VIS Head Diving Coach Harriet Jones was one of three development coaches to travel with the Australian Diving Team to the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka.

The experience was offered to Jones along with fellow development coaches Emma Lynch and Amber Cameron. It was initiated by Diving Australia (DA) with a view to providing emerging coaches  with opportunities for professional growth through exposure to international competition and world class coaching staff in the form of DA's head coaches.

The experience was an eye-opener for Jones and she returned from Japan with enthusiasm to implement her key learnings.

“One of my biggest highlights from this experience was having the opportunity to see what the world’s best look like, physically, technically, and mentally,” Jones said. 

“Having that valuable information has helped me know what world class really is and work out where my athletes match against that. Now, I must continue to explore how I can make a difference and encourage my athletes to slowly make improvements every single day,” she said.

Debriefing with DA’s head coaches also proved insightful and was encouraged by DA head coaching staff. In one exercise, Jones critiqued the Women’s 10-Metre Platform competition with National Coach (Melbourne) Mat Helm.

“We sat together and discussed our technical coaching eye,” Jones explained.

“In Round 1, I provided feedback as to what technical error I was seeing in each dive. Round 2 – same as above but from Mat’s point of view. Round 3 – I highlighted what technical error I saw and how I would try to fix it. Round 4 – same as above from Mat’s point of view. Round 5 – I highlighted what technical error I saw and pretended to provide feedback to the athlete.

“This allowed me to compare my technical eye to Mat’s and allowed for lots of technical discussion,” she said.

Simple daily routines of travelling to and from the venue also proved to be a learning opportunity.  

“It was great to share the bus journey with a national coach and ask questions about diving techniques I had seen that day,” Jones said. 

“During competitions and training I regularly asked the coaches I was with what they were seeing and was listening intently to their coaching feedback,” she said.

There was also the opportunity to develop working relationships with her development coach peers.

“To know we have gone through the same experience, we can lean on each other and dig deeper into what we have learnt. I feel very grateful to have not only had this opportunity, but to feel very supported by my two coaching peers,” Jones said.

Harriet’s Highlights

1. Men’s 10-M Platform Final! Cassiel Rousseau is WORLD CHAMPION! Witnessing everything unfold from a poolside perspective was magical. Seeing the whole world support Cass, all countries challenging the judges, and an electric team AUS atmosphere.

2. Feeling incredibly valued as a team member by staff, coaches, and athletes. Being included in discussions that are making future decisions about our sport.

3. Feeling comfortable at the event and believing that I could do this!  

4. The opportunity to be a sponge for knowledge and to check and challenge each other (having honest discussions and healthy debate).

5. The opportunity to observe other countries, see what they are doing, what they prioritise, and build my knowledge on what the best looks like!