Development of elite sports performers in sport

Question 1

What are the two main channels that the national lottery funding get’s distributed into by UK sport ?

Answer 1

• World class programme
• Athelete performance award

Question 2

What is the world class programme’s funding used for ?

Answer 2

Covers all funded olympic and Paralympic sports

Question 3

What is the athlete performance award funding used for ?

Answer 3

Contributes to living and sporting costs

Question 4

What is the EIS ?

Answer 4

• English institute of sport
• Subsidiary of UK sport
  -Receives large grants for performance analysis and sport medicine
• Aim’s to increase athlete success
• Aims to improve athletes health, fitness, training and preparation
• Provide high level facilities and coach to develop performers

Question 5

How is sports science used to help develop elite athletes ?

Answer 5

• Exercise physiology is used at the NID
• helps evaluate training as it happens
• Allows coaches to objectively monitor the impact of training on the body

Question 6

How is sports medicine used to develop elite athletes ?

Answer 6

• sports medicine is made as quickly as possible at NIS
• Includes services such as physiotherapy and strength and conditioning coaches

Question 7

How is performance and lifestyle support used to develop lifestyle support ?

Answer 7

• Available to all athletes on the world class performance programme
• Provides personalised support service to create an environment for success

Question 8

What does the performance and lifestyle support by the NIS minimise ?

Answer 8

• potential concerns
• conflicts

Question 9

What does the performance and lifestyle support by the NIS aid ?

Answer 9

• time management
• budgeting
• dealing with media
• sponsors

Question 10

How do national governing bodies develop elite performers ?

Answer 10

• Positive role models to target specific groups
• Accessible facilities
• meet government policies on sport and recreation
• Policies put into place to target underrepresented groups
• Employment of sports development officers
• Put resources into inner city areas

Question 11

What are the reasons that a talent identification process may be used ?

Answer 11

• Potential performers can be screened
• Athletes directed to the most suitable sport according to their talents
• Accelerated development programme as a result of identification
• Chance of medallists are improved

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of talent identification ?

Answer 12

• Misses late developers
• Takes up a lot of funding
• Large numbers have to be tested
• No guarantee of success
• Same talent pool for multiple sports

Question 13

What makes talent development and support services effective ?

Answer 13

• Good admin
• Use appropriate tests
• Well-structured competitive programmes
• High quality facilities
• High quality coaches
• Equality of opportunity

Question 14

What are the 4 main areas of support that are important for the identification of talent ?

Answer 14

1. Pathway frontline technical solution = Designed to meet specific needs of each sport
2. Pathway education = Educational opportunities for development coaches which cover topics linked to elite performance
3. Pathway analysis = Sports can provide meaningful measurements of effectiveness of performance pathways
4. Performance pathway health check = Supports olympic and Paralympic sports. Reviews system for supporting developing potential medal winners. Also reviews long-term visions
5. Pathway strategy = Designed to assist sports to develop and put in a clear progressive pathway

Question 15

What is a performance pathway team ?

Answer 15

A combination of EIS and UK sport expertise used to identify and develop world-class talent

Question 16

What are the personal factors that help support talent identification ?

Answer 16

• goal-orientated
• good communicators
• dedication and determination to succeed

Question 17

What are the social and cultural factors that help support talent identification ?

Answer 17

• high socio-economic status
• equal opportunities - helps those in minority positions
• structured competitions which allow progression
• high levels of media coverage and role models

Question 18

How do UK sport provide support to athletes ?

Answer 18

• aim of developing high performance sport in the UK
• their work aims to develop strategies to increase sporting success

Question 19

What is the EIS an example of ?

Answer 19

National institute of sport

Question 20

What is the world class performance programme ?

Answer 20

• UK sport has adopted a funding philosophy which reflects potentially long journeys to the top
• Two clear levels which make up the world class pathway
• This pathway is for individuals on the world class performance programme
• The WCPP covers all funded sports for both the winter and summer Olympic and paralympic games

Question 21

What are the two levels of the world class pathway ?

Answer 21

1. Podium
2. Podium potential

Question 22

What is the first level of the world class pathway ?

Answer 22

Podium
- Supports athletes with realistic medal potential at the next olympic games
- The pathway receive funding from UK sport and the national lottery which enables them to offer financial support to groups of athletes through the WCPP
- An example of an athlete that has come through this programme is Sir Mo Farah

Question 23

What is level 2 of the world class pathway ?

Answer 23

• Designed to support athletes that have realistic medal potential at a subsequent olympic games
• Has to be a maximum of 8 years away

Question 24

What is the future programme for athletes ?

Answer 24

• Provides funding to support athletes who have the potential to progress to the world class program and become potential medal winners
• Is a foundation in place by British Athletics to support the transition to the world class pathway
• Designed to support athletes financially and medically and also supports coaches

Question 25

Who is in charge of making sure the UK hold large events ?

Answer 25

• UK Sport
• Ensure successful bids to host big events

Question 26

What is the gold event series ?

Answer 26

• working to bring 100 targeted major international sporting events during ten years (2013-24)
• E.g the world athletic championship

Question 27

What does UK sport help with before a bid is put in to host the events ?

Answer 27

• work with sport and location
• help draw up a detailed business plan
• Give budgets to stick to

Question 28

What are UK’s sport objectives as a result of hosting major sporting events ?

Answer 28

• supporting high performance success
• creating high profile opportunities for people to engage in sport
• Demonstrating the legacy of London 2012
• Driving positive economic and social impacts in the UK

Question 29

What are the Pathway team responsible during Talent ID’s ?

Answer 29

• identify and develop athletes
• Create necessary support systems
• provide specialist knowledge for performers and coaches

Question 30

What are pathway analytics ?

Answer 30

• enable sports to measure the effectiveness of their pathway
• ‘Healthcheck’ of pathway is delivered every 4 years
• looks at junior - senior transition as well as retention of athletes

Question 31

What are the phases of the Uk Sports talent recruitment ?

Answer 31

• Starts with a talent search - involves general community
• Interested athletes told to send an application

Phase 1: Selected athletes perform a range of different fitness and tests linked to the sport

Phase 2+3: Assess an athletes suitability via medical screening, performance workshops and psychological assessments

• After selection, athletes start a ‘conformation’ phase where they are fully immersed into the training environment