World Class Performance Pathway
On 1 April 2006, UK Sport assumed full responsibility for all Olympic performance-related support in England, from the identification of talent right the way through to performing at the top level to help improve performance and drive success in the future.
In taking on this new responsibility, and remaining focused on a 'no compromise' approach, UK Sport has redefined the terms under which funding and support will be provided. It will operate a World Class Performance Pathway at three key levels:
- World Class Podium Programme
- World Class Development Programme
- World Class Talent Programme
To aid a wider understanding amongst all sports the terminology for each programme will be the same. This section of the MPAGB website will be updated over the next few weeks to reflect the new programmes.
World Class Podium Programme
This Programme will support sports with realistic medal capabilities at the next Olympic Games (i.e. a maximum of four years away from the podium). At this level, an assessment of realistic medal projections determines the required investment per sport using the models introduced post-Athens for Olympic sports. Athlete places will be distributed to a sport based on a combination of the sport's: results at the last Games; competitive track record; project medal capability in the future; demonstrated ability to constantly produce athletes through the pathway. Support is provided through a performance programme with the governing body and an athlete personal award.
This programme will be managed by the National Performance Director.
The WCP Programme employees 3 full time staff. The headquarters are based at the High Performance Centre at Bath University.
World Class Development Programme (WCDP)
This Programme will support the stage of the Pathway immediately beneath the Podium Programme. For other sports it will comprise athletes that are typically six years away from the Podium. This is thought, due to the length of development time for a Modern Pentathlete to be slightly un-realistic and an extended time will be implemented.
A well established and accepted Selection and Review Policy for both the WCTAP and Youth Team Selection for International Competitions is in place, this is supplemented with a set of consideration criteria.
Funding by means of an APA has been set at 3 levels for WCDP athletes.
Level D ? APA
- Athlete must be in full-time training at the Bath National Training Centre
- Meets individual performance targets set
- Complies in full with contract/charter
Level E ? APA
- Athlete must be within a maximum of 18 months of the year of reporting for full time training at the Bath National Training Centre and commit in writing to do so
- Meets individual performance targets set
- Complies in full with contract/charter
Level F ? APA
- Athlete must have agreed in principle in writing that they will report for training at the Bath National Training Centre when eligible by age or stage of education to do so
- Meets all ODP performance targets
- Complies in full with contract/charter
World Class Talent (WCT)
This programme is will be designed to support the identification and confirmation of athletes who have the potential to progress through the World Class Pathway with the help of targeted investment. Although there will be no direct payment of APA to WCT athletes, funding will be provided to raise the level of sophistication and coaching through centralised training for the athletes that will be new to this programme. Those athletes that are transferring from WCTAP to this programme already enjoy this level of coaching; there will be no change in this aspect for them.
It is expected that these athletes will have the right attributes to go on and effectively compete effectively on the world stage. Selection for GB teams and Internationals will see no change for these athletes.
Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
TASS is an additional scheme working alongside the World Class Performance Pathway.
The intention of the scheme is to help talented athletes who wish to progress with a formal academic programme but maintain an involvement in performance sport. Strategically, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) will provide a coherent support system, driven through partnership working between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Further Education Colleges (FECs), National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB?s) and other sports organisations.
The scheme will operate around a national network in England of 9 regional consortia, based around a hub or core cluster of Higher Education Institutions working in close partnership with other interested institutions in the area.
TASS will normally be offering scholarships of up to 3,000 to students? aged 19 ? 25, and bursaries of up to 1,000 for any talented young person aged 16 ? 19 not in higher education.
TASS athletes will from 1st April be invited to National Training with World Class Talent athletes.
