Welcome to the Northwest Academies area. This section is designed to give you an overview of what the Academies are, how they fit together, why we have them, what the benefits are to you in being a member and what the selection criteria is for membership.
North West Academy & Structure
The North West Academies comprises a regional academy and 3 county academies, 2 of which are dual, Lancashire + Merseyside and Cheshire + Greater Manchester, with Cumbria being the newest edition to the Performance Structure.
All 4 academies run performance focused programmes based around the ‘5 Rings Model’, working with the top athletes and coaches in the area, and linking into the National event squads through the athlete/coach performance pathway we aim to progress our athletes and coaches from county to regional, national and onto international level.
Why use the ‘5 Rings Model’?
The ethos behind these performance academies is to improve performance and nurture talent in every event and in every age group. With guidance from the UK:Athletics Performance department, Event Group Management team and our own North West Regional Council we have devised a series of Academies sessions to utilise the elite training model of international athletes, more commonly known as the ‘5 Rings Model’:
This performance based concept has been taken through all our Academy delivery so whether you are a county or regional athlete or coach the strategy is delivered at the right level of athletic development for the individual in their chosen discipline.
Click on link for more information on the Five Rings Model.
What’s In It For Me?
As an athlete you have access to some of our regions top coaches, and if they are not already coaching you so does your coach. Access to the GB teams elite training template with subjects you grow as a professional athlete, such as, looking at how you balance your athletics around life, exams, friends, your mental preparation and toughness to succeed in the sport and ensuring you are covering the physical conditioning you need to be athletic and train and perform to the very best of your ability. With visits from top UK athletes to tell their story of what it takes to be a champion. And not forgetting; Academy kit, access to a sports therapist on squad days and reduced rate outside of squads and the Academy Booklet to access information on how to exploit the 5 Ring model for your individual needs.
As a coach you can access a series of coach specific seminars led by ‘Experts’ in their field, from technical event specific sessions, strength and conditioning work to helping mentally prepare your athlete to perform. A regional Conference for North West coaches in your region. A minimum of 12 months access to a network of event specific coaches that link from the UK:A senior coaches supporting Britain’s elite athletes and National squad event coaches, through the regional and county Head Coaches who can support you with any element of your athletes physical and mental training needs. Individual analysis to address any requirements you may have in terms of your professional development from getting assistance to go to the next coach education level to shadowing a specified coach to work on one particular aspect of your event. (And we’ll even throw in a T-Shirt so we can spot you when you’re out and about!)
How Do I get Involved?
Regional Academy:
Athletes: Selection letters will go to U20 and U17 athletes who have achieved the ‘Progress Review’ mark on the Power of 10 rankings (www.powerof10.info), where there are no athletes achieving this, we will select the top 2. U23 and Senior athletes also achieving this criteria, are welcome to apply please email me on kjones@englandathletics.org (in some late developing events or athletes that have shown an interest previously will also receive a letter)
Coaches: Coaches at UK:A athletics coaching level 3 (or equivalent knowledge base) with a valid CRB can apply on kjones@englandathletics.org stating your name, coaching level and chosen event, whether you have an athlete attending the Academy or not. We are limited to approximately 4 coaches per event group, so applications will be on a first come first served basis though anyone missing out this year with get priority for the following years academy.
County Academies:
Athletes: Selection letters will go to the top 2 U15 athletes and top 2 U17 athletes (after regional selection) in the county academy catchments area for dual academies who must also have achieved the ‘North West Target’ on the Power of 10 rankings (www.powerof10.info)
Coaches: Coaches at UK:A athletics coaching level 2 (or equivalent knowledge base) with a valid CRB can apply on kjones@englandathletics.org stating your name, coaching level, club and chosen event, whether you have an athlete attending the Academy or not. We are limited to approximately 4 coaches per event group per County Academy, so applications will be on a first come first served basis though anyone missing out this year with get priority for the following years academy.
For more information, please contact Katie Jones on kjones@englandathletics.org who is always happy to help
|
/
