Olympic Water Polo Coaching and High Performance Leadership

Tim Walsh 0449 923 279

Rugby player for Queensland Reds, Leeds Worchester for 6 years. North Humber for NZ.

Played 20 tornements for Australia.

Whilst in Europe played for Samurai international team. Throughout lifespan had

Mike Friday, Ben Ryan

Finished with reds in 2010.

Played for 2010-2012 in Italy wpatracaka in parava. 25 minutes West of Venice. I absolutely loved playing in Italy. From a personal growth aspect, struggling through the language and we were very successful,won super 10 and travelled with the eurpean cup.

The Australian team came over and worked as the analyst and assistant coach.

In Italy took a job as Assistant coach for the Australia Rugby Union. Opportunity to coach just the womens’ team and now in third season. 2013

Coaching Coordinator for both the Men;’s and women;s team. My expertise was around being a ball player. I was travellign for 6 months of the year, mens Las Vegas and Women’s team China.

Development for me, what works and what doesn’t. The sevens’ game became a more centrtalised program. It was a great challenge but also a great opportunity.

I always coached when I could. Business commerce degree. Law diploma, Courses in Switzerland. Sports Masters.

At 20, Got my coaching level1, 26 level 2 in England and level 3 in 2010 in Italy.

England for 6 years and did level 2 & 3 there.

Language coarse in Italy and about to complete my MBA. Always been studying and increase my knowledge around the business of sport. Very Fortunate.

Playing conditions are the same, with heated fields.

Gone are the days with no drainage,

Tim's Olympic preparation as a coach, his journey to this appointment

The opportunity came to step up to be head coach of the women’s team. It wasn’t a huge change but it enabled me to really focus on one team, take ownership and mould the team to where I wanted them to go.

I love the fact that I can shape and grow the team. When I took over as head coach, wthey finished 7th in world series and 5th in the world cup in Moscow.

Taking over, we had a flush out of players to quickly change the culture. We developed a focused strategy around recruitment. Gave the girls some policies and structures around play and behaviour.

The first tournament in dubai, 3rd in San Paolo,

Folowing year finished 3rd and am now first.

If you look at our ranking and form, then we are a massive chance in RIO. The Olympics have been a compete unknown for all teams. Who can peak and maintain focus. If we perform at our best, then I believe we can win it.

June to November both Mens & Women’s coach – Andy Friend has come back from Japan as full time mens head coach. Scott bowen

His strategies for coaching at an elite level with gold medals in sight

Working towards Olympic medals means you cannot maintain peak performance. We have to have specific down times and a focused season plan. What tournaments we are targeting and there may be some games where we know that we are not at our physical best.

How to get the best out of the team and practical tips for keeping focus throughout the lead up

Two months ago we hosted an Olympic family day. Anyone was close to the players was invited, with the aim to help them

Water Polo & .. Fox. And what they did differently in the second Olympics. And from her mum, how she helped and what.

Also got a sports psychologist in the program to work on any .

AIS have been very supportive. Water Polo, Hockey, Netball, Basketball, and talk about Adam Comens,

Happy to include any suggestions that may be relevant from Tim's unique perspective

Rod McQueen every so often.

Mark Friday

Brad Buddy – All back Wingers.

Peter Grieg. – Enthusiasm and passion.

Training Courses – Psych coaches, 7s t o 15s. Ewin McKenzie ran it as a business to incorporate the tactical, negotiations, and the way he ran his operation.

I guess, lately, David Nucifora played for Queensland and Australia. He ran the

And once he left, he still ended up being a consultant for the women’s team. Michael O’Conner. He coached me and then working with him as the manager of team 2002. Then I was the coaching coordinator for him, then .

It would be naive to think that the pressure is the same. The is a catalyst to attract such sensational athletes. And embrace that and enjoy the pressure.

Three years ago I wrote down the criteria to win the Olympic medal. LIST.

Squad Size, Skills Matrix,

Developing that to where we are today. Adjusting it to where it needs to be. Keeping those players highly motivated and challenged. Getting the best comes from being creative and is hard work. Lots of identity building that we work by every year.

Process driven, performance based team. Setting the goals, then reaching them and adjusting them onto another goal.

Peak performance

Looking back at the list I created 3 years ago, injuries happen and will put a dent in the plans, but size of squad has allowed.

Balancing the squad. Balancing the game, 5 tournaments.

Really please from my point of view and that my initial predictions were pretty close to what we have achieved.

We are always

Team Identity is built around the culture and drives behaviour. We always turn back to the vision statement. Everyone has the vision statement in their wallet that they carry around. There is a shortened version that they developed which is tagged on the bottom of emails and up in front in the locker room. It is everywhere and helps permeate their lives.

Two years ago we had yearly themes. First year was about platform and establishment.

Second year was about growth and leadership. 18-19 year olds. Leading on the field and off the way that women’s 7s is played

Third year is dominance and Destiny. This

For culture and environment. Creating the environment to allow individuals to perform as they peak. I see myself as a transformational but also a servant leader. I create the opportunity for them to excel.

Creating something they can own, where they can express themselves and perform.

I went to the Commonwealth Games as a player but this will be my first games. Staying in the village and our tournament is day 1,2, 3 and then coaches fly home. We won’t go to the opening ceremony, which was an easy decision. Back to our vision.

Straight into it.

Very fortunate to have it so early. I will back for my boys 2nd birthday. My job will be done a couple of days before they even start.