Categorisation

Athlete Categorisation is a system used to identify, track, and prioritise talented athletes with the goal of building strong Australian Cycling Teams that consistently win medals at major international events. These events include the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.

How Does Categorisation Work?

At AusCycling, we follow a National Categorisation Framework developed by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). This framework categorises athletes across five stages, from Emerging to Podium, based on their current performance and future potential.

Current Performance: This is assessed using evidence-based metrics specific to each cycling discipline.
Headroom: This refers to an athlete's potential for future improvement, considering factors like access to support, resources, and education.
Performance Trends: For athletes aiming for Podium Ready or Podium categories, their improvement over time is also evaluated.

By combining these factors, AusCycling can determine an athlete's potential and map out their development trajectory.

The Categorisation Framework

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) provides a National Performance Pathway Categorisation table that serves as a foundation for all National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) to develop their own sport-specific frameworks. This framework categorizes athletes across five stages, from Emerging to Podium, with the ultimate goal of propelling them towards podium finishes in Olympic and Paralympic disciplines

Podium - Olympic and Paralympic Pathway

Athletes have won a medal at an Olympic or Paralympic Games, World Championships or agreed event in the previous 24 months and must be assessed against the sport-specific matrix as being capable to win a medal at the next Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Podium Ready - Olympic and Paralympic Pathway

Athletes have placed 4^th to 8^th at the most recent Olympic or Paralympic Games, World Championships or, by exception, an agreed equivalent alternative (i.e. an objective, data-verified performance or World Ranking) and must be assessed against the sport-specific matrix as being capable to progress to Podium level, targeting a medal at the next Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Podium Potential

Athletes will have achieved agreed performance benchmarks which, alongside international competition performances, reliably indicate their future potential for podium success.

Athletes must be assessed against the sport-specific matrix as being capable to progress to Podium level within the agreed sport-specific matrix timeframes.

Developing

Athletes have progressed through a reliable national talent confirmation phase and placed within a dedicated national development program.

Athletes must be assessed against the sport-specific matrix as being capable to progress to Podium Potential level within the agreed sport-specific matrix timeframes.

Emerging

Athletes have been identified by an NSO via a valid and reliable identification profiling method (agreed in advanced and with future podium potential characteristics identified; and are going through a set, time-limited talent confirmation period.

How to Get Categorised

Athletes who aren't currently part of a High Performance Network (HPN) program can apply for Emerging or Developing categorisation by contacting the HPN Coach at their State Sporting Institute (SSI).

Before contacting a coach, it's important to:

Review the performance standards in the AusCycling Categorisation and Performance Standards document (refer to Appendices for details).
Be aware that only athletes meeting these standards will be considered by HPN Coaches.

Categorisation Review Timeframes:

Emerging and Developing: Reviewed annually in April/May.
Podium Potential and Podium: Reviewed annually in October/November.

Categorisation Submission Process

Step 1: Submissions

Emerging and Developing (April/May)

Athletes or their Coaches directly contact a High Performance Network (HPN) Coach to express their interest in being categorised.

The HPN Coach then nominates both new and existing athletes for consideration and prepares all necessary data for consideration.

Podium Potential and Podium (October/November)

The HPN Coach initiates discussions with the National Coach regarding potential athletes for these categories.

The National Coach nominates new and existing and AusCycling Performance Scientists prepare data and results for all nominated athletes.

Step 2: Categorisation Panel Assessment

The categorisation panel evaluates each nominated athlete based on a comprehensive set of criteria.

- Headroom Scores (Emerging and Developing only)
- Performance Trends based on test and race results (primary data)
- Physiological Data (secondary data)
- Exceptional Circumstances (if required)

Step 2: Categorisation Decision Communication

Once the categorisation panel has made its recommendations, these are submitted to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) for final approval. The ASC will confirm or decline the categorisation recommendations.

Once an outcome has been decision, the High Performance Network is notified of the final categorisations and athletes will be informed of their categorisation status in writing.

Public announcements about athlete categorisations may be made.