Successful development in Athletics is about creating structures and pathways for people to progress from one level to another. They can do this by taking part in school or club athletics and working their way to the top. The diagram (FIG 1) below shows the different structured pyramids that are available from year’s 8to9 onwards. Some league competitions are available for Under 13's - that is year 6to7 and under 11's - that is year 5.
(FIG 1)
In England the AAA secures a uniform policy for the administration and development of athletics, promotes and develops athletics through a team of full-time development officers, selects representative teams thus providing competitive opportunities for English athletes on a regular basis as well as at the Commonwealth Games and Promotes and organises national championships at Under 17, Under 20, Under 23 and Senior levels.
Along with the usual pathways in (FIG 1) in January 2002, three Talent ID Pilot Programmes were established in Sheffield, Loughborough and Crystal Palace. Over 300 existing athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 years old were invited to undergo a series of tests. A handful of athletes were then selected from their testing performances, to form Academies at each three sites. Since February 2002 athletes have been training at these Academies on a weekly basis, with strength and conditioning and event specific coaches and have been benefiting from a support package that has offered them assistance with all aspects of elite training and education, including physiotherapy, massage and nutrition, psychology, drugs awareness and lifestyle management workshops. The major aims and objectives of the Academies are to provide a support system that nurtures our talented elite juniors and establishes the beginning of a development pathway for them. This is therefore part of a long-term plan where the key is sustainable long-term results. The true performance indicators of the Talent Identification programme and its Academies will not be seen for a year or two. But in the short term, results from these years English Schools in Nottingham, the AAA later in the season and the progression of athletes from the Talent Academies onto the Potential Programme are a good indicator of how the Academies are progressing in their first year of existence.
Sheffield TID Academy
22 Athletes at Sheffield TID Academy
14 Athletes went to English Schools Championships
8 Athletes finished in the top 8 at the English Championships
3 of these Athletes were medallists
2 of these were gold medallists and have been influenced greatly by the TID Academy, they attend training at the Academy on a regular basis and will continue to do so in the future
Loughborough TID Academy
28 Athletes at Loughborough TID Academy
16 Athletes went to English Schools Championships
10 of these 16 Athletes finished in the top 8 at the English Schools Championships
6 Athletes were medallists
1 Athlete has gone on to gain the Performance Standard for Potential
Crystal Palace TID Academy
8 Athletes at the Crystal Palace TID Academy
7 Athletes went to English Schools Championships
5 Athletes finished in the top 8 at the English Schools Championships
1 Athlete was a medallist
In September 2002, the aim is to expand the Talent Identification Programme, to encompass more Academies. Existing and new talent will be selected, invited and identified to form new Talent ID Academies in the following areas:
Gateshead - North
Leeds – Yorkshire
Birmingham – Midlands
Bath – South West
Haringey – South
Manchester – North West
Talent ID Academies look very promising for the future of athletes and hopefully will improve British athletics dramatically.
There seems to be no disabled Athletics clubs in my region, which is not very good, but there are national Governing Bodies like the British Wheelchair Athletics Association, which is committed to develop new athletes who have to use a wheelchair for mobility reasons, with a physical ability. Several services are offered by the Association to give juniors and new athletes a helping hand in the early days of involvement. This includes financial assistance for parents to be involved in the first few sessions with their children. We are committed to develop athletic squads to compete at all major international events throughout the world, staging wheelchair field events. Also In June 1999 UKA assumed responsibility from the British Paralympic Association for the management of the disability athletics World Class Performance Plan (WCPP). The Plan was designed to support elite athletes and coaches with their preparations for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. At the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games the Great Britain finished second overall behind Australia in the medal table and also second in the athletics table also behind the host nation Australia. In both cases this was Great Britain’s highest-ever placing in the Paralympics.
In April 2001 UKA received confirmation from UK Sport of funding for a four year World Class Performance Plan. The main target during this period of time is the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.
Athletics is a well-populated sport as it has 3 clubs in my local area Harrow AC, Hillingdon AC and Watford Harriers. Its also being well funded as Watford built a new clubhouse last year, Harrow have just recently built a new 8 lane track and Hillingdon have future plans for a new sports centre. This shows that Athletics is well funded and it will surely improve grass roots and bring more people to the sport. The 3 local clubs also cater for any gender, age and ability. There are also many pathways to success available for any gender, age and ability all over the UK including the Talent ID Academies, the sport also has good funding and support for disabled athletes and hopefully this should help provide good athletes for the UK in the future.
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Bibliography
http://www.iaaf.org
http://www.hillingdonac.co.uk
http://www.harrowac.freeserve.co.uk
http://www.ukathletics.net
http://www.disabledworld.com
http://www.englandathletics.org
http://www.uksport.gov.uk
http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
