Athletes between the ages of 16 and 18 will now get the chance to gain qualifications, which can help prepare them for life after the track with the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme.
Developing young athletes
The British Athletics initiative will help its crop of young sports stars to undertake educational programmes of their choice while continuing to develop as an athlete.
The scheme is set to begin sometime in 2016 and all participants would be required to attend the 11 workshops throughout the calendar year. The programme is nationwide and will be held at regional hubs and on suitable dates to avoid competition clashes.
Parents and coaches of the athletes will also be invited to take part in the apprenticeship courses, so they can understand how to better encourage their children/subjects during their development.
The workshop will cover a number of topics including:
- Nutrition and performance.
- Sports psychology.
- Lifestyle
- Communication
- Media
One-on-one mentoring
Practical elements will include workshops in strength and conditioning, fitness testing as well as physiotherapy input and support.
Participants will also receive one-on-one mentoring throughout the programme, gaining advice on develop a range of skills that will assist them to develop as elite athletes and progress to further education or gain employment in a related field.
To be part of the programme, you have to meet the following criteria:
To be invited to apply for the programme in 2016, athletes must be:
- Born between 01/09/1998 – 31/08/1999
- Ranked highly on the 2015 Power of 10 rankings (invitations to apply based on the number of programme places allocated – tbc). NB: no hand timed or wind assisted performances will be considered.
- Possesses or be currently working towards a GCSE Grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics, or any equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills).
