CoachSG Conference 2025: Coaching the Next Leap
This conference aims to inspire coaches and sport practitioners for the next leap, to shape our sporting future by exploring the interconnected aspects of the Heart, Mind, and Craft of coaching. It fosters a progressive approach to holistically nurture future leaders and trailblazers through innovative coaching strategies, performance enhancement, and leadership development. The connective approach emphasises the parallel growth of coaches and athletes and recognises coaches' crucial roles in contributing to a thriving sporting culture.
MASTERING CRAFTS
Emphasises on continuous learning and professional development for coaches to hone their coaching craft - improving coaching methodologies, staying updated with the latest training techniques, and refining strategies for skill development in athletes.
CULTIVATING MINDS
Focuses on enhancing coaching effectiveness to create a more impactful learning environment for coaches themselves and their athletes through three areas: motivation for continuous improvement, reflective coaching, and adaptive coaching.
IGNITING HEARTS
Addresses the emotional and motivational aspects of coaching and the ways to maintain passion for the sport, to inspire athletes, and foster a positive team culture.
Programme Outline
30 July 2025
Time |
Session |
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8:30 am – 9:30 am |
Registration & Breakfast |
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9:30 am – 10:00 am |
Opening Remarks by Alan Goh, CEO, SportsSG |
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10:00 am – 11:00 am |
Keynote 1: Talent Isn’t Found – It’s Grown: The Coach’s Role in Shaping Potential by Dr Alex Roberts |
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11:00 am – 11:30 am |
Movement Break |
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Breakout Session 1 11:30 am – 12:15 pm |
Session 1A Mindset, Skill Set, Environment – and Values in High Performance Sport |
Session 1B How Sport Taught Me to Swim Through Life |
Session 1C Mindfulness – Dispelling Myths and Optimising Focus
|
Eddie Kohlhase |
Dina Levačić |
Tan Yong En |
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OCBC Lounge |
OCBC Suite |
HPSI: Mind Gym |
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Breakout Session 2 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm |
Session 2A The Power of Para-sport to enhance your coaching |
Session 2B From Hesitance to Confidence: Leveraging AI to Empower Coaches Transitioning into Disability Sport |
Session 2C Building Body Confidence and Resilience: Empowering Athletes Across Sport |
Alex Jago |
Azhar Yusof |
Chan Tin Wing |
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OCBC Lounge |
OCBC Suite |
HPSI: Biomechanics Lab |
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1:00 pm – 2:30 pm |
Lunch & Networking |
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2:30 pm – 3:30 pm |
Keynote 2: How to Win |
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3:30 pm – 4:00 pm |
Tea & Movement Break |
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Breakout Session 3 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
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Session 3A Levelling the Playing Field: Creating Inclusive and Supportive Environments for Women in Coaching |
Session 3B Growing Pains and Gains : Safeguarding Health Amongst Youth Athletes for Peak Potential |
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Julia Lawrence |
Dr Scott Xu |
|
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OCBC Lounge |
HPSI: Biomechanics Lab |
Breakout Summaries
Session 1: 11:30 am - 12:15 pm
Session 1A Mindset, Skill Set, Environment – and Values in High Performance Sport Eddie Kohlhase In high performance sport, the framework of Mindset, Skill Set, and Environment is a powerful tool to understand what drives sustained excellence. But beneath or around this framework lies something even deeper: the core values that make it meaningful and sustainable—Joy, Connection, and Love. In this session we will explore this simple framework of Mindset, Skill Set and Environment underpinned by values with some practical probing questions and case studies that can be considered age and stage appropriate from community sport through to high performance sport. |
Session 1B How Sport Taught Me to Swim Through Life Dina Levačić How Sport Taught Me to Swim Through Life" is a powerful and deeply personal journey through the waves of open-water swimming—and the deeper currents that shape who we are. Drawing from her experiences completing the Oceans Seven and countless other endurance challenges, Dina Levačić reveals how sport has forged her mindset, resilience, and identity. From battling jellyfish stings in the Pacific and fighting hypothermia in the North Channel, to learning to let go of control and embrace the sea’s unpredictability, each swim becomes a vivid metaphor for life’s trials and triumphs. Along the way, the guidance of dedicated coaches played a pivotal role in her growth, offering not just technical expertise but also belief, perspective, and support when she needed it most. Their influence taught her to trust in preparation, to push beyond perceived limits, and to recognize that no achievement happens in isolation. This session dives into lessons on perseverance, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and staying true to yourself, not just as an athlete, but as a multidimensional human being. Through moments of struggle, doubt, and celebration, Dina reminds us that we grow the most when we dare to swim beyond the shore and when we allow others to guide and inspire us along the way. |
