Program Summary

Program Season: February to October
Age Group: 14-18 Years of Age
Gender: Male and Female

Current Program Status:
2024-2025 Program now Underway

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport implements high performance programs for talented young athletes from South West Sydney across a number of sports. The Academy implements a BMX program in association with the local clubs, and is provided by high performance coaching staff.

The BMX program, supported by Bounce Back Physiotherapy, is a development and high-performance program for talent identified Athletes from the South Western Sydney region.

This program is targeted for athletes seeking to progress their individual skill through training and performance opportunities within a supportive team environment, to progress through the high performance BMX pathways to participate, and place, in State and/or National competitions.

Program Objectives

Create an environment where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through their sports Athlete high Performance Pathway.

Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.

Provide fundamental individual skill development sessions within a squad/racing team environment.

Compliment athletes local Club participation and encourage athletes to be leaders within those local Club environments.

Prepare athletes for High Performance BMX pathways, including State and/or National Championships and representation. 

Prepare athletes to move towards pro classes. 

Athlete Benefits

The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within a squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.

A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport BMX program mirrors the Academy program structure of sports conducted by fellow Regional Academies, and as such is designed to introduce athletes to the AusCycling State and National high performance pathways. And include training in the various elements and racing skills required to perform BMX at a high level.  

Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of athletes, and may include overnight camps and/or intra-state track visits scheduled in conjunction with fellow Regional Academy of Sport BMX programs, and/or regional high performance programs in preparation for the NSW State Championships.

Training and Performance Opportunities

• The Academy will conduct regular on-track training and education sessions that will include individual and squad based skill development training between February and September. 
  • A focus on team dynamics and both individual and team tactical racing development will take place towards the latter part of the program in the lead up to NSW State, and National Championship events.

• Additional Academy education sessions and off-track development may also take place each year. Athletes will attend the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, generally held in late July during mid-year of their program. 

• The timing of training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible, however may include education sessions attached to local club races or events, such as the Macarthur BMX Clubbies, or Come and Try days. 

• Selected athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, which may include access to a supervised gym program throughout the scholarship period. 

• Athletes will be required to undertake concussion baseline and/or follow-up assessment tests as a part of the program. 

• Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy may conduct development camps / races with other Regional Academy or high performance programs, or attend regional club races as a squad, throughout the program. 

• Training sessions will take place primarily at the Macarthur BMX track in Elderslie. Additional training sessions, including day and/or overnight camps may be conducted to include track rides at targeted tracks throughout NSW.  A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the XPS Network online communication tool. 

Squad and Support Staff

2025 Bounce Back Physiotherapy BMX Coaching Staff

Program Coordinator: Cara Wilde
Program Coordinator: Dan Morris

2025 Bounce Back Physiotherapy BMX Squad

Athlete Eligibility

• Athletes must be between 14 and 18 years of age as of 31 December 2025. 
  • ie born 2007 - 2011
• Athletes must be a registered member of an AusCycling accredited BMX and/or Cycling Club.
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a BMX Racing club within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

In addition;

• Athletes should be racing at a level to allow them to enter and participate in selected events listed on the NSW State Championships Calendar. 
• Athletes should be participating in regular meets at their local BMX association or club series races. 

Selection Process

What to Expect:

The BMX squad is selected based on information provided by the athlete during the nomination process, as well as attend a trial, in the form of an on-track skills assessment. 

This skills assessment includes demonstrating various scenarios and skills within BMX racing, such as start procedures, safety, goals and racing experience. This assessment may take place individually, or alongside other nominees. 

There is no required "pass mark" for this assessment, however information gained by coaching staff is used to gauge an understanding of the athlete's current skill level and potential. 

Additional information on an athlete's suitability for the program may be sought in consultation with their individual skills coach, if available. 

Selection Process:

• Athletes must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date. 
• Athletes must attend at all trial dates. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption. 
• Prospective athletes Parents must attend an Academy Information session, which will take place at the same time as one of the trials. This will be identified on the Nomination Page and communicated to parents by the email provided in the nomination form when confirming the trials information. 

• The Academy may select up to 16 athletes from the 14-18yr age group.
• The Academy will select athletes to train and develop as a squad, and not as individuals. 
• Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process. 
• Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial.  

Athlete Scholarship Levy

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission; 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Education and Support Services including online access to programs / XPS network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

• All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store. 
• New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90. 
• New athletes will be provided a discount code to purchase an Academy tracksuit following receipt of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy. 
• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
• Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour. 
• Tournaments held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless financial hardship or payment plan arrangements have been made with the CEO.