Will Scott to Lead the Southern High Performance Training Centre

Will Scott has today been unveiled as the head coach of the new Southern High Performance Training Centre (SHPTC).

As the head coach of the Rockingham Swimming Club, Scott has successfully led local athletes Tommy Sucipto and Holly Barratt onto Australian representative teams, whilst developing a strong core of emerging athletes at the underpinning level.

His appointment comes after Swimming WA, in partnership with the Western Australian Institute of Sport and Swimming Australia Limited (SAL), announced in January that a third High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) would be established in the southern metropolitan region of Perth.

The SHPTC will be based out of Aqua Jetty in Rockingham and at the new Cockburn Aquatic & Recreation Centre, providing talented athletes with access to elite training facilities and coaching.

Rockingham and South Lake Dolphins swimming clubs will both be instrumental in their support of the Centre, which will be open to athletes from throughout the region and has the aim of developing Olympic champions.

Scott said he is confident that the talent exists within the catchment area and is looking forward to working in the High Performance Training Centre model.

“Since 2013 I’ve helped create a club program at Rockingham that resulted in swimmers winning medals at a national level and be selected on Australian junior and senior teams,” Scott said.

“The SHPTC will allow me to take the next step in my career to ensure local swimmers continue making teams and then working towards medals at international benchmark meets like World Championships and Olympic Games.

“This is our opportunity to increase the representation of WA talent on the Australian teams. In the lead up to Tokyo 2020, I will be working to ensure some of these swimmers come from the SHPTC.

“At the same time I want to work with the Swimming WA, Swimming Australia, WAIS and of course, our Clubs, to establish the structures required to create a pathway for developing athletes to ensure continued success at the international level through 2024 and beyond.”

Swimming Australia’s Executive Manager, Performance, Wayne Lomas said the expansion of a third HPTC in WA demonstrated the strength of leadership in this state.

“The direction being shown by WAIS, Swimming WA and the Department of Sport & Recreation gives us the confidence to invest significantly here,” he said.

“Will is a great coach with a wonderful future in front of him. The development of the southern HPTC in a growth corridor augurs well for both Will and for the sport at a macro level.”

In congratulating Mr. Scott on his appointment, Swimming WA CEO Darren Beazley said the collaborative approach was boosting the sport’s high performance pathway across all levels.

“The partnership between Swimming Australia, WAIS and Swimming WA is part of a national strategic framework to provide opportunities for elite athletes and coaches,” he said.

“The new SHPTC is expected to be operational by May and we look forward to working closely with Will to develop a program that will give our athletes every opportunity to excel on the international stage.”