Session 1C Mindfulness – Dispelling Myths and Optimising Focus Tan Yong En Many elite athletes, from LeBron James to Novak Djokovic, are strong proponents for the practice of mindfulness. However, there are many misconceptions around the concept, which can limit its application in sports. In the HPSI Sport Psychology Unit, we understand that attention is the currency of performance, and mindfulness is one of the tools that we use with athletes to help them direct their attention to the things that matter when it matters. In this session, we will clear up some of the common myths about mindfulness, get some hands-on experience, and explore the benefits of using mindfulness in sport. |
Session 2: 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Session 2A The Power of Para-sport to Enhance your Coaching Alex Jago In this presentation, Alex will share how coaching para-athletes has impacted his own coaching, and how he subsequently approaches coach development and leadership. Alex will also share insights from other coaches on how para-sport contexts challenged (or changed) their thinking and coaching approaches. |
Session 2B From Hesitance to Confidence: Leveraging AI to Empower Coaches Transitioning into Disability Sport Azhar Yusof Coaches transitioning from able-bodied to disability sport often experience psychological barriers such as fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Concerns over liability, a lack of disability-specific knowledge, appropriate training methodologies, and limited access to adaptive equipment contribute to hesitancy. Despite growing efforts to promote inclusive coaching, research on effective strategies to support this transition remains limited. This case study explores how a rugby union coach utilised Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to accelerate learning and build confidence when transitioning into coaching wheelchair rugby. AI can serve as a powerful resource, providing coaches with immediate access to knowledge on disability sport, training adaptations, and evidence-based coaching strategies. However, the effectiveness of AI-generated insights depends on the ability to prompt relevant information and critically filter outputs through a strong foundation in coaching pedagogy and sports science. Findings highlight how AI-supported learning fosters confidence by bridging knowledge gaps and mitigating initial apprehensions over navigating the complexities of disability sport coaching. The study underscores the importance of structured AI literacy in coach education, ensuring that AI tools are used responsibly and effectively. Given its potential to facilitate knowledge acquisition and reduce psychological barriers, the integration of AI-driven learning strategies into disability sport coaching programs should be considered. By equipping coaches with the right tools and strategies, AI can play a crucial role in expanding the pool of competent and confident disability sport coaches, ultimately fostering greater inclusivity in sport. |
Session 2C Building Body Confidence and Resilience: Empowering Athletes Across Sports Chan Tin Wing In this session, Tin Wing will provide a deeper insight and spark meaningful conversations about body confidence and resilience that is beyond just aesthetic sports. With reference to the Singapore Gymnastics Body Confidence guideline that was developed in 2021, the session will cover the four key pillars: Everyone has a role, Language and communication matters, Supporting positive nutrition, Safety in tracking growth & development body image in hope to urging coaches, families, and athletes to foster positive dialogue and body acceptance. |
Session 3: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Session 3A Levelling the Playing Field: Creating Inclusive and Supportive Environments for Women in Coaching Julia Lawrence Join us for a fun, interactive session focused on building inclusive and supportive environments for women in coaching across all sports. Designed for coaches, administrators and advocates, this workshop will explore common barriers faced by women in coaching and provide practical strategies to create a culture where women feel valued, empowered, and set up to succeed. Through discussion, ideation activities, and shared insights, participants will leave with actionable tools and a renewed perspective, to foster equity and inclusivity within their coaching environments. |
Session 3B Growing Pains and Gains : Safeguarding Health Amongst Youth Athletes for Peak Potential Dr Scott Xu This workshop, led by Dr. Scott Xu, will delve into the critical topic of physiological maturation in youth athletes. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how growth and development influence a young athlete's physical capabilities and vulnerabilities. The session will specifically address appropriate considerations for preventing injuries and illnesses that are common during the maturing years. The ultimate goal is to equip coaches, parents, and healthcare professionals with the knowledge to foster optimal sporting development and maximize performance safely and sustainably for youth athletes. |
31 July 2025
Time |
Session |
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8:30 am – 9:30 am |
Registration & Breakfast |
||
9:30 am – 10:30 am |
Keynote 3 : Unlocking the Ripple Effect of Relationship-Centred Coaching by Joscelin Yeo |
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10:30 am – 11:00 am |
Movement Break |
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Breakout Session 4 11:00 am – 11:45 pm
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Session 4A Designing for Discovery: Rethinking talent identification and development |
Session 4B Inside the Huddle: Shaping Team Culture for Lasting Performance |
Session 4C Building Psychologically Safe and Athlete-Centred Environments
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Dr Alex Roberts |
Siti Nurhaliza, Lionel Lewis & Shasi Kumar |
Syahirah Latiff |
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OCBC Lounge |
OCBC Suite |
HPSI: Biomechanics Lab |
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Breakout Session 5 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
