Talented kids are everywhere. We
just have to develop the means to identify them and then nurture them
through well-planned and methodical training
The challenge for each sport is to make sure that they have developed an appropriate and effective system, which ensures that talented performers are identified and developed so that they are able to perform within competition to the best of their ability.
Clearly each sport will vary in what form their performance ladder will take. Some elements or rungs on the ladder will be specific to that sport. Others will be common to a number of sports. It is in these areas of common interest that the Sports Council can contribute most significantly by helping to achieve economies of scale.
Most Governing Bodies have concentrated their efforts on developing National Squad programmes - Junior through to Senior. Along with the support of Local Authorities, Education and Library Boards we are working to underpin Junior National Squads with a series of stepping stones as pictured below:
Important elements of this "generic" or "common" performance ladder are:
- Sports Interactive
- an interactive CD ROM which enables children to match their
physical attributes to sports which may suit them.
- Multi Sport Camps - a programme of quality coaching in a
range of sports for talented individuals as identified from
Sports Interactive.
- Regional Performance Squads - a quality
coaching programme which develops performers within regional
squads and provides a stepping stone into Interprovincial/National
junior age squads.
- For each of these stages on the model performance ladder to
happen, we require a combination of
support services to be in place. The ongoing independent
development of these support services remains a major SCNI focus
in tandem with key partners.
Contact:
Stephen
Wilson
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