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Ahead of this month’s Commonwealth Games, new state-of-the-art video technology from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is helping to give coaches and athletes real-time feedback as they train.

The AIS Video Optimisation Grants program, supported by the Australian Government and in partnership with Australian company Fulcrum Technology has so far allocated a total of $1.17million worth of multi-camera video training systems across 28 high performance training centres spread across every Australian state and territory, including: Perth Hockey Stadium, WA; Squash Australia’s High Performance Training Centre on the Gold Coast, Queensland; Surfing Australia’s High Performance Training Centre in Tweed Heads, NSW; the National Snowsports Training Centre in Jindabyne, NSW; and the Combat Institute of Australia in Melbourne.

Days after inspecting Hockey Australia’s new video technology at a training session with the Kookaburras in Perth, Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Kieren Perkins met with members of Squash Australia’s Commonwealth Games squad on the Gold Coast, ahead of the team’s departure for Birmingham.

Perkins advised “this is world-class technology delivered simply. It’s one thing for a coach to try and explain something to an athlete, but it’s an entirely different ball-game when you can show training vision on a phone or tablet within seconds of it happening. That immediate visual feedback and coaching analysis is where learning and development can really be fast-tracked.

“The data that sports collate from this technology will also have an ongoing impact, providing a library of training vision for deeper analysis and potential advances in artificial intelligence This is a wonderful story of Australian innovation and collaboration, with Government, sport and technology combining to give our athletes the best chance of reaching their potential.”

AIS Director Matti Clements said enhanced technology for coaching and facilities around the country would boost athlete development in a defining era for Australian sport.

“This investment makes world-class video technology more accessible to coaches and developing athletes right around the country and will help to super-charge their development for future success,” Clements said.

“As this technology continues to be installed, it will have long-lasting impact for Australian athletes, including those aspiring to compete at events such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.”

The cameras installed at the Squash Australia National Training Centre on the Gold Coast, Qld, covers all three courts, allowing the coaching staff to hold real-time and detailed debriefs with their athletes in the dedicated strength and conditioning space set-up with assistance from the AIS Small NSO Infrastructure Grant Program.

20-year old Commonwealth Games debutant Alexandra Haydon, who relocated to Squash Australia’s National Performance Centre in 2020 shared “having access to this technology in my home training environment means I can get instant visual feedback on the changes my coach and I are working on every session.”  

Hockey Australia is in the process of developing a nationwide network using the AIS Video Optimisation Grants program. The camera installation was recently completed at Perth Hockey Stadium, with similar setups to be soon available in the ACT, NSW, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.

Hockey Australia High Performance Director Bernard Savage notes “this technology from the AIS Video Optimisation Grants program means our players will have access to top level coaching no matter where they are around the country.

“The past few years and the pandemic has taught us how important it is to have a backup plan and the real-time training feedback will not only help our current Kookaburra and Hockeyroo players, but also our stars of the future.”

Following a record four medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the technology is being installed at two new winter training facilities - the Geoff Henke Water Ramp in Brisbane, Queensland, and Toppa's Dream at Perisher, NSW. Australian athletes will also benefit from a portable system that will be deployed overseas.

Australian Moguls Team coach and NSW Institute of Sport senior coordinator of Winter Sports, Peter Topalovic adds “this technology provides endless opportunities for our best performing disciplines to use the same video technology for years to come. It’s very exciting times for winter sports.”

The AIS Video Optimisation Grants program installation is in process across the country. For a full list of projects, see below.

AIS Video Optimisation Grants program recipients:

• AusCycling BMX Park at Metricon, QLD
• Diving Australia: Brisbane Aquatic Centre, QLD and Sydney Quay Centre Diving, NSW
• Fencing, National Training Centre, Sydney, NSW
• Golf, Australian Golf Centre, Melbourne, VIC
• Gymnastics Australia, AIS campus, ACT
• Hockey Australia, six venues across Australia including WA, NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, NT
• Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, Geoff Henke Water Ramp, Brisbane, QLD
• Paddle, Penrith Whitewater Stadium, NSW
• Shooting Australia National Centre of Excellence, Wingfield Range SA, Brisbane International Shooting Complex, QLD
• Skate Australia, Portable systems for Street Program QLD, Park Program NSW
• Snow Australia, Toppa's Dream (Perisher), NSW
• Squash Australia National Training Centre, Gold Coast, QLD
• Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, Tweed Heads, QLD
• Swimming Australia: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD, Victorian Institute of Sport, South Australian Sports Institute
• Taekwondo/Judo: Combat Institute of Australia, Melbourne, VIC
• Volleyball Australia Brisbane National Training Centre Brisbane, QLD
• Water Polo Australia, Portable System

Images: AIS Video Optimisation Grant. Kieren Perkins with Kookaburras team

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