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Session 5A Exploring factors supporting holistic Athlete and Coach Development in Para-sport |
Session 5B (repeat) Mindfulness – Dispelling Myths and Optimising Focus |
Session 5C From Footage to Feedback: Elevating Performance Through Video |
Alex Jago |
Tan Yong En |
Isa Halim |
|
OCBC Lounge |
OCBC Suite |
HPSI: Biomechanics Lab |
|
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm |
Lunch & Networking |
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Breakout Session 6 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
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Session 6A The Thinking Coach: Fostering adaptive and self-reflective coaching leaders |
Session 6B Athlete to Coach Transition – My Journey
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Session 6C Strength-First Coaching
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Julia Lawrence & Ong Kaiwen |
Eddie Kolhase |
Hansen Bay |
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OCBC Lounge |
OCBC Suite |
HPSI: Biomechanics Lab |
|
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm |
Tea Break & Movement Break |
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3:30 pm – 4:30 pm |
Keynote Panel "Coaching the Next Leap" |
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4:30 pm – 5:00 pm |
Closing Remarks Azhar Yusof |
Breakout Summaries
Session 4: 11:00 am - 11:45 am
Session 4A Designing for Discovery: Rethinking Talent Identification and Development Dr Alex Roberts How do you know if you’re really seeing talent – or just the athlete who performs best in your current system? This session will help coaches rethink how they select and train athletes, by designing environments to better spot and grow potential. Using key skill acquisition concepts, you’ll explore how to create sessions that reveal adaptability, decision-making, and ultimately help athletes achieve their potential. You’ll walk away with new ideas on how to best facilitate talent development, and a new perspective on identifying talent – it’s not always the one with the best skills now! |
Session 4B Inside the Huddle: Shaping Team Culture for Lasting Performance Siti Nurhaliza, Lionel Lewis & Shasi Kumar Drawing from their experiences both as elite competitors, current coaching professionals and roles in the coaching ecosystem, our speakers will explore the critical elements that transform good teams into great ones. They will delve into how team dynamics evolve from the athlete's viewpoint to the coach's lens, and provide actionable insights for creating sustainable high-performance environments across different sporting contexts. |
Session 4C Building Psychologically Safe and Athlete-Centred Environments Syahirah Latiff When we talk about Safe Sport, we’re not just referring to preventing abuse, we’re talking about creating environments where athletes feel physically protected and psychologically safe to learn, grow, and perform. But what does psychological safety actually look like in sport and coaching? |
Session 5: 11:45 am - 12:45 pm
Session 5A Exploring factors supporting holistic Athlete and Coach Development in Para-sport Alex Jago This workshop will explore and unpack key coaching considerations and skills that go in to creating positive experiences for Para-sport participants. |
Session 5B (repeat) Mindfulness – Dispelling Myths and Optimising Focus Tan Yong En Many elite athletes, from LeBron James to Novak Djokovic, are strong proponents for the practice of mindfulness. However, there are many misconceptions around the concept, which can limit its application in sports. In the HPSI Sport Psychology Unit, we understand that attention is the currency of performance, and mindfulness is one of the tools that we use with athletes to help them direct their attention to the things that matter when it matters. |
Session 5C From Footage to Feedback: Elevating Performance Through Video Isa Halim Are we truly maximizing the power of video—or just watching it? In this session, Isa will demonstrate how video analysis goes beyond simple match recording to become a powerful tool for reflection and performance enhancement. Using real-world examples, he will show how video can uncover deep insights into individual development, team dynamics, tactical execution, and decision-making. By highlighting its strategic value, Isa challenges coaches to adopt a more intentional, data-driven approach—transforming how they use technology to drive continuous improvement and achieve elite performance. |
Session 6: 2:15pm - 3:00 pm
Session 6A The Thinking Coach: Fostering Adaptive and Self-Reflective Coaching Leaders Julia Lawrence & Ong Kaiwen In today’s fast-evolving sporting landscape, effective coaching leadership requires more than just technical expertise—it demands adaptability and self-awareness. This interactive session will explore what it means to be an adaptive and reflective sport coaching leader, capable of responding to diverse athlete needs and dynamic team environments. Through engaging activities and discussion, participants will examine the role of reflective practice in enhancing leadership capability, deepening self-awareness, and fostering continuous personal and professional growth. |
Session 6B Athlete to Coach Transition – My Journey Eddie Kolhase Elite athletes and early career coaches need to be given time and space, as well as resources and support necessary o shift from one life to the other , one identity to the other, one mindset and skill set to the other. Eddie will present his journey, the learnings going from a world champion player to then coaching his former teammates on the world stage. This will include the
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Session 6C Strength-First Coaching Hansen Bay Discover how focusing on strengths and giving athletes more ownership can boost motivation and build mental toughness! In this hands-on workshop, coaches will:
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Keynote Speakers

