JUNIOR ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

Developing long term athletes - laying the foundations for future success.

Learning key movement patterns correctly from the beginning is a pivotal step in junior athlete success that carries through to their senior sporting career. At RAD, our Junior Athlete Development program prioritise long term athlete development through nailing fundamental movement patterns prior to progressing along a competency continuum. Our approach ensures that your child has the foundations to build upon throughout their entire career, rather than pushing immediate development which may prove detrimental down the track. Our highly trained coaches provide your child with individualised programming to suit their needs and stage of development, alongside educational coaching which provides the ‘why’ behind the exercises.

These sessions are aimed at athletes between the age of 13 and 18.

Whats included?

Fully individualised strength and conditioning program
All of your performance testing
Unlimited coaching
Unlimited access to our recovery systems
On field running sessions
Discounted rates for Sports Dietitian and Physiotherapy

Why choose us?

Our high performance training facility – has got everything that you need to assist your performance, with all of the latest technology – from our force plates, blood flow restriction cuffs, muscle stimulators, recovery compression boots, nutrition bar etc….
24/7 support from our team – whenever you have a question in regards to your training
Through our performance testing and reporting systems we identify your strengths and weaknesses to then build out your individualised strength and conditioning program to help prepare you for your sport
Your individualised program will then be built out seamlessly around your weekly schedule. No matter how busy sport (and life) is, we make it easy for you to look after yourself. Strength training, speed training, recovery sessions… you name it we will design the right solution for you.
Training in our small group environment means you feel a part of a team and don’t have to train along as well as being supervised by some of the most knowledgeable and experienced coaches in the region, all having worked in elite sport
If you ever get a niggle or need extra maintenance all our athletes get supported with discounted rates to our Physiotherapist and Dietitian.
We have helped athletes at all levels improve their athleticism, and in turn improving their performance in competition

The ultimate solution to improve your athleticism and improve your sporting performance = $55 per week

"As a parent you want to know that your child is in good hands. My son started with RAD about 3 years ago to help with a niggling lower back issue. The team at RAD have worked with him to eliminate this issue with strength and conditioning and and also worked closely with his physio to recover after a broken collar bone. RAD have played a huge part in rounding his athletic development resulting in an Australian Championship gold medal." (Jesse's mum Linda)

Jesse NortonCycling

"What an amazing success story we have been so fortunate to be a part of ... our 3 children have all been involved with RAD, starting back in the little garage days. All 3 have gained strength, conditioning and improvement from individual programs always made to suit their needs and injuries. Chris and his dedicated team always go above and beyond to get them back out playing sport at their optimum level." - Felicity (Lily, Jack & Hugh's mother)

Hugh BondRowing / Basketball

"After starting with the team at RAD through the Rebels program I noticed a real improvement in my strength around the contest and the power I felt through my legs. They also helped me prepare for the AFL combine and fast tracked my rehab after sustaining a foot injury leading up to the draft. I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today without the help of the awesome RAD team (and Jimmy of course)."

Sophie MolanAFLW

"Training at RAD has improved my running immensely. Their strength and conditioning work has helped take me to the next level. They have helped with a specific strength plan for a mountainous ultra marathon as well as explosive power for the track season. Their knowledge and skills gives me confidence I am doing everything possible to fulfil my potential as an athlete."

Julian SpenceMarathon Runner (AUS)

"I love training at RAD, and my body is feeling the best it has in a long time thanks to the help of their coaching and programming. The facility is unreal and the coaches are all super knowledgeable and help to get the most out of me. I am certainly feeling super confident with my body leading into the WNBL season."

Abigail WehrungBasketball (WNBL)

"There is no way I would be where I am now without the help of the RAD team. After I tore my ACL for the second time, I got in touch with the team and straight away we got stuck into a plan to physically and mentally prepare me to get back every day tasks, and then ticking off the goal of completing a triathlon. I could not recommend RAD highly enough either for injury rehab or performance!"

