about new breed
nEW BREED ATHLETES FOUNDER NICOLA BARGE
At New Breed Athletes we are committed to developing the next generation of high-performing athletes by combining elite experience, technical excellence and genuine care for athlete development. My name is Nicola Barge and sport has been a defining part of my life since I was 6 years old. I grew up playing netball in the Sutherland Shire where my love of the game began. Some of my best memories were made on local courts where I not only had fun but made many friendships and learnt the importance of teamwork and resilience. From there my passion and dedication for sport has led me to compete at national and international levels across multiple sporting codes. I am currently a Training Partner for the NSW Swifts and a member of the Australian U21s squad. In 2025, I had the honour of captaining the NSW State team to a gold medal at the National Netball Championships and I competed for the Australian U23s pathway team pin Tonga laying a three game series. In 2023, I proudly represented Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games, in Trinidad winning gold. Performing and training in elite environments has provided me with a deep understanding of high performance behaviours, mental resilience and the demands required to perform consistently at a high level. My experiences have shaped both my athletic career and coaching philosophy behind New Breed Athletes, where we focus on attention to detail and perfecting the 1 percenters which will help you find your edge.
Alongside my playing career, I have over five years of coaching experience working with athletes across various range of ages and abilities. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Special and Primary Education and work as a School Learning Support Officer and Support Worker within the community, which allows me to integrate evidence-based learning principles into my coaching. I am passionate about creating environments where athletes feel confident, supported and challenged to be their best. I am a technical coach by nature but I am also highly adaptable and will modify sessions to suit individual athletes, teams, schools and associations from grassroots through to elite pathways. I hold Certificate III level qualifications in Business and Sport and Recreation, which enables me to deliver professional, well-structured coaching programs that meet the needs of athletes, parents and sporting organisations. I created New Breed Athletes to share what I have learnt. I know first hand how powerful the right coaching and support can be and I want every athlete I work with to benefit from that experience. I look forward to supporting athletes through their development and helping them chase their dreams while I continue to live mine.