Dr Alex Roberts
Dr Alex Roberts is an accredited Sport Scientist and Trainer of Coach Developers, with over 15 years’ experience in all levels of sport from grassroots to high-performance. With a background in skill acquisition, talent identification, and athlete development, Alex’s unique skill set has seen her work with over 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports, and she has consulted to professional and Olympic/Paralympic sporting organisations across Australia and the USA.
Alex is currently the Talent Identification and Development Lead at the Queensland Academy of Sport (Brisbane, Australia), where she and her team are responsible for identifying and developing potential Australian Olympic and Paralympic athletes in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Games. Alex is also an adjunct lecturer at La Trobe University (Melbourne), where she maintains an active research role focusing on coach development and talent identification.

Tim Newenham
Tim Newenham is a distinguished sport leader whose four-decade career spans from international athlete to executive director across multiple countries. Starting as an international athlete in athletics, he progressed through roles as National Athletics Coach for Great Britain, Performance Director for GB shooting, CEO of Guernsey Sports Commission, and National Director at Malaysia's Institut Sukan Negara, where his programmes delivered record Olympic and Paralympic medals at Rio 2016 Tim Newenham - Director of Performance and Pathway - Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC). Currently Director of Performance and Pathway for para sports at Singapore Disability Sports Council, Tim brings proven expertise in building high-performance systems that consistently deliver results at the highest levels of international competition.

