Our latest student story features Johan van Rooyen, a performance coach with over a decade of experience in South African rugby and current MSc in Performance Coaching student at Setanta.
Johan shares his passion for long-term athlete development, how he integrates gym and on-field training, and why mindset is important when it comes to preparing athletes for success.
A Passion for Performance
“My decision to pursue a career in athletic development and performance coaching stems from my deep passion for sport, particularly rugby. I’ve always believed in supporting the long-term development of athletes and helping them maximise their capacities by integrating sport science with practical coaching.”
After completing a Sport Science degree in 2013 , Johan spent over ten years working across school and provincial rugby, including Elite Player Development (EPD) camps and youth programmes.
“In short, my purpose is simple: to help athletes perform at their best when it matters most.”
Athletic Development at Hoër Landbouskool Boland
Johan currently serves as Head of Athletic Development and Sports Scientist at Hoër Landbouskool Boland, where he plays a central role in shaping the future of young athletes.
“My role is to support long-term athlete development and oversee all strength and conditioning protocols within the school. I also lead our medical department, collaborating daily with our physiotherapist and biokineticist to ensure athletes receive comprehensive care and rehabilitation support. I believe in leading by example through hard work, integrity, and purpose,” he said. “Coaching for me is more than a profession, it is my passion and purpose.”
Integrating the Gym and the Field
His approach is multidisciplinary, combining gym-based training with on-field conditioning to build complete athletes.
“I view gym-based training and on-field conditioning as complementary pillars of athlete development,” Johan emphasised.
In the gym, the focus is on building foundational strength, power, and robustness. This prepares athletes to generate force efficiently and reduces their risk of injury.”
That foundation is then transferred to the field, where players apply physical qualities to sport-specific skills.
“Conditioning drills are designed to replicate the demands of match play, high-intensity efforts, repeated sprints, and decision-making under fatigue, ensuring athletes can apply their physical capacities in realistic scenario.” 
By pairing gym work with on-field movement, Johan creates a “seamless transfer from physical preparation to performance.” A lower-body power session, for example, might be followed by sprint drills. Upper-body sessions could be integrated with contact work or skill development.
“This holistic approach not only enhances performance but also supports long-term athlete development by balancing physical growth, technical skill, and resilience.”
Tailoring for Youth Development
With athletes at varying stages of development, Johan adapts programmes accordingly.
“I tailor youth programmes according to each stage of development, focusing first on movement and bodyweight strength, then progressing to guided resistance training and position-specific conditioning,” he explained. “As athletes mature, I try to individualise programmes to include advanced strength, power, and sport-specific work, while using monitoring tools to guide load and recovery.”
Monitoring and Measuring Progress
Tracking athlete development is an important part of Johan’s programme. He blends objective and subjective data to inform decisions
“I use CMJ before each training session to assess readiness and fatigue, alongside a wellness questionnaire that athletes complete to track subjective readiness and collect sRPE scores. Aerobic and anaerobic fitness capacities are evaluated through the Bronco and Yo-Yo tests,” he shared. “To measure progress and guide programme adjustments, I conduct re-assessments every 4–6 weeks, focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout the season.”
The Setanta Experience
With over ten years of coaching experience, Johan chose to return to academic study in 2024, enrolling in the MSc in Performance Coaching with Setanta.
“I wanted to deepen my understanding of athlete development and After a decade of working in S&C, I felt it was important to challenge myself academically and refine the way I design, monitor and evaluate programmes to maximise performance,” he explained.
He was drawn to Setanta’s flexible, applied learning model.
“Setanta stood out to me because of its coach-focused approach and flexibility it offers for working professionals. The programme’s strong emphasis on integrating science with real-world coaching aligned perfectly with my philosophy of continuous growth, collaboration, and athlete-centred development. It allows me to learn from both leading experts and fellow practitioners while applying new knowledge directly in my own coaching environment,” he said.
Johan has already begun applying his studies to his everyday coaching.
“The experience has been great so far. The ability to take modules at my own pace, while fitting it around a busy work schedule, has been a huge plus.”
He’s particularly valued the course’s balance between theory and practice.
“Informative content and a smooth learning process helped implement elements in my day to day coaching programme.”
Looking Ahead
“I aim to refine my expertise in athlete monitoring, power development, and recovery strategies, using evidence-based methods to optimise performance.”
In the long term, he aspires to contribute to research and education in the performance space.
“ My vision is to combine practical coaching with ongoing learning, helping shape environments that not only prepare athletes to perform at their best, but also equip them with resilience and life skills that extend beyond sport,” he shared.
