Athlete Categorisation
A key element of Australia’s High Performance strategy is to identify our high-potential athletes and ensure they receive the right support, at the right time on their pathway to podium.
Athlete Categorisation is a process by which the Australian High-Performance System identifies, tracks, and prioritises talented athletes with the capability of delivering high performance outcomes now and into the future.
The Athlete Categorisation Guidelines have been developed in conjunction with the Australian Institute of Sport and Equestrian Australia, with the aim of:
- Identifying the athletes with the greatest potential to medal at Senior Benchmark and Pinnacle Competitions such as the Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships; and
- Informing the prioritisation of investment and support across the system to these athletes
As an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) supported National Sporting Organisation (NSO), Equestrian Australia aligns to the National Strategy and relevant Frameworks.
EA High Performance follows a National Athlete Categorisation Framework (NACF) developed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). This framework categorises athletes across five stages, from Emerging to Podium, based on their current performance and future potential.
- Sport specific evidence-based metrics are used to assess an athlete’s current performance in combination with an objective and subjective assessment of the athlete’s headroom.
- Performance trends are included in the assessment for athletes considered for Podium Ready and Podium.
- Headroom refers to the support, resources and education that an athlete has had access to and has contributed to their development to date, and their potential to improve performances in the future.
By combining these factors EA High Performance can determine an athlete's potential and map out their development trajectory.
To inform the Equestrian-specific nominations to the athlete categories Equestrian Australia has developed an Equestrian Specific Athlete Categorisation matrix.
Equestrian Australia’s High Performance Athlete Categorisation Panel reviews athlete nominations once per year, at the conclusion of the annual domestic and international competition season, and uses the outcome of the categorisation process to:
- Nominate athletes to the AIS’s Athlete Categories.
- Inform recommendations made to the National Institute Network (NIN) regarding the provision of support and scholarships.
- Prioritise services from the AIS, NIN, and Equestrian Australia (noting that the provision of services is subject to available resource and being categorised does not automatically entitle the athlete to receive support from the AIS and/or NIN).
You can find Equestrian Australia's Athlete Categorisation Guidelines here:
