Routes to sporting success Flashcards
Background
In 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined an increased in the funding for sport excellence; this is despite the country facing austerity measures. This increase represents the importance that is placed on sporting success in the UK.
To reach the top in sport a lot of planning is required as well as financing of coaching, training facilities, equipment and travel to competitions etc. This is why there are strategies and procedures in place to take performers through the development stages of sport.
From talent identification to elite performance
The identification of potential elite performers in sport has been formalised and organised by UK Sport. This organisation develops elite athletes by: (4)
- Identifying potential talent in sport
- Supporting an athlete’s lifestyle
- Supporting the athlete’s coaching
- Supporting, through research, sport science and sports medicine, via the English Institute of Sport
Identifying sports talent process
UK Sport runs talent recruitment and talent confirmation programmes, starting with a search for those who have sporting talent, either among the general public or within sports clubs and community projects. Athletes can submit an application to UK Sport, who then invite them to go through the following process: (2,2,1)
Phase 1:
- Involves a range of generic physical and skill based tests:
- also includes an in-depth analysis of each athletes training and competition history
Phase 2 & 3:
- Tests in functional movement screening, medical screening
- Performance lifestyle workshops and psychology and behavioural assessments
Confirmation phase:
- Selected athletes embark on a 6-12 month confirmation phase during which they are immersed in the sports training programme.
Talent id programmes
Key factors for successful talent identification 6 factors
- Widespread testing – i.e all ages, genders, socio-economic groups
- High quality systems – i.e. top quality scouts, coaches and testing methods
- Variety of testing – i.e. physiological and psychological
- Database of information to allow for sharing access sports
- Co-ordinated testing – i.e. linking of agencies, coaches, different sports
- Good competition systems to scout from
Every four years, UK Sport runs a checking system for athletes on the programmes called the Pathway Health Check(PHC). It involves: (3)
- Discussions and shared analyses between the performance pathway team and the sport’s key coaches
- Taking into account the athletes progress, fitness levels achieved
- Identifying whether they have made a good transition from junior to senior levels.
World class programme - Podium & Podium Potential
Podium:
Supporting athletes with realistic medal-winning capabilities at the next Olympics/Paralympic games (maximum of 4 years away)
Podium Potential:
Supporting athletes whose performances suggest they have realistic medal-winning capabilities at the subsequent Olympics/Paralympic games (maximum 8 years away)
Pathway health check
It takes into account: (3 things)
- Athletes progress
- Fitness level achieved
- Made good transition between senior and junior levels
There are approximately 1300 athletes on the Podium and Podium potential who benefit from the UK Sport’s annual investment of around £100million. The programme works by ensuring the athletes get high quality support from their sport’s national governing body. Funding is given for: (5 things)
- Coaching
- Training and competition support
- Medical support
- Technology
- Sport science
The role of UK sport in developing elite sport
The main role of UK Sport is to:
Success…?
UK Sport invest about 70% of its income in 2 ways:
The main role of UK Sport is to:
- invest National Lottery funds and income from central government to maximise performance of athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics, as well as global sporting events.
Success is measured by medals won and the number of medallists developed.
UK Sport invest about 70% of its income in 2 ways:
- Central funding for sporting National Governing bodies
- Funding for athletes directly through the Athlete Performance Award (APA)
APA (6)
- Helps to fund living and personal costs
- Allocated to where there is the greatest financial need
- Maximum income threshold including APA = £65,000
- Level of APA is determined by:
- Level of performance an athlete has achieved - What they are capable of achieving in the future
- Those on the podium level can achieve up to £28,000 per year
Each country that makes up the UK has a National institute of Sport. Their role is to: (3)
- Provide sport science and technological help to elite sportsmen and women
- Work with coaches and sports administrators to help improve the performance of their athletes
- Give technical support that enables athletes and coaches to optimise their training programmes, maximise and improve their health and availability to train.
Main services from EIS (9)
- Performance pathways
- Psychology
- Biomechanics
- Physiology
- Nutrition
- Performance lifestyle
- Physiotherapy
- Medical
- Strength and conditioning
Dealing with drop out or failure rates - why do performers drop out - 5 reasons
- Poor performance
- Injury
- Pressure
- Financial impacts
- Commitments outside of the sport
Dealing with drop out or failure rates - How they deal with it (2+3)
- Lifestyle components used to attempt to aid athletes to cope with the pressures and demands of elite sport
- Advisors are on hand to to provide them with skills to cope with aspects such as:
- Dealing with the media
- Financial guidance
- Preparing for life after sport
