Coach Profile

Recently Coach Ryan Bidner sat down with Bianca Ratje for Athletics Australia to discuss his approach to coaching.

What inspired you to become an athletics coach and how has your personal journey in the sport shaped your coaching style and philosophy? 

I think I’ve always been coaching, even since I was in primary school. At lunch time I would borrow equipment from the sports shed to organise and play games with younger students with high participation. In year 7 I was surprised to break the school 800m record because I mostly played futsal, taekwondo, and swimming at the time — but never athletics unfortunately! 

Throughout high school I progressed in Cross Country, finally making it to the nationals in year 12, only to fly across Australia and trip over the first hay bale and was immediately left in the dust. But I still finished the 8km course! Afterward, I took a double gap year while competing for QEII Track Club in the Queensland Athletics club meet series and also became an accredited athletics coach. My philosophy has always been to make athletics as accessible for everyone as possible, and I try to be the coach that I would like to have guided me in my early years. 

What brings you the most enjoyment or satisfaction from athletics coaching and tell us about a specific moment in your coaching journey that brings you the most joy. 

Having fun is central to coaching, especially when working with kids. Getting the most out of your athletes requires the coach to enjoy the session just as much as they do. I try to plan for both their enjoyment and my own to foster a high energy environment. Second, I ask my athletes how they would like to modify certain activities; this allows them to take ownership and have some autonomy in sport. 9 times out of 10, I hear the same ideas, but every so often someone suggests something novel and brilliant. There is satisfaction in hearing those creative sparks of imagination that I think helps to expand upon the rules of athletics

In 2017 and again in 2018, I had the chance to visit Far North Queensland and work alongside some really great coaches. We delivered athletics programs to regional and rural communities, including a Nitro Athletics community competition. It’s truly rewarding to bring joy to people residing outside major cities who might not have access otherwise. It was terrific to see the setup of an athletics club in the years that followed.

In your experience, what makes a great track and field athlete, and what are the common traits that you have observed in your athletes?

A Willingness to try, to have a go at different events, and being able to challenge oneself. Having the tenacity toward a pursuit of progress rather than perfection. Being generally engaged, watching athletics at home, and being a student of the sport. Overall I think these are healthy traits to have, although there are certainly many others in addition to leaning on one’s unique attributes

Among the athletes I coach, an active lifestyle and a history of playing many sports is key. You can always spot the football players and gymnasts who in addition to being more physically developed, are also mentally attuned. There are some athletes who have a very competitive spirit and are willing to race anybody. Naturally you can’t win everything all the time, so I make a point of congratulating them on their effort and offering a fist bump to each competitor. Meanwhile everybody else cheers on the performance which makes it fun and demonstrates sportsmanship.

Do you work with any other coaches or have a support network? 

Day to day, I don’t typically work with other coaches directly. However If I pick three people from within my local community who have similar interests, unique expertise and are coaching a slightly different audience, I would choose (in chronological order) Brian Chapman, Sharon Dale, and Andre Sinclair because they can answer a wide variety of questions. There are also many teachers I have been taught by or worked with who may not be accredited coaches, but have certainly been influential over the years. 

Tell us a little about who and where you coach. Are you taking on new athletes, and how should they contact you? 

My focus has been on the grassroots side of athletics, so I try to visit different areas to introduce potential athletes to the sport. Throughout the year I offer short duration programs to the general public in what I call, “At the Park: Athletics” which is oriented toward families who can’t necessarily commit to Little A’s year round, or regular club training. These sessions take place in local parks in Brisbane and target a specific aspect of athletics such as fitness for Cross Country, learning the Shot Put technique, or how to use starting blocks. 

In addition, I offer private group or one-to-one coaching at Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) on the Brisbane south side, and its surroundings. New athletes are always welcome, whether they are complete beginners, experienced athletes looking for a different perspective, or athletes who are returning to the sport. I’m open to coaching people from different backgrounds including anyone living with an impairment or disability. 

I also work extensively in Brisbane schools. Teachers may request me via their Sporting Schools booking page or reach out to me directly. Clubs and other organisations or coaches are welcome to get in touch with me as well.

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What do you hope is next for your coaching journey? 

Long term I hope to continue developing myself as a coach. To that end, I’d like to reach and develop more athletes in addition to collaborating further with other coaches and exercise professionals. In the medium term I’d like to create a blog, more as a means of codifying my own knowledge, so I can discover less-explored areas of interest and learn new skills.

And in the short term, I’m actively working on developing new athletics experiences for all ages and abilities. It’s a mature sport founded on performance, and I believe we could do more on the side of mass participation. I think there is an intersection between running a marathon and the novelty of Nitro Athletics.