Supporting Athletes Building High Performance Systems in Northern Ireland'

1
Supporting Athletes - Building High Performance
Systems in Northern Ireland.

• Athlete Support Programme 2009

2
Where we want to get to
3
OUTPUT
INPUT
9. Scientific research
5. Athletic post-career support
National Governing Bodies
8. (Inter)national competition
7. Coaching coach development
4. Talent ID Devel. Systems.
6. Training facilities
3. Foundation Participation
INPUT
INPUT
1. Financial support
2.Organisation Structure of Sport Policies An
integrated approach to policy development
4
Investing in Performance Sport

• Implementing the Strategy for Sport
• 5 medals at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010.
• 5 medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014.
• 100 Northern Ireland athletes attaining medal
  success at the highest level in their sport.
• A world class system for athlete development
  following the hosting of the Olympic and
  Paralympic Games in London 2012.

5
Athlete Support Programme what does it aim to
do?

• Support talented athletes from NI to succeed at
  the highest levels within their sport
  Commonwealth, European, World, Olympic.

Ireland
Northern Ireland
GBNI/UK
6
Review of ASP

• Reason for Review
• Improve co-ordination and focus of programme.
• Increase ownership by governing bodies.
• Reduce the administrative burden on applicants
  and SNI.
• Improve linkages to other organisations working
  in Performance Sport.

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Review has resulted in the following proposed
changes

• Annual Programme January to December.
• Objective performance standards for athletes to
  be eligible.
• Banding of awards to show how much an athlete is
  likely to receive.
• Single application for multiple athletes
• At discretion of Sport NI

8
Review has resulted in the following proposed
changes

• Reduced planning prior to award confirmation.
• Increased linkages to other Performance Sport
  structures SINI, Performer Development Centres,
  Irish Sports Council, UK Sport.
• Vouching of sports costs awards linked to an
  applicants level of assurance.
• Removal of vouching for living costs awards
• At discretion of Sport NI

9
What areas of an athletes preparation programme
will be considered?

• Coaching
• Specialist coaching costs
• Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of
  coaches attending training camps and competitions
• Personal training
• Membership fees
• Training camps (travel/accommodation/subsistence/
  facility fees)
• Attendance at competition
• Travel/accommodation/subsistence/entry fees
• Sports science/sports medicine costs
• Equipment costs

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ASP performance standards

• Sport NI will take into account
• Existing standards used by other Sports Councils,
  eg Irish Sports Council, Scotland, Wales and UK
  Sport.
• The number and standing of competing countries
  and athletes
• Existing standards agreed with sports and the
  stage of development of the sport.
• Evidence that the athlete has met agreed minimum
• performance standards is one factor considered in
  
• determining eligibility for consideration of
  funding.

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ASP Banding of Potential 2009 Awards
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ASP The Process
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Athlete Support Programme
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Athlete Support Programme
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ASP What information needs to be included in
the application?

• Athlete personal details.
• Details of an athletes eligibility two aspects
  to be considered
• Eligibility rule Is the athlete born
  in/eligible to compete for NI?
• Performance standard does the athlete meet the
  agreed minimum performance standard?
• Details of best performances
• Application for SINI interventions.
• Expression of interest in Living Costs.
• Name of coach.
• Outline training and competition programme
• SMART targets short and longer-term.

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ASP How will applications be assessed?

• The performance standard and potential of the
  athlete
• will be considered during the assessment process
  
• Date of best performance result was achieved
• An athletes personal best in comparison to other
  leading competitors at a similar stage of
  development within the sport/discipline.
• Quality and appropriateness of interim
  performance targets.
• Consideration of the athletes longer term
  performance goal.

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Where does SINI fit in?

• Applicants are invited within ASP applications,
  to request access to services at SINI.
• SINI will make an assessment on the athletes
  suitability for SINI provision.
• Athlete, coach and any other relevant personnel
  will be invited to meet with SINI personnel to
  agree appropriate intervention.
• As Performer Development Centres are established
  developmental athletes may be offered
  interventions in those locations.

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What are the timescales for the Programme?

• 2009 Programme opens for Applications February
  2009
• 2009 Programme closes for applications 31 March
  2009
• Assessment process 23 February to 2 June 2009
• Final Decisions by 2 June 2009

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Links with other investment programmes/organisatio
ns

• UK Sport Sport NI financial investment aims to
  enable NI athletes to progress to the UK Sport
  World Class Performance Programmes
• Irish Sports Council Sport NI will seek to
  fund, in partnership, athletes representing
  Ireland at
• appropriate competition.

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ASP Living Costs

• Living Costs will continue
• Individuals apply directly to this extension of
  the ASP
• Only those in receipt of sports costs awards are
  eligible to apply
• Sport NI will provide to the Governing Body
  details of those applying
• Applications will be means tested
• In the event of award, payment will be made
  directly to the individual by BACS
• Receipts will not normally be required.

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ASP Next Steps

• Access Guidance documentation next week.
• Agree performance standards with Sport NI in
  the case of sports having done so already these
  will need to be revisited to reflect revised
  classifications.
• Governing Body prepare application(s), in
  conjunction with Sport NI personnel.
• Application submitted in advance of or by closing
  date of 31 March 2009.

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Money is not the answer to everything.
Yes, the funding was a huge help. But it takes
more than money. Success isnt a right you
have to strive for it.
Peter Keen Former British Cycling Performance
Director