Alex RossACL reconstruction

"Since beginning training with RAD, I have seen a significant increase in my strength as well as a decrease in injuries and annoying niggles. Without the structured program and coaching from RAD I don't think my body would have been able to endure the training and racing regime I put my body through.These results are a real testament to the RAD team and I look forward to working with them into the future."

Liam WhiteCyclist

"I love coming in to train with the team at the RAD centre. The staff have been so accommodating to my strength and conditioning needs and are well versed in injury management having been able to assist with any niggles or injuries I may have. Since starting with RAD I have become increasingly confident in my body and physicality whilst playing football and thoroughly enjoy coming in to a friendly and welcoming environment especially when Jimmy is in!!"

Sophie AlexanderAFLW

"I was pretty shattered when I missed out on getting drafted as a 19 year old but knew I had to get stronger to end up on AFL list. I turned to Radders and he was able to create a program that allowed me to not only gain strength/size but also give me the confidence that on game day I could go out there and match it physically with AFL listed players. After 24 months of training with Chris and Jimmy at the RAD Centre I was able to achieve my dream of becoming an AFL player."

Rowan MarshallAFL

"If it wasn’t for the team at RAD I wouldn’t have been able to get back to playing netball and basketball at full strength post ACL reco and having our baby boy. I highly recommend the team at RAD and am grateful for the support and encouragement they have given me."

Loren PhelpsACL Reconstruction

"I’ve been using RAD for many years and I owe a lot of my success as an athlete to Chris and the team. Most recently in 2019 I had a serious ankle injury. With the help of RAD I was able to rehabilitate successfully to return to win a premiership. I look forward to working with the great team at RAD Centre again into the future.”

James LukichAnkle Syndesmosis

"I have been training with RAD since 2017, and I fully credit them with not only getting me back to netball, but performing better than ever before. After 2 ACL recos, in a short amount of time, it was a long road back but I was fully supported every step of the way. Each session is individualised to my needs, and even though I am back to sport, I will continue to train for as long as my body will allow me! The knowledge that all of the coaches have is unbelievable, and I wouldn’t have trusted anyone in this process! I love the atmosphere, and look forward to every session!"

Courtney McCawACL reconstruction

Phone: 0428 109 400

Email: info@radcentre.com.au

5/209 Gillies Street North Wendouree 3355

As professionalism in sport continues to grow in Australia, greater demands flow through to youth athletes in order to raise the standard and produce ready-made stars upon entering the elite sporting arena. While it is fantastic to see continually rising expertise and commitment by both coaches and athletes in this space, sometimes the boundaries are pushed too far in order to progress the athlete for success in the immediate term, rather than a long-term vision of what the athlete wants to attain.

Within the weight room a prime example of this is an athlete rushing into a barbell back squat before progressing through the necessary steps to become proficient in this lift. Moving through a series of progressions to gain competency in the squat may look like this:

These progressions should correspond with athlete movement ability; being able to nail each version prior to moving through to the next, rather than on an age basis and thinking ‘they’re 16, they can back squat’. Athletes progress and develop at different ages and rates, thus applying a blanket rule in accordance with age is simply wrong.

The beautiful thing about an athlete that is yet to perform a lift is the opportunity to avoid learning a poor pattern. Using the above example, if an athlete jumps straight into a barbell back squat – a complex lift – it is likely that the athlete will adopt a technique which will see them compensate in key areas to get through, potentially involving multiple flaws. Unfortunately, if a pattern is learned it takes a lot longer to re-learn it in the appropriate manner.

If you’ve got a spare 8 minutes, this fun video demonstrates the theory perfectly:

Of additional concern is the prescription of variables such as weight, volume and tempo.Manipulating such variables may prove as a stepping stone to the next variant – i.e. attempt different tempos before moving on to the next level.

What’s missing?

The number 1 rule – have FUN! While there needs to be aspects of training which are strict, measured and difficult, adoption to training will be much greater if the athlete enjoys it, also going a long way to reduce monotony, burn out and fatigue.