Joscelin Yeo
Breakout Speakers

Eddie Kohlhase
Eddie Kohlhase MNZM (Member of the NZ order of Merit) is a New Zealand sporting legend who made history as the first New Zealander to win world championships as both a player and coach.
He played for the "Black Sox" national softball team from 1983, winning the 1984 world championship, then became head coach in 2004 and led them to multiple world titles until his retirement in 2013.
He currently serves as General Manager of Performance Partnerships at High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), where he oversees strategic investment, pathways, partnerships and coaching support across New Zealand's high performance sporting system.

Dina Levačić
Dina Levačić, the first Croatian overall and 23rd person globally to complete the Oceans Seven challenge, is a national icon in open water swimming. At 29, she has conquered some of the world’s toughest channels and was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Class of 2025) as an Honour Swimmer.
Beyond her athletic achievements, she is pursuing a PhD in sports medicine and psychology at the University of Split. Her academic work aligns with her advocacy for children with disabilities, mental health, and environmental causes, often using her swims to raise awareness and support for these causes.

Tan Yong En
Yong En is a Sport Psychologist with a Master of Psychology (Sport and Exercise) from the University of Queensland. He has worked both locally and internationally, including roles at Brisbane Pain Rehabilitation Service and LifeTime Tennis Academy - home to elite players like Patrick Rafter and Jason Kubler.
Currently at the High Performance Sport Institute, Singapore, he supports athletes through workshops and one-on-one consultations. Beyond his work, Yong En is passionate about sport and can be found enjoying matches or playing ultimate!

Alex Jago
As Paralympics Australia's Coach Development Advisor, Alex has extensive experience in high-performance sport coaching, athlete development, and coach development across diverse Paralympic contexts
He's been involved in challenging traditional coach education models and developing "learner-centred, social, experiential learning opportunities" through collaboration and innovation
He's pioneered the "Connected Coaches" initiative and Communities of Practice approaches, recognizing that "coaching can be an isolated pursuit" and there's "value in cross-pollination and creating safe spaces for coaches to connect

Chan Tin Wing
Chan Tin Wing is a Sports Nutritionist at the High Performance Sport Institute. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science with Honours.
In 2021, she was part of the team that developed the Body Confidence Guidelines in collaboration with Singapore Gymnastics. Drawing from her experience beyond aesthetic sports like Artistic Swimming and Gymnastics, Tin Wing has worked with athletes and coaches across various sports—regardless of gender—who often hold unrealistic expectations around body image, shape, and size.

Azhar Yusof
Azhar Yusof is the Director of CoachSG at Sport Singapore. He has a diverse background; having been a national athlete in rugby, an international referee, a high performance reviewer, and a coach in multiple sports.
A trained-teacher, Azhar taught and coached in schools before joining Nanyang Technological University as a Senior Lecturer. He is also a Master Trainer with World Rugby. He is currently the Head Coach of Singapore’s Wheelchair Rugby Team.

Julia Lawrence
Julia has over 30 years of experience in the sports industry, beginning as a secondary physical education teacher before serving 15 years at Netball Victoria in coaching and business development roles. She spent five years in Singapore as Technical Manager with Netball Singapore, then returned to Australia in 2016 to become General Manager – Coach & International Development at Netball Australia.
From 2014 to 2022, she contributed to the International Netball Federation’s Coaching Advisory Panel. In 2018, Julia broadened her expertise by joining the Australian Football League as National Coach Development Manager and, in 2022, she joined the Australian Sports Commission as a Senior Coaching Advisor.
Passionate about social learning and capability building, Julia now leads initiatives to modernise coaching and officiating in community sport. She is currently creating contemporary training programs and tools that empower facilitators of group learning and those who support coaches and officials on the job.

Hansen Bay
Hansen Bay is a Mental Performance Consultant and Coach Developer with extensive experience supporting student-athletes, Olympians, coaches, and business leaders to perform with clarity and resilience under pressure. He works closely with National Sports Associations (NSAs) to designevidence-informed coaching curricula, facilitate coach development, and delivertargeted psychological interventions to enhance athletic performance

Dr Scott Xu
Dr. Scott Xu is a Sport and Exercise Medicine specialist at SSMC@Novena, where he helps both elite athletes and active individuals achieve their best performance and recovery. His expertise has been trusted by Singapore's National Football Team as their team physician, and he has provided medical coverage at major sporting events including the World Rugby 7s Series, international tennis tournaments, and multiple SEA Games.
Dr. Xu also extends his expertise to patients at SSMC@CGH and the High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI). He specialises in diagnosing and treating sports injuries using advanced techniques like ultrasound-guided therapy. He is particularly passionate about helping patients understand the root causes of their injuries and developing personalised treatment plans that get them back to their favourite activities.

