Talented Athlete and Coach Pathway
England Athletics works to grow opportunities for everyone to experience athletics and running, to enable them to reach their full potential.
The Talented Athlete and Coach Pathway provides a progressive support structure for athletes and coaches to develop skills and competencies with the aim of moving athletes on to representative honours at England and GB Level. It is supported by London Marathon Events and TASS.
From school into club athletics and parallel support through the pathway programmes, the aim is to ensure the journey of the athlete and coach reaches its full potential. Athletics is an inclusive and diverse sport that provides excitement, challenge and lifelong enjoyment. Supporting talented individuals and the wider athletics club community through pathway programmes and talent hubs is the vision.
Video: Reach your potential with the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme. Watch on YouTube.
Olympic and Paralympic Talent Pathway
The below diagram illustrates the 2024-2025 athlete pathway from national age group to Olympic and World Championship level.
- Learn more about the Paralympic Talent Programme
The Talent Development Programme
The England Athletics Talent Development Programme aims to support the England Athletics philosophy of talent development by supporting athletes through consistent support in high quality training and support environments known as the England Athletics Talent hubs. This programme will replace the previously named Junior and Senior Development programmes that offered camp training days and offer a Talent hub-based support programme across the programme year.
Athletes must be able to demonstrate how they will use and access the talent hub network within their programme application to be selected for this programme. Please see selection process notes below.
The talent hubs will aim to increase the number of talented athletes/para-athletes who have the skills, competencies, knowledge and resilience to progress to UKA World Class programmes and succeed at senior championships while gaining positive life experiences from the journey.
The Programme aims to:
- Increase the number of athletes/para-athletes achieving consideration standards for selection for GB and NI teams at the relevant age group championships.
- Increase the number of athletes/para-athletes meeting the performance and behaviour standards required to progress to the UKA Futures programme or UKA World Class Programmes on the Olympic or Paralympic pathway.
- Retain more athletes/para-athletes within the talent pathway and sport.
Overview of the Talent Development Programme benefits
- Support in the nominated Talent Hub where the following services maybe be offered upon the completion of an IAP and all relevant paperwork.
- Athlete- coach point of contact to offer support throughout the year
- Coaching and support (in our core Talent hub sites)
- Individual athlete planning (IAP) with personal coach and athlete throughout the year. (x3)
- Regular communication with Point of Contact (POC).
- Medical Insurance via the TASS medical scheme
- Physiotherapy and/or Soft Tissue therapy
- Strength and Conditioning Support
- Performance Psychology
- Performance Nutrition
- Performance Lifestyle
- Athlete education sessions including annual UK Anti-Doping sessions
- Access to EA coach development sessions and coach support from athlete-coach point of contact
The England Athletics Performance Programme
The England Athletics Performance Programme aims to support athletes who have the realistic potential to win medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and future potential to compete at the Olympic or Paralympic Games and World Athletics Championships and World Athletics Para Championships. The programme and selection standards reflect the key aims of the 2026 Commonwealth Games selection policy which is to “win the highest number of medals possible”.
Overview of England Athletics Performance Programme benefits:
Athletes selected onto the programme will receive the following benefits:
- Support in the nominated Talent Hub where the following services maybe be offered upon the completion of an IAP and all relevant paperwork.
- Athlete- coach point of contact to offer support throughout the year
- Coaching and support (in our core Talent hub sites)
- Individual athlete planning (IAP) with personal coach and athlete throughout the year. (x3)
- Regular communication with Point of Contact (POC).
- Medical Insurance via the TASS medical scheme
- Physiotherapy and/or Soft Tissue therapy
- Strength and Conditioning Support
- Performance Psychology
- Performance Nutrition
- Performance Lifestyle
- Athlete education sessions including annual UK Anti-Doping sessions
- Access to EA coach development sessions and coach support from athlete-coach point of contact
- Additional financial support in agreement with Commonwealth Games Team Leader.
Talent pathway staff
- Sarah Benson: Talent and Performance Director sbenson@englandathletics.org
- Alan Richardson: Head of Talent Programmes arichardson@englandathletics.org (07586 496274)
- Matthew Kendrick: National Para Manager mkendrick@englandathletics.org
National Event Managers
- Speed: Shani Palmer spalmer@englandathletics.org
- Endurance: Hayley Hemmings hhemmings@englandathletics.org
- Jumps and Combined Events: Darren Ritchie dritchie@englandathletics.org
- Throws: Nick Ridgeon nridgeon@englandathletics.org