liddick – WAG National Coach
• Jo Richards – National Pathways Manager
• Stacey Umeh –Coach and choreographer WAIS, Australian Women’s National Team Choreographer and Dance Skills 

Acrobatic Gymnastics 
• Yuriy Stepchenkov – Head Acrobatics Coach Robertson Gymnastics Academy, 2002-2004 National Australian Coach

Theoretical content
One third of academy courses contain theoretical content, with an emphasis on scientific medical knowledge that underpins the course. Gymnastics Australia is able to capitalise on the knowledge of staff for the delivery of the theoretical components.
• Phil Cossens – GA Performance Services Coordinator and Australian Men’s National Team physiotherapist 
• Michelle De Highden – Education Manager Gymnastics Australia
• Dee Jennings – Performance Manager WAG NCE Melbourne, Strength and Conditioning Master Coach
• Tim Lees – Director Myoskills Sports Consultancy, deliverer of multiple MAG and WAG FIG Academy programs worldwide
• Peggy Liddick – National Coach
• Jo Richards – National Pathways Manager