Siti Nurhaliza
Siti Nurhaliza has been a Singapore Floorball Athlete since 2018.
Her floorball career has been growing steadily and this year she has committed to becoming a full-time athlete to ensure that Singapore is able to secure/maintain our rankings with the tournament filled year.
Besides her outstanding floorball abilities, Siti is dedicated to the floorball community, often volunteering her time to mentor younger athletes and promote teamwork. She embodies the true spirit of competition, showcasing not only talent but integrity, perseverance, and a genuine love for the sport. She is currently a youth development coach for the U18 and U18 Girls Teams, hoping to inspire the future generations of floorballers.

Syahirah Latiff
Syahirah leads the training and education work for Safe Sport in Singapore, shaping its development since 2018. With a Masters in Organisational Psychology, she has developed the training framework, curricula and content for diverse sports stakeholders. She has conducted workshops, from awareness to sport-specific safeguarding and first responder training, built partnerships and guided Sporting Organisations in their policies and case management work.
Syahirah served as a Safeguarding Officer at the Paris Olympics and is an Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Safeguarding Instructor and a coach educator.

Isa Halim
Isa is the Head Coach of the Singapore Sports School Football Academy. He is a former Singapore international footballer with 63 caps, having competed in the SEA Games, Suzuki Cup, and ASEAN Games. A title-winner with LionXII and Home United, he transitioned into coaching and now serves as Head Coach at the Singapore Sports School Football Academy. He has led both grassroots and elite youth programs, holding an AFC 'A' Coaching License and also received the Singapore Coach Medallion Award in 2023. Currently pursuing his AFC Pro Diploma, Isa is committed to developing technically skilled and mentally resilient young players, with a mission to raise the standard of Singapore football on the international stage.

Shasi Kumar
Shasi Kumar is an experienced educator, coach developer and former professional footballer with a passion for shaping the next generation of coaches. With a degree in Exercise & Sports Science and a background as a head coach and football commentator, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the sporting arena.
In 2023, he was honoured with SPEA’s Outstanding Coach/Teacher Award. Shasi is also the voice behind The Silverfox Hustle Podcast, where he highlights inspiring stories of hustle and growth.

Ong Kaiwen
Kai Wen is a Canoe-kayak sprint coach and has been coaching local school and developmental teams in Singapore since 2011. She holds the ICF Canoe-Kayak Sprint Level 3 Expert coach certificate and is registered as a Senior Coach in Singapore. She is also a certified ICCE Coach Developer.
As a coach, Kai Wen has been the head coach of several Junior and Youth school teams in Singapore. She is also concurrently a Lead Coach of Singapore's ActiveSG Canoe Academy, supporting and complementing the high performance developmental pathway of over 400 participants. Several of her athletes have gone on to join the National Junior Team or Senior Team.
Besides coaching athletes, Kai Wen is also involved with coach development in Singapore. She believes coaches are the key to the "success" of any athlete, and has helped conduct modules for local coaching certification courses to aspiring coaches, as well as actively mentoring and supporting new and current coaches.

Lionel Lewis
Lionel Lewis is a retired Singaporean football goalkeeper, renowned for his commanding presence in goal. On the international stage, he earned 73 caps for Singapore, notably winning the 2004 Tiger Cup and being named its MVP. He was also nominated for the 2006 Asian Footballer of the Year award, the first Singaporean to receive such an honour.
Off the pitch, Lionel currently works in the Student Development and Alumni Relations Office at Nanyang Polytechnic overseeing the sport CCAs and sport modules to engage the learners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I register for the conference?
What is the registration fee for participants?
Registration fees vary by category:
- Partner rates: $158-$215
- NROC coach rates: $158-$215
- General public rates: $158-$215
For complete pricing details and registration, visit: https://reg.eventnook.com/event/CoachSGConference2025/home
Will meals be provided?
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. All meals will be halal.
Does the registration fee include accommodation and meals?
Where can I find my NROC e-card for registration?
To access your NROC e-card, log into your SportSync account and navigate to the home page where your e-card will be displayed and available for download or use during registration.
In the case of cancellation can I get a refund?
Do I need to register for Breakout Sessions?
Are CCE hours awarded for attending the conference?
Yes, CCE hours will be awarded for conference attendance.
How many CCE hours will I receive?
Participants will receive 10 CCE hours for attending both